Tickets for A CBU Christmas and the 2026-27 theatre season now available
Tickets are selling fast for California Baptist University’s 2026-27 theatre season. Having built a legacy in the Riverside community for annual traditions, such as A CBU Christmas and fresh, innovative theatre productions, audiences are already snatching up spots for next year’s performances.
Season ticket packages begin at $67, offering audiences the opportunity to experience the theatre season at a discounted rate of less than $14 per show.
The 2026-27 theatre season includes two plays and two musicals along with A CBU Christmas, a fan favorite for eight years running. Performance dates for each are:
- Clue: Oct. 9, 10, 16, 17 & 18
- James and the Giant Peach: Nov. 13, 14, 20, 21 & 22
- A CBU Christmas: Dec. 5 & 6
- These Shining Lives: Feb. 19, 20, 26, 27 & 28
- Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!: April 9, 10, 16, 17 & 18
Zachary Bortot, associate professor of theatre arts and the division’s director, said he wanted a season that reflected the program’s growth. “It’s a meaningful lens for our students and audiences alike as we consider what it looks like to live with purpose and responsibility in our own lives.”
The theme of the season is “Innocence to Responsibility.” This will unfold in the fall with memorable performances that highlight consequence and maturity, while the spring performances wrap up the year with an exploration of justice and morality.
“This theme provides a powerful throughline for this season, inviting audiences into stories that are both entertaining and deeply meaningful,” said Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts. “From comedy to musical theatre to poignant drama, each production showcases the remarkable versatility and artistry of our students — students who are at CBU pursuing the highest standards of both craft and character.”
A CBU Christmas, a musical and theatrical presentation about the birth of Jesus, brings together the whole of the Collinsworth School of Performing Arts. Entering its ninth year, the production has become one of the most anticipated holiday performances in the Inland Empire. Over 15,000 people attended the 2025 performances, with sold out shows over two days. CBU projects the 2026 shows will sell out, too.
The Collinsworth School of Performing Arts is known for presenting vibrant artistic productions while preparing students to become skilled and versatile performers. Throughout the year, audiences can also enjoy performances featuring choir, orchestra, jazz ensembles, opera and commercial music. Click here for a list of upcoming events.
Collinsworth School of Performing Arts Season Tickets
When: Beginning Oct. 9
Where: Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92504
Click here to purchase School of Performing Arts season tickets!
A CBU Christmas
When: 2:30 and 7 p.m. Dec. 5 & 6
Where: Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92504