Arts & Entertainment Archives - The Santa Barbara Independent

Featured Stories

ON the Beat | Seasonal Revelry, with Historical Roots

ON the Beat | Seasonal Revelry, with Historical Roots

ON the Beat By Josef Woodard

“Christmas Revels” celebrates the longest day, and its own long-running tradition, Messiah Singalongers make a mighty noise.

Film Review | Or Not to Be

Film Review | Or Not to Be

Film By Josef Woodard

Chloe Zhao’s ‘Hamnet’ brings an affecting blend of post-Shakespearean drama, mysticism, and revisionist history to the screen.

ON Culture | A Merry Streaming Season with Glad Tidings on the Way

ON Culture | A Merry Streaming Season with Glad Tidings on the Way

ON Culture By Leslie Dinaberg

This edition of ON Culture was originally emailed to subscribers on December 19, 2025. To receive Leslie Dinaberg’s arts newsletter

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Celesta M. Billeci Joins The Music Center, L.A.’s Performing Arts Center

Celesta M. Billeci Joins The Music Center, L.A.’s Performing Arts Center

Dance By Leslie Dinaberg

Album Review | ‘The Fine Art of Forgetting’ by Joe Woodard

Album Review | ‘The Fine Art of Forgetting’ by Joe Woodard

Music By Eric Larson

Film Review | Loaded and Lyrical Bar Talk

Film Review | Loaded and Lyrical Bar Talk

Film By Josef Woodard

Book Review | ‘The Future of Truth’ by Werner Herzog

Book Review | ‘The Future of Truth’ by Werner Herzog

Books By George Yatchisin

ON the Beat | Well-Voiced Choirs, Christmas-Timed

ON the Beat | Well-Voiced Choirs, Christmas-Timed

ON the Beat By Josef Woodard

Photographic Memory and Mystery

Photographic Memory and Mystery

Visual Arts By Josef Woodard

Empathy Is Punk

Empathy Is Punk

Books By Leslie Dinaberg

Chadillac Green: The Wonderful Wizard of Arts

Chadillac Green: The Wonderful Wizard of Arts

Cover Story By Roger Durling

Review | Rock & Soul & Yule Revue

Review | Rock & Soul & Yule Revue

Music By Josef Woodard

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Music

Album Review | ‘The Fine Art of Forgetting’ by Joe Woodard

Album Review | ‘The Fine Art of Forgetting’ by Joe Woodard

Music By Eric Larson

Review | Rock & Soul & Yule Revue

Review | Rock & Soul & Yule Revue

Music By Josef Woodard

Opera Santa Barbara Pianist Moves On

Opera Santa Barbara Pianist Moves On

Music By Josef Woodard

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Visual Arts

Photographic Memory and Mystery

Photographic Memory and Mystery

Visual Arts By Josef Woodard

Chadillac Green: The Wonderful Wizard of Arts

Chadillac Green: The Wonderful Wizard of Arts

Cover Story By Roger Durling

Abstraction of Many Colors and Codes

Abstraction of Many Colors and Codes

Visual Arts By Josef Woodard

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ON Culture

ON Culture | A Merry Streaming Season with Glad Tidings on the Way

ON Culture | A Merry Streaming Season with Glad Tidings on the Way

ON Culture By Leslie Dinaberg

ON Culture | Rockin’ Around the Holiday Season

ON Culture | Rockin’ Around the Holiday Season

ON Culture By Leslie Dinaberg

ON Culture | ‘Tis the Season for All Sorts of Fun Happenings

ON Culture | ‘Tis the Season for All Sorts of Fun Happenings

ON Culture By Leslie Dinaberg

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Theater

Theater Review | Dreamy Expectations Are More than Met with the Rubicon-Acting Company Collaboration

Theater Review | Dreamy Expectations Are More than Met with the Rubicon-Acting Company Collaboration

Theater By Maggie Yates

Find Out ‘WHODUNIT’ at CAW This Holiday Season

Find Out ‘WHODUNIT’ at CAW This Holiday Season

Theater By Leslie Dinaberg

Theater Review | ‘Kinky Boots’ Kicks Off the Broadway in Santa Barbara Series with a Bang

Theater Review | ‘Kinky Boots’ Kicks Off the Broadway in Santa Barbara Series with a Bang

Theater By Leslie Dinaberg

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Reviews

Review | Mozart Meets the Moderns

Review | Mozart Meets the Moderns

Reviews By Josef Woodard

Review | Ten Years After Paris, Eagles of Death Metal Soar

Review | Ten Years After Paris, Eagles of Death Metal Soar

Music By Stuart C. Paul, Photos by Stuart C. Paul

Review | Lauren Patten in Concert at Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre

Reviews By Maggie Yates

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Film & TV

Film Review | Or Not to Be

Film Review | Or Not to Be

Film By Josef Woodard

Film Review | Loaded and Lyrical Bar Talk

Film Review | Loaded and Lyrical Bar Talk

Film By Josef Woodard

Streaming Santa Style

Streaming Santa Style

Film By Leslie Dinaberg

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ON the Beat

ON the Beat | Seasonal Revelry, with Historical Roots

ON the Beat | Seasonal Revelry, with Historical Roots

ON the Beat By Josef Woodard

ON the Beat | Well-Voiced Choirs, Christmas-Timed

ON the Beat | Well-Voiced Choirs, Christmas-Timed

ON the Beat By Josef Woodard

ON the Beat | Choral Parading News

ON the Beat | Choral Parading News

ON the Beat By Josef Woodard

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Dance

Celesta M. Billeci Joins The Music Center, L.A.’s Performing Arts Center

Celesta M. Billeci Joins The Music Center, L.A.’s Performing Arts Center

Dance By Leslie Dinaberg

Dance Review | Winter Suite Is a Delightful Holiday Treat

Dance Review | Winter Suite Is a Delightful Holiday Treat

Dance By Jatila van der Veen

Dance Review | A Spectacular ‘Swan Lake’ with a Surprise Ending

Dance Review | A Spectacular ‘Swan Lake’ with a Surprise Ending

Dance By Jatila van der Veen

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Books

Book Review | ‘The Future of Truth’ by Werner Herzog

Book Review | ‘The Future of Truth’ by Werner Herzog

Books By George Yatchisin

Empathy Is Punk

Empathy Is Punk

Books By Leslie Dinaberg

‘The People vs. the Golden State Killer’ Is an Inside Look at One of the Most Notorious Serial Killers in California History

‘The People vs. the Golden State Killer’ Is an Inside Look at One of the Most Notorious Serial Killers in California History

Books By Tessa Reeg

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All Booked

All Booked | Just a Dash of Christmas Cheer

All Booked | Just a Dash of Christmas Cheer

All Booked By Tessa Reeg

All Booked | Wine & Food Books to Imbibe

All Booked | Wine & Food Books to Imbibe

All Booked By Tessa Reeg & Matt Kettmann

All Booked | All That Glitters

All Booked | All That Glitters

All Booked By Tessa Reeg

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Comedy

An Evening of Laughter and Connection for CommUnify

An Evening of Laughter and Connection for CommUnify

Community By Leslie Dinaberg

Comedians Come Together for CommUnify

Comedians Come Together for CommUnify

Comedy By Leslie Dinaberg

Charlie Sheen: Alive On Stage Performance Canceled

Charlie Sheen: Alive On Stage Performance Canceled

Comedy By Leslie Dinaberg

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Poetry Matters

Poetry Connection | Connecting with ‘Pedregosa St.’

Poetry Connection | Connecting with ‘Pedregosa St.’

Poetry Connection By Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate 2023-2025

Poetry Connection | Connecting with Family Friends at Thanksgiving

Poetry Connection | Connecting with Family Friends at Thanksgiving

Poetry Matters By Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate 2023-2025

Poetry Connection | The Blue Whale Reading Series

Poetry Connection | The Blue Whale Reading Series

Poetry Matters By Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Poet Laureate 2023-2025

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