Winter Wonderland: What’s Ahead in the Arts

After weeks of Nutcrackers and other Christmas-centric holiday shows culminating in big blowout bashes for New Year’s Eve, January’s arrival means we’re back to our usual environment of enviable entertainment in our ultra arts-blessed burg. Here’s some admittedly biased picks and other highly anticipated shows coming our way in winter. 

Three big comedy performances happen over a 20-day period, including Rob Schneider and the rarely-seen Janeane Garofalo on successive nights at the Lobero January 22-23, and the return to the theater of Nick Offerman in “Big Woodchuck: An Evening of Comedy with Woodworking and Bookish Mirth,” on February 10. 

Folk-pop makes a fortunate foray in February, with The Wailin’ Jennys slated for February 12 at the Lobero, and Suzanne (“Luka”) Vega following two days later at the venue. The Lobero has also landed Richard Thompson, who once played the venue almost annually for what seemed like decades, for his first appearance in years on April 4 – yes, that’s actually in spring, but it’s Richard Thompson! Also of note: Taj Mahal and Patty Griffin share a bill blending blues and roots music at the Arlington Theatre on February 17 through UCSB Arts & Lectures.

In the classical corner, Aristo Sham, the 17th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Gold Medal Winner in 2025, makes his Santa Barbara debut January 24 at the Music Academy’s Hahn Hall via UCSB A&L, which also sponsors old friend and superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma in a special solo recital of world premiere co-commissions at the Granada on February 22. That’s the same venue for CAMA’s concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti on January 23. 

In jazz, it’s a “just-this-once” sort of thing on January 27 when A&L brings trumpeter Terence Blanchard and saxophonist Ravi Coltrane to the Granada to celebrate and reimagine the legacies of Miles Davis and John Coltrane (Ravi’s dad) in the jazz legends’ shared centennial year. 

Dance dimensions include a two-day residency at the Granada March 3-4 from the ever inventive and enterprising Tiler Peck, who has curated a pair of performances in which the New York City Ballet superstar leads an all-star cast in tribute to the legendary choreographer Jerome Robbins, featuring iconic works performed by principal dancers from the world’s top companies.

In theater, we get the Broadway touring version of The Book of Mormon making what is apparently the Tony-decorated musical’s local debut at the Granada, on February 24-25 as part of the American Theatre Guild’s season. In locally produced plays, Ensemble unveils The Shark Is Broken, a humorous but sophisticated exploration of the chaotic behind-the-scenes drama on the Jaws film set, when the movie’s three male stars were stuck on a boat while the mechanical shark was being repaired. The February 5-22 run chronicles the creative conflict that resulted in a cultural touchstone in the movie that celebrated its 50th anniversary last summer. 

Alan Ayckbourn’s nearly 40-year-old A Small Family Business dives into difficulties dealing with trying to clean up corrupt and dishonest practices through a darkly funny exploration of how minor moral compromises can lead to major crimes. SBCC’s Theatre Group puts on the play at the Garvin Theatre March 4-21.