Jonathan Blair Returns to Star in A CBU Christmas
News related to:California Baptist University · 2 min read
RIVERSIDE, CA, UNITED STATES, November 14, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- California Baptist University (CBU) alumnus Jonathan Blair, who recently starred in the film "A Great Awakening," is set to return to his alma mater to star in the ninth annual A CBU Christmas production. The event, presented by the Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts, will take place at the Dale E. and Sarah Ann Fowler Events Center in Riverside on December 5 and 6.
Blair, who played the role of evangelist George Whitefield in "A Great Awakening," will bring his storytelling skills to the stage to narrate the Christmas story. More than 500 CBU music and theatre students will join him on stage, making for a grand production that is expected to draw a large audience. The performances will be held at 2:30 and 7 p.m. on both days.
Blair, whose father is a professor of deaf studies and the founding director of CBU’s Center for Deaf Studies, sees this homecoming as a family affair. His connection to CBU began with his own filmmaking career, which started with the drama "Found on South Street" (2015), a film about a deaf man that he wrote, directed, and starred in. This year, Blair is excited to share his talents with the CBU community and hopes that every family in attendance will leave with a deeper sense of the wonder of Christmas.
The A CBU Christmas tradition has grown into one of the Inland Empire’s signature Christmas celebrations. Combining music, dance, and theatrical storytelling, the production aims to bring the story of Christ’s birth to life. This year’s theme focuses on the themes of light, hope, and the promise of Christ’s coming. The nativity story will be told, along with music inspired by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and powerful performances celebrating the true meaning of Christmas.
Dr. Joseph Bolin, dean of the Collinsworth School of Performing Arts, expressed excitement about showcasing the breadth of CBU students’ talent.
Founded in 1950, California Baptist University is the largest Christian university in California, offering more than 106 bachelor's programs, 44 graduate programs, and 11 doctoral programs, both on campus and online. The Shelby and Ferne Collinsworth School of Performing Arts offers accredited undergraduate and graduate degrees across four divisions: music education and performance, worship arts, commercial music, and theatre arts.
This year marks a standout year for Blair, as "A Great Awakening," produced by Sight & Sound Theatres, tells the true story of the unlikely friendship between the Rev. George Whitefield and Benjamin Franklin in the years before the American Revolution. Blair co-wrote the screenplay and brought Whitefield’s open-air sermons to life, a performance that critics praised.
For Blair, the CBU stage is a family affair. His father, Dr. Daniel Blair, is a professor of deaf studies and the founding director of CBU’s Center for Deaf Studies, which he has led since 2006. That connection shaped the younger Blair’s work from the start.