About Us:

Opened in 1990, the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts at Whittier College boasts two state-of-the-art venues: the 403-seat Robinson Theatre and the more intimate 75-seat Studio Theatre. The Shannon Center also houses technical support areas and academic facilities for the Whittier College Department of Theatre Arts. Among the artists who have graced the stage are Oscar-winning composer Henry Mancini, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz, and the Grammy-award winning group Los Lobos.

For the past twenty years, the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts at Whittier College has offered outstanding programs that reflect the diverse interests and cultural backgrounds of Southern California, including our world famous Aloha Series; our Inside Latin Jazz series; children’s music and theater; Broadway, jazz and cabaret performers; folk musicians and singer-songwriters; classical musicians and composers; and the list goes on and on. In addition, the Shannon Center annually plays host to the Department of Theatre Arts' fall and spring productions, the Department of Music's J.S. Bach Festival, the Whittier College Writers' Festival, and a full slate of guest lectures, special performances, and holiday events.