Fall for the Arts

Our discerning picks for the autumn performing arts season.

WORDS Ninette Paloma

Isabella Rossellini is laughing. Not in the hauntingly complex, Blue Velvet-way that catapulted her to cultish stardom in the 80s, but in the way a 70-year-old woman laughs when she has settled into a place of deep self-knowledge. Author Pico Iyer sits to her left, visibly taken in by her casual wit and offhanded charm. He pauses, eyebrows raised, and in uncharacteristic fashion turns to the audience with an expression of awe. We can’t help but be entranced, too.

It is the final installment of UCSB Arts & Lectures’ Speaker Series, and Rossellini is ensuring the season closes on a memorable note. Over the course of two hours, we listen intently as she recalls memories of a childhood straddling continents and cultural identities; the adventures of a young woman lauded for her external beauty only to be unceremoniously ousted from the modeling world at the onset of 40; and a return to academia in her mid-50s, where a degree in Animal Behavior inspired a one-woman show about the peculiarities of expression called Darwin’s Smile.

The next morning Rossellini drives up the coast, where Darwin’s Smile will make its regional debut at the Performing Arts Center of San Luis Obispo. She posts a video of herself on social media marveling over the flora as she whisks up the 101, rows of mustard and yarrow dancing in the breeze behind her. That evening she dons an ape suit and pantomimes the interrogation marks commonly used in Italy as the audience cackles and claps in delight. It is a poignant finale to the Central Coast’s performing arts season; a year filled with synchronistic programming that whisked us up and down the Pacific Coast Highway. 

One might argue that the caliber of talent hosted in our area – no doubt unusual for a region of this size – is a direct result of the philanthropic generosity running rampant through the streets of the American Riviera, however history has shown us time and again that money alone can’t buy good taste. Long before the end of the current season, advocates and arts organizations commit to a feverish cycle of research and seduction – searching hungrily for the next fresh thing to lure to our shores.

So, what have our tireless programmers dreamed up for us now that beach days are giving way to crisp evenings? A deep dive into the Fall Performing Arts calendar reveals a trend toward anniversary tours and intimate venue engagements, supplemental programming and international collaborations. In other words, a line-up as diverse and multifaceted as the people who reside in our fair region.
Here, we offer up our streamlined and discerning picks for the autumn performance season; slip on a jacket and grab a friend or two, these events will delight and inspire.

The Avett Brothers 09/23
Vina Robles Amphitheatre Paso Robles
On the heels of their new musical Swept Away, The Avett Brothers descend on Paso Robles in one of the most stunning venues on the Central Coast. Resting on the hills of Vina Robles Winery and helmed by sister duet Michèle König-Nef and Nicole Nüesch-Nef, the amphitheater offers up an arresting setting to take in the earnest lyrics of these beloved, roots rock boys while sipping Zinfandel and ushering in the fall equinox.  
 
The Postal Service/Death Cab for Cutie 10/14 
Santa Barbara Bowl Santa Barbara
In 2003, lightening struck twice for singer/songwriter Ben Gibbard, whose freshman efforts for Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service produced two platinum records that paved the way for a new, Pacific Northwest sound. Two decades later, Gibbard has launched an anniversary tour that will feature front to back performances of Transatlanticism and Give Up, respectively, pulling our hearts and memories right back to the early aughts. Don your best Y2K fashion and head over to Santa Barbara’s east side. 

BODYTRAFFIC 10/18
Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo 
If it’s high-octane dance that you crave, look no further than Los Angeles troupe BODYTRAFFIC, known for their infectious energy and playful approach to serious contemporary technique. Under the direction of Tina Finkelman Berkett and through international ambassadorships, the company has traipsed the globe underscoring movement as our one common language. Don’t miss this Cali-based company in one of the area’s most beautifully designed, contemporary theatres.  

Tiler Peck and Friends 10/25
Granada Theatre Santa Barbara
The first installment of UCSB Arts & Lectures’ beloved dance series is also one of its most anticipated, with New York City Ballet principal dancer and choreographer Tiler Peck flexing her creative breadth in Turn It Out. With original scores and a hand-picked collection of works from dance world luminaries such as Michelle Dorrance and onetime Santa Barbara resident Alonzo King, Peck serves up fresh and provocative ballet like you’ve never experienced it. 

Courtney Barnett 11/05
Ventura Music Hall Ventura
Weren’t you just remarking to your friends that you should spend more time exploring Ventura? November is a perfect opportunity when Australian singer/composer Courtney Barnett heads to the Music Hall for a genre-bending concert that begins with a slow burn, instrumental set with Stella Mozgawa of Warpaint fame before launching into one of her signature performances blending guitar riffs with poetic lyricism. Be prepared to be blown away by this young artist’s modest ingenuity.

Watchhouse 11/15
Lobero Theatre Santa Barbara
Hands down one of the most romantic places to catch a folk-rock concert, the Lobero Theatre provides an intimate platform for North Carolina duo Watchhouse to unpack their soulful approach to acoustic storytelling. Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin take us on a journey of love and discovery with earnest lyrics and haunting melodies. On this tour, nine stripped-down songs from their newest self-titled LP will be performed with vulnerable clarity.

Alice By Heart 11/10-11/19
Center Stage Theatre Santa Barbara
For over a decade, Out of the Box Theatre Company has focused on an endearing passion for musical theatre, staging madcap and wholly entertaining productions that leave you smiling long after the end of the closing song. More than community theatre, founder and director Samantha Eve has built a cool ecosystem for self-proclaimed theatre geeks to thrive in, and this season, she’ll be kicking off the party with Alice By Heart. Co-written by Jessie Nelson and Steven Stater and featuring music by Duncan Sheik, this sort-of Alice in Wonderland adventure takes us on a teenager’s quest for hope and meaning against the backdrop of World War II. 

Devendra Banhart 12/08
Fremont Theater San Luis Obispo
Transcending genres and languages, Devendra Banhart is an artist with range. Incorporating visual media with performance art and music, Banhart urges his audience to look past the perceived and imagine the future. In his forthcoming album Flying Wig, the future is draped in blue taffeta and drenched in an electro-dreamscape of strings and percussion. He’s also brought Welsh musician Cate Le Bon along for the ride, and together, the two have created a musical confession of aching proportions. The pastel pink whimsy of the Fremont Theater offers up an on-point backdrop.