Celebrate the arts: Tickets for A CBU Christmas and the 2025-26 theatre season available now

CBU students perform in a variety of theatre productions each semester.

Riverside, Calif. (April 10, 2025) – Tickets are now on sale for A CBU Christmas and the 2025-26 theatre season. Due to popular demand — and two years in a row of sell out performances — California Baptist University has made the ticket offerings available at the earliest time in history.

“We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming season of the School of Performing Arts theatre performances and to welcome CBU friends, families and our surrounding community to reserve their seats early,” said Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts. “This year’s theatre season offers something fresh and exciting for every audience, and our 2025 production of A CBU Christmas promises to be our most spectacular yet — ushering in the holiday season with joy, wonder and unforgettable artistry.”

The 2025-26 theatre season includes two plays, two musicals and the ever popular A CBU Christmas. Performance dates for each are:

• “Our Town”: Oct. 10, 11, 17, 18, 19
• “Shrek The Musical”: Nov. 14, 15, 21, 22, 23
• A CBU Christmas: Dec. 6 & 7
• “Steel Magnolias”: Feb. 20, 21, 27, 28, March 1
• “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”: April 10, 11, 17, 18, 19

The theme for the season is “grow where you are planted,” in alignment with Philippians 4:11 that reads “Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” Each of the performances aims to remind believers they can flourish in whatever circumstances they find themselves.

“I’m really looking forward to the over-the-top quality of our upcoming musicals – ‘Shrek the Musical’ and ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’” said Lissa Gray, a theatre junior. “Our CBU audiences will experience a well-rounded season of laughter and charm coupled with deep questions about humanity and the importance of connection.”

CBU won’t begin auditions and rehearsals for these performances until September 2025 but having them calendared provides an opportunity for theatregoers to plan ahead and for students to get excited about what’s to come.

Joshua Thomas, a music graduate student and actor/singer, has performed in eight theatre production, including every CBU Christmas production since 2021.

“I can’t wait to see what next year holds,” Thomas said. “It’s such a blessing to be part of a musically excellent production that so clearly presents the gospel. We get to honor God with a show-stopping performance — and it only gets better every year!”

A CBU Christmas brings the Inland Empire community together. Both the 2023 and 2024 performances sold out, and CBU anticipates the 2025 performances will trend the same way.

This is the eighth year CBU has presented A CBU Christmas — one of the most spectacular Christmas performances in the Inland Empire. More than 500 students and faculty are expected to participate in this year’s performances.

CBU’s Collinsworth of Performing Arts features rich artistic shows while training excellent and versatile performing artists. Along with a CBU Christmas, the School of Performing Arts hosts a variety of performances throughout the year, featuring theatre, jazz ensembles, choir and orchestra, commercial music, opera and more.

Visit https://calbaptist.edu/academics/schools-colleges/performing-arts/events for a full list of upcoming events.

Collinsworth School of Performing Arts Season Tickets
When: Starting Oct. 10
Where:  Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92504
Click here to purchase School of Performing Arts Season Tickets!

A CBU Christmas
When: 2:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 2:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 7
Where: Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92504
Click here to purchase A CBU Christmas Tickets!