Viewers are encouraged to let Arts & Lectures come to them
Americana music star Nathaniel Rateliff will be one of many musicians performing live in the UCSB Arts & Lectures’ “House Calls” series, streamed right to viewers’ homes.
UCSB Arts & Lectures has announced the debut of “House Calls.”
It’s a series of virtual events from September through January featuring interactive online concerts, conversations and Q&As.
Tickets went on sale Sept. 10, and acts will include music by bluegrass phenom Billy Strings, alternative country singer/songwriter Jason Isbell, Americana music star Nathaniel Rateliff, and banjo and fiddle player Rhiannon Giddens with Francesco Turrisi.
In addition, lectures will be given by 19th U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Financial Times U.S. Editor Gillian Tett and bestselling author Anne Lamott. Comedian, storyteller, director and actor Mike Birbiglia will also read from his new memoir, followed by an off-the-cuff Q&A with the audience.
There are 15 programs, each 60 minutes, and they’re designed to entertain, educate and inspire, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On top of the live, virtual performances, participants can also receive the full “House Calls” experience by ordering custom-crafted meals cooked by The Lark Executive Chef Jason Paluska and Loquita Executive Chef Nikolas Ramirez. Acme Hospitality will deliver the meals on participants’ doorsteps, with the links to order available on the Arts & Lectures website.
From the New York Times Crossword editor and NPR puzzlemaster to a Hawaiian ukulele rock star, entertainers will share their music, wisdom or humor from Nashville, Denmark, Ireland, Denver, Nottingham, Hawaii and New York for all of Santa Barbara to see.
The all-access pass, which includes all 15 events, is $140, or participants can buy advance tickets for individual events starting at $10. Tickets are free for UCSB students.
Order from UCSB Arts & Lectures by calling 805-893-3535, or order online at www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.
Along with House Calls, Arts & Lectures just announced another At Home series.
A&L co-commissioned “Complete Works: Table Top Shakespeare: At Home,” a project from Forced Entertainment that tells each of Shakespeare’s 36 plays with a single performer, household objects and a table.
These virtual performances use a comical and intimate manner to retell Shakespeare’s plays as a way of reaching international viewers via webcast.
Retelling the most popular plays such as “Macbeth,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Hamlet” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be performers Robin Arthur, Jerry Killick, Richard Lowdon, Claire Marshall, Cathy Naden and Terry O’Connor. Several sets will be followed by post-show discussions over Zoom.
Plays will be broadcast for free over nine weeks, from Sept. 17 through Nov. 15. All performances will be at noon, and can be accessed via www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu. To register for a post-show discussion, email feaftertalks@gmail.com with the date of the discussion.
email: gmccormick@newspress.com
FYI
For more about the “House Call” series, go to www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.
