THEATRE news, REVIEWs,
& interviews
THE OUTSIDERS at La Jolla Playhouse
When you walk into the theatre, PonyBoy is already there, watching and waiting to tell his story. The new musical adaption of THE OUTSIDERS at the La Jolla Playhouse brings all of the restless energy and the building tensions of the novel, written by S.E.Hinton to the stage with dynamic performances and choreography. Extended through April 9th at the La Jolla Playhouse, see this show before it's gone!
THE XIXTH (THE NINETEENTH) at The Old Globe
The Old Globe Theatre is going for the gold with their World Premier THE XIXTH (The 19th). The show is funny, and thought-provoking, and shows that sadly, the issues of protesting systematic racism and looking for freedom and equality are still as relevant now as it was then. THE XIXTH is playing at The Old Globe through April 23rd.
GUNTOPIA at The Roustabouts Theatre Co
It took 3 years and one pandemic, but Will Cooper’s world premiere satire gUnTOPIA has finally opened to audiences at The Roustabouts Theatre Co. The show is a dark comedy pondering what life and society could look like if gun ownership was universal, and not carrying a weapon was against the law. gUnTOPIA is playing through April 2nd.
GOD OF CARNAGE at Backyard Renaissance
Backyard Renaissance pulls no punches with their current production of GOD OF CARNAGE- where two couples have come together to resolve a fight between their children, but it quickly devolves from polite pretense to a delightfully chaotic and comedic confrontation as the gloves start to come off. GOD OF CARNAGE from Backyard Renaissance is playing at 10th Avenue Arts Center through March 25th.
THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory Theatre
THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory Theatre brings a contemporary contemplation to a classic play with strong performances and a lovely set. THE CHERRY ORCHARD is playing through April 2nd at North Coast Repertory Theatre.
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE may be a beloved musical, but it isn’t staged that often- it requires an excellent cast to perform a show based on a classic painting by George Seurat, with the complicated but gorgeous Sondheim music to perform in order to make it great. Luckily, this show by CCAE Thearicals is stunningly good, from vocals to musicians, and scenery it is a show you do not want to miss. SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is playing through March 5th.
UNDER A BASEBALL SKY
San Diego has deep ties to baseball well before the Padres arrived on the scene. The Old Globe’s new play UNDER A BASEBALL SKY, set in Logan Hieghts shows how baseball can become an important thread in the tapestry of individuals and their communities. This 90-minute play has mystery, family, magical realism, and a lot of heart and is playing through March 12th at The Old Globe.
BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA at MOXIE Theatre
BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA now playing at Moxie Theatre through March 5th is a moving and thoughtful show about a father and daughters relationship, and is anchored by two excellent performances.
ANYTHING GOES at SDMT
Full of tap dancing, classic Cole Porter songs, and high seas hijinx, ANYTHING GOES now playing at San Diego Musical Theatre through March 12th is a delovely time at the theatre.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T at Lamb’s Players
R-E-S-P-E-C-T playing at Lamb’s Players Theatre welcomes everyone back to the ’60s with the fun and entertaining musical tribute to the women singers and songwriters of the 1960s playing through March 26th.
Interview: Director Jocelyn A. Brown of RIDE THE CYCLONE at Chance Theatre
Interview with Chance Theatre's RIDE THE CYCLONE director Jocelyn A. Brown on bringing this fan favorite musical to life on their stage through February 26th.
EL HURACÁN at Cygnet Theatre
Usually, the vanishing act is everyone’s favorite magic trick on stage, but for one family the magic is in the memories, and tragedy strikes when those start to disappear. EL HURACÁN at Cygnet Theatre explores the matriarchs, the memories, and the magic of one family in Miami through February 19th.
THE NOTEBOOKS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI at The Old Globe
THE NOTEBOOKS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI at The Old Globe brings a visually sumptuous peek into the mind of a creative genius. The production is so much more than a play; it is art, movement, dance, math, and philosophy all brought to life on stage.
RIPPED at Loud Fridge Theatre Group Is an Excellent and Nuanced Look at Sexual Consent
Loud Fridge Theatre Group started off its 2023 theatrical year with an excellent and thoughtfully nuanced look at a sexual assault on a college campus. RIPPED from Loud Fridge Theatre Group is playing through February 5th at OnStage Playhouse.
Directors Kate Rose Reynolds & John Wells III Talk about “RIPPED” at Loud Fridge Theatre Group
Interview with RIPPED directors Kate Rose Reynolds and John Wells III, about working together as joint directors, and why this play is more topical than ever as it explores from multiple angles an incident of a female college freshman who believes she was sexually assaulted.
Playwright Interviews for “CELEBRATING COMMUNITY VOICES” at The Old Globe
Playwrights Gignerlily Lowe and Daryl ”Scooter” Davis talk about their plays and being a part of the CELEBRATING COMMUNITY VOICES presentation, a part of the upcoming 10th annual Old Globe Powers New Voices FestivalJan 13 - 15, 2023.
MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Power, sex, consent, double standards in leadership -all the themes are as current now as ever in The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley's Graduate Theatre Program's production of MEASURE FOR MEASURE by William Shakespeare. Directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg, the cast talks about their experience working on the play, which is playing through November 20th.
MÍA: ALL MINE
MÍA: ALL MINE makes its US premiere with a powerful and thoughtful play for theatre audiences of all ages. Presented by Bocón, a theatre company that has dedicated itself to creating art for audiences of all ages, director Daniel Jáquez talks about working on this show and directing it for English and Spanish performances through November 20th.
SCOTT ROBBINS AND THE TRAVELING SHOW
Playwright and composer Tyler Tafolla brings his new musical comedy SCOTT ROBBINS AND THE TRAVELING SHOW as a guest production at Diversionary Theatre Friday, November 11th, and Saturday, November 12th only. Tafolla talks about creating the piece, his inspiration , and the hope that this new musical promises to bring a sense of wonder and inspire performers and audience members alike to believe in the magic of theatre.
Interview: Playwright Nathan Englander
It would be easy to wonder about the person who can write a show as funny, heartfelt, insightful, and contemplative as WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANNE FRANK. Yet when speaking with playwright Nathan Englander it becomes clear that the humor, the nimble turn of phrase and topic, and then somehow turning back to come together at the end is exactly how his mind works. Englander talks about his process of turning his short story of the same name into the quick-witted comedy now playing at The Old Globe through October 23rd.