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Join us on a beautifully paired wine and chocolate experience! This guided tour walks you through the chocolate making process, from bean to bar. Taste cacao every step of the way and finish with a chocolate and beverage tasting that excitingly pairs three truffles with three sustainably-made, small production wines, selected and poured by our local wine partner, WINECULT.
A non-alcoholic pairing option is available, but this event is for those over the age of 21.

Join Sol Aromatics at Final Girl Wines’ tasting room, nestled in Solvang, for a potion perfume experience like no other. The space is steeped in a haunting yet playful atmosphere, with cinematic touches and a Halloween spirit that sets the perfect stage for this potion-making adventure. In this hands-on experience, you’ll blend rare botanicals, whisper your intention, and craft an all-natural fragrance to embody your desire. Each participant leaves with a hand-blown glass genie pendant holding their potion of intention — a wearable keepsake of fragrance, intention, and allure.

It’s 1895: a new generation of Americans is coming of age and looking for trouble! In the barrooms and bordellos of St. Louis, New Orleans, Atlantic City – “loafing places”, as some disgruntled townie may have called them – something new and uniquely American is cooking up. Young piano players are melding southern country dances with lowdown blues with European classical, and the result is called: Ragtime, an infectious syncopation which will shape the sound of American music to come.

Award-winning pianist Eve Elliot is your raucous guide into this colorful world, with its infuriating injustices and thrilling triumphs. You’ll meet some of our story’s heroes – and villains – and get a glimpse into their lives and music. Expect plenty of hilarity and vaudevillian antics as we delve into questions like: Who kidnapped Fats Waller? Why did Jelly Roll Morton own so many suits? How did Scott Joplin uphold his artistic vision amid a slew of rejection? What does “funky butt” mean?

Embrace the duality of this elevated art form birthed by the underworld of vice. Surrender to the “weird and intoxicating effects” of delicious live ragtime and stride piano. Celebrate the lives of these debonair and debaucherous pioneers – from the national fame and fistfuls of hundred dollar bills, to the alcoholism and fatal venereal disease. And experience their music, which traveled from the 10-cent whorehouses to Carnegie Hall.

“A winning blend of vaudeville, English pantomime and music hall.” Drama-logue

One special added twilight performance – have the kids dress up and go out for an early evening of theatre perfect for the whole family. Join Alice as she accepts an invitation from the Queen of Hearts to return to the Wonderland of her youth. Will Alice prevail, or are the Cards stacked against her? Will the Queen suffer a heart attack? Lovely audience participation throughout the production helps Alice set a topsy-turvy Wonderland aright in this zany musical comedy.

“STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!” L.A. PARENT

The internationally acclaimed Family Theatre musical comedy, performed on three continents over the past 45 years, is presented by renowned Actors’ Repertory Theatre, and features Holly Gibson, Amanda Hornberger, Isabel Lindley, J.T. Melaragno, Michala Peltz, Megan Wright with Cydne Moore, Joseph Perez and Graham Silbert.

“Wonderful! This is genuine Lewis Carroll, updated with witty alliterations and puns. Skillful direction and humorous extractions from the original Alice gives everyone something to enjoy.” PONY RIDE

Gorgeous costumes by award-winning designer Ashley Hayes, lilting musical numbers and a charmingly bedecked rose garden enhance the "clever clowning and buoyant silliness" (L.A. Times) of this audience favorite crowd-pleaser. Written and directed by Evelyn Rudie and Chris DeCarlo.

“BEST parties in L.A.” CBS.com

Birthday parties, hosted by colorful fairytale characters, are available with every performance.

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are supported in part by generous grants from the We Are Santa Monica Fund, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the Ahmanson Foundation, and Playhouse PALS.

Have you ever prayed that Jesus would come back as a stand-up comedian? Well, your prayers have been answered. The second coming is no longer coming. It’s here and it’s called STAND-UP JESUS!

Heaven help us?
Hell, yeah!

Come bear witness to a truth that hurts and a truth that’s funny with STAND-UP JESUS! Thy kingdom come, thy will be done; and it will be done with divine satire. In Robert Dubac’s latest solo show, our lord and savior is back and this time he’s no longer a carpenter. He’s a stand-up comedian hell-bent on preaching what God created on the 8th day. Comedy.

Who better to battle modern-day hypocrisy than STAND-UP JESUS! Shining the light of truth on false prophets, duplicitous politicians and immoral sheeple, J.C.’s razor-sharp satire has been intelligently designed to redeem sinners of all faiths. So let he who is without sin cast the first heckle!

Yes! STAND-UP JESUS is irreverent, sacrilegious and, above all, hysterical! Atheists and believers both praise STAND-UP JESUS as, “A miracle! It succeeds at being heaven and hell, enlightening and offensive; all at the same time!”

“Razor-sharp, whip-smart, irresistible satire!” PBS Chicago

Robert Dubac (author, actor) belongs to a rare breed of humorists who make comedy smart and tragedy funny. Eschewing drama in the pursuit of humor he deftly combines stand-up with theater, pulling our emotional strings with intelligence and wit. In other words, you get more truth and less dick jokes. He constantly tours the world with all three of his solo shows, sometimes all at once, as a self-contained one-man repertory company.

Admission includes post-show wine and wafers (the vanilla and chocolate kind) reception with the artist

It’s a tongue-in-cheek homage to Survivor, Desperate Housewives, CLUE, The Love Boat and Love is Blind, all rolled into one, with a whiff of White Lotus thrown in for good measure. On an uncharted desert island, four teams play out the final round of THE GAME: TRAPPED, STRIPPED, STEREOTYPED. Is the struggle worth the reward? Is the Game what they prepared for? And is the reward ever what one expects it to be?

Admission includes post-show wine and island nibbles reception with the cast.

Join us for the World Premiere of ShortBurst Theatre(R) R.A.W.'s newest production, crafted and performed by Celine Athan, Smita Bagla, Diana Ciraulo, Marty Cohen, Christie Evans, Peter Gueracague, Bob Hucul, Parris Kaspszak, Linda Kohn, Madeleine Lemay, Deirdre O’Connor, Warren Sata, Sergei Stern, Theda Weston and Playhouse Associate Director of Adult Education Berkeley Sanjay.

Written by Evelyn Rudie, directed by Chris DeCarlo. Original music by Sergei Stern.

ShortBurst Theatre® sees professional artists, tyro performers and members of the community at large pool their resources, their time, and their concerns, to create theatre that is relevant on a personal, local and global level, and do it all in a very short span of time, hence the name.

Over the past 36 years, ShortBurst Theatre® has created 50+ collaborative productions locally, nationally and with companies from 11 countries, many that have later become main stage and touring productions, fostering cultural exchange and understanding and making a tangible difference across the city and around the world. “The performances and collaborations are excellent and very educative. Their work is brilliant!” Fusami Sugimine, Director Global Project, International Human Network, Japan.

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are supported in part by generous grants from the We Are Santa Monica Fund, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission and Playhouse PALS.

"Through most of our lives and work, Cedric and I have had deep commitments to collaboration, internationalism, and solidarity movements."
–Elizabeth Robinson, 2024

This exhibition documents the life’s work of Cedric J. Robinson and Elizabeth Peters Robinson, placing it in the global context of the Black radical tradition. The Robinsons were renowned for their seminal scholarship and activism that had wide-ranging influence at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB), in academia, and across many public arenas. The exhibition is drawn from the Cedric J. and Elizabeth P. Robinson Archive (“Robinson Archive”) and supplemented by a variety of materials from other collections in UCSB Library’s Special Research Collections, as well as personal contributions from Elizabeth Robinson.

A deeply influential educator, Cedric Robinson (1940-2016) was a well-known scholar of racial capitalism and the Black radical tradition, and an active participant in political movements, both at home and internationally. For more than 30 years, Elizabeth Robinson has been an educator, social worker, former associate director for media at KCSB-FM radio, activist, and community media producer.

This exhibition was curated by Yolanda Blue, the Library’s Curator of American and International History, Politics, and Cultures Collections, in collaboration with New York University and UCSB Library staff.

"Debra Ehrhardt possesses a rare ability to mesmerize!" Washington Post

Debra Ehrhardt of Jamaica, Farewell fame is back, with acclaimed performer Christopher Grossett and iconic Hall of Famer Paul Williams as director.

Joining the exciting “Black History [every] Month” 2025 line up is Ehrhardt’s delicious new, true-life story. If you loved “Jamaica, Farewell,” you’ll be moved to tears of laughter and poignancy with this exciting production, written by and featuring Ehrhardt and Christopher Grossett (A Raisin in the Sun-Syracuse Stage; A Wrinkle in Time-Lincoln Center), directed by Hall of Fame Grammy Winner Paul Williams.

Secrets. Lies. Forgiveness. Vulnerability. And a deep-seated desire to break free of the prison that prevents a woman from truly allowing herself the strength to embrace laughter and joy. Because running away from something is not being free.

Admission includes a wine and sweets post show reception with the artists.

The Santa Monica Playhouse Black History [every] Month Project presents African-American theatrical creations not just in February, but throughout the year, recognizing, honoring and celebrating the rich heritage of Black arts, artists, and culture in our community.

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are supported in part by generous grants from the We Are Santa Monica Fund, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the Ahmanson Foundation and Playhouse PALS.

New Beginnings of Santa Barbara County presents two benefit performances of: Every Brilliant Thing

Every Brilliant Thing returns to Santa Barbara for the second time with the show’s original co-creator and star, Jonny Donahoe.

This unique and critically acclaimed play has become a global stage phenomenon, playing more than six hundred times over four continents, including five months off-Broadway and currently being performed in London’s West End.

Donahoe, a Drama Desk Award-nominated writer and performer will bring back his wildly popular and magnificent one-man show, previously showcased by New Beginnings in 2022.

Every Brilliant Thing follows a child who, to lift his mother’s spirits, begins a heartfelt list of life’s small joys—a list that grows over the years and comes to shape their own journey.

Both poignant and funny, the play explores the extraordinary ways we care for the people we love.

Donahoe will reprise his role in a performance that will be featured on Friday, October 24th, and a matinee show on Sunday, October 26th.

The show was filmed by World of Wonder and screened as a special on HBO.

Join Actors’ Repertory Theatre at Santa Monica Playhouse for this brand-new Rudie-DeCarlo Family Theatre Musical...

in which not one, not two, but three Dorothys come face to face with the Queen of Hearts, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Fairygodmother, the White Rabbit, the Wizard and – well, but we don’t want to give away all the surprises.

“You won’t find more professional theatre – for children or adults – anywhere in Los Angeles!” LA PARENT

Did you know that all Fairytale Portals connect directly to the land of OZ? Did you know that the Ozian witches of the East, North, South and West have a fifth sister? Did you know that Emerald City isn’t always in the same place, and only there at all when you need to find it? The three Dorothys – Dorie, Dotty and Dorotea – didn’t know it either. And oh, what an adventure awaits them, and you, on this wonderful musical journey.

“One of LA’s most respected theatre companies!” The Hollywood Reporter

All ages will delight in this interactive theatre experience as they help guide our Dorothys from a little farm in Kansas along the yellow brick road to a royal destiny in Emerald City. Featuring Actors’ Repertory Theatre members Holly Gibson, Isabel Lindley, Michala Peltz, Megan Wright, with Cydne Moore, Joseph Perez and Graham Silbert, this delightful musical comedy is written anddirected by Playhouse Co-Artistic Directors Chris DeCarlo and Evelyn Rudie. Magical multi-media FX by James Cooper and sparkling costume design by the award-winning Ashley Hayes make this the perfect weekend afternoon outing for the whole family to enjoy together.

“Best Parties in LA!” CBS.COM

Birthday parties, hosted by gaily costumed fairy tale characters, are available for every performance

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are supported in part by generous grants from the We Are Santa Monica Fund, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the Ahmanson Foundation and Playhouse PALS.