ALBRIGHT, ANGELOU ARE AMONG FEATURED SPEAKERS.

Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS - From the world stage to the Fred Kavli Theatre, former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, poet Maya Angelou and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa are just some of the movers and shakers coming to Thousand Oaks.

The Distinguished Speaker Series has opened its sixth season and for the first time is including appearances at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

``We are very excited,'' said Thomas Mitze, the city's theaters director. ``These are eight speakers who are nationally famous, some are world famous. They represent wide variety points of view from environmental protection to world politics, which is particularly interesting these days.

``It's a wonderful opportunity for people to see and hear people we see on the news.''

Other speakers in the 2001-02 season include environmentalist Erin Brockovich, who spoke Tuesday night and will speak Oct. 18 in Pasadena; George Stephanopoulos, a former adviser to President Clinton; and television newsman and commentator Bill O'Reilly.

Rounding out the lineup are radio host and author Garrison Keillor; and presidential kin Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower.

The family-owned Swan Productions kicked off its first season in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium with dignitaries such as former first lady Barbara Bush, political strategists James Carville and Mary Matlin and football coach Lou Holtz. Its venue also includes the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center.

``Over the years we've figured out who our audience is, and they are affluent and well-educated,'' said Kathy Winterhalder, who runs the company with her husband, sister and parents. ``Thousand Oaks seemed like a natural fit.''

Mitze said many Thousand Oaks residents had been driving to Pasadena to catch the speaker series.

Albright, who served in the Clinton administration and is the first woman to be secretary of state, was on top of the list of speakers audience wanted to hear, Winterhalder said.

She said the lineup of speakers always includes a world leader, such as this year's Walesa, the labor leader who helped end communism in Poland, four political figures, someone from the arts and someone from the scientific or adventure field.

``We try to make it diverse, but we lean heavily to politics because that is what our subscribers want to see,'' she said.

Each speaking event lasts two hours and includes a 45-minute question- and-answer period.

Over the years the series has hosted former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda, Jordan's Queen Noor, country singer Naomi Judd and newsman Walter Cronkite.

Some of the popular speakers included Colin Powell, the Dalai Lama, primatologist Jane Goodall and Dr. Beck Weathers, who survived a 1996 attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest that killed nine other climbers.

Winterhalder said the series hasn't always been successful in booking speakers, who must make a commitment a year in advance.

``We would love to have Jimmy Carter,'' she said. ``Every year we get a gracious 'no,' but we will keep on trying. Our audience wants to hear from him.

``Bill Clinton, we'll have him some day for sure,'' she said. ``Right now he is very expensive.

``And we always ask Bill Gates. Some day he may say yes.''

< For prices and speaking dates for Thousand Oaks and Pasadena venues, call [phone].