DLS Home 2026
Welcome to Riverside Theatre's Distinguished Lecturer Series
The longest continuously-running lecture series in Vero Beach.
The Riverside Theatre Distinguished Lecturer Series is proud to enter its 28th season of bringing the finest and most diversified guest lecturers to one of the preeminent theatre locations on the Treasure Coast. We invite you to join us this season as we celebrate our rich and notable past, and our exciting future. Learn more about the Lecturer Series.
Vero’s premiere lecturer series is proud of its distinguished and diversified list of speakers this year. We promise you will learn, you will think, you will be stimulated, and you will be entertained. View our past speakers.
Monday, January 12
MICHAEL MCFAUL
Former Ambassador to Russia
Michael McFaul is the Ken Olivier and Angela Nomellini Professor of International Studies in Political Science, Director and Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, and the Peter and Helen Bing Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, all at Stanford University. He joined the Stanford faculty in 1995. He is also an international affairs analyst for NBC News and writes a weekly column on global affairs at McFaul’s World on Substack.
LECTURE TIMES: 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Monday, February 9
SIR NIALL FERGUSON
British/American Historian
Niall Ferguson is a British historian and author, acclaimed for his work on economic history, empire, and globalization. He is currently the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. Niall is a prolific commentator and consultant on contemporary economic and political issues, known for his ability to connect historical insights with current global trends.
LECTURE TIMES: 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Monday, March 30
KEVIN O'LEARY
"Mr. Wonderful"
Kevin O’Leary’s success story began in his native Canada, “with a big idea and zero cash.” In 1986, he founded SoftKey Software Products, later to be called The Learning Company, in his Toronto basement. Under O’Leary’s leadership, the company became a giant in its sector before it was acquired for $4.2 billion.
LECTURE TIMES: 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Monday, April 20
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS
47th Governor of Arkansas and Former White House Press Secretary
Inaugurated on January 10, 2023, she is the first woman to serve as governor of the state and currently is the youngest governor in the country.
Since taking office, Sarah has enacted transformational, conservative reforms. Those include Arkansas LEARNS, a sweeping overhaul of Arkansas’ education system, including higher teacher pay and universal school choice; public safety reforms to invest in prison space and get repeat offenders off the streets; tax cuts to give more taxpayer money back to Arkansans; the Natural State Initiative to grow Arkansas’ outdoor economy; and reforms to streamline state government.
LECTURE TIMES: 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
HAVE A QUESTION FOR ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS?
Send it to us on our contact page.
As in past years, the expertise and notoriety of our guest lecturers can lead to sold out performances. We encourage you to subscribe now to ensure your choice of performance time and seat selection.
Riverside Theatre is the preeminent entertainment venue for Vero Beach and surrounding areas. Riverside Theatre Distinguished Lecturer Series has welcomed over 100 distinguished lecturers over the past 26 years and is a major fundraiser for Riverside Theatre.