California Baptist University opens ticket sales earlier than ever for its popular performing arts lineup, encouraging Riverside families to secure seats now for a season of musicals, plays, and a beloved holiday tradition.
Plan Ahead for a Season of Spectacle: Tickets for A CBU Christmas and 2025–26 Theatre Now Available
California Baptist University opens ticket sales earlier than ever for its popular performing arts lineup, encouraging Riverside families to secure seats now for a season of musicals, plays, and a beloved holiday tradition.
Tickets are now on sale for A CBU Christmas and the 2025–26 theatre season. Due to popular demand—and two consecutive years of sold-out performances—California Baptist University has made ticket offerings available earlier than ever before.
“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 are as follows:
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,” inspired by Philippians 4:11: “Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” Each performance aims to remind believers they can flourish wherever 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 junior theatre major. “Our CBU audiences will experience a well-rounded season of laughter and charm coupled with deep questions about humanity and the importance of connection.”
Although auditions and rehearsals won’t begin until September 2025, announcing the season early allows theatergoers to plan ahead and gives students something exciting to look forward to.
A CBU Christmas has become a signature event for the Inland Empire community. Both the 2023 and 2024 performances sold out, and CBU anticipates the 2025 shows will follow suit.
This year marks the eighth annual presentation of A CBU Christmas, one of the most spectacular holiday performances in the region. More than 500 students and faculty are expected to participate.
CBU’s Collinsworth School of Performing Arts offers high-quality, engaging performances while training versatile and skilled artists. In addition to A CBU Christmas, the school hosts a variety of performances throughout the year, including theatre, jazz ensembles, choir and orchestra, commercial music, opera, and more. For a full list of upcoming events, visit calbaptist.edu/performing-arts/events.
Collinsworth School of Performing Arts Season Tickets
When: Beginning Oct. 10
Where: Wallace Theatre, California Baptist University, 8432 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92504
Through wars, recessions, and a pandemic, Riverside’s longest-running theater company has never gone dark—now it celebrates 100 seasons with an eye toward the future.
