THEATRE news, REVIEWs,
& interviews
IRIS & THE AXE
IRIS & THE AXE, the newest show by Turnkey Theatre is a “gothic choose your own adventure murder mystery” which makes it a perfect show for those that want to celebrate the spooky season while cuddled up with a nice cup of tea. IRIS & THE AXE is live streaming Oct. 1, 2, 15, and available on-demand October 1 - 31st.
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES
Cygnet Theatre offers to return theatre audiences what they truly want from a show - a fun, frothy musical, with heart and lots of glitter. They deliver on this with LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, which is playing through November 7th.
THE GARDEN
Charlayne Woodard's new play THE GARDEN, now playing at La Jolla Playhouse through Oct 17th, proves that relationships are like gardens; they need to be tended regularly in order to flourish. Featuring dynamic performances THE GARDEN is a moving play that is not to be missed.
THE GARDENS OF ANUNCIA
THE GARDENS OF ANUNCIA, the world premiere Old Globe commissioned musical is a lovely, funny, and heartfelt musical that celebrates the love of family, art, and even the adversity that helps a person truly bloom. THE GARDENS OF ANUNCIA is playing at The Old Globe through October 17th.
DANCING LESSONS
nd we're all listening to a different song. In DANCING LESSONS now playing at North Coast Rep through October, 3rd shows that all it takes is a little empathy, and trying to stretch out your comfort zone to find someone who will dance along with you, even if just for one song.
THE DROWNING GIRLS
THE DROWNING GIRLS at OnStage Playhouse is a compelling look at the true story of the "Brides in the Bath Murders." In this one act play three ghostly brides tell their tales and reflect on how love and marriage don't always equal a happily ever after...especially if you marry a serial killer. THE DROWNING GIRLS is dramatic, funny, wistful, and an indictment of a society that offers little to no opportunity for women to lead their own lives and is playing through September 26th.
HAIR
HAIR feels like a fitting show to open after the extended theatre shut down; it's full of hope, rage, protests, and the desire to make change happen. The Old Globe brings back this musical with an incredibly talented cast who have outstanding vocals, and direction that shows how relevant the show's themes still are today. HAIR is playing at The Old Globe through October 3rd.
Ailey
your name becomes bigger than yourself. Do you really know who that is or what it is? Alvin Ailey, You see a name but I don’t see a man.” This observation by Carmen De Lavallade, a dancer and choreographer, is not just a poignant observation but also a good way to describe the documentary “Ailey” that looks at the life of dance legend Alvin Ailey. “Ailey '' focuses on what made him the dancer and choreographer that he is, but is more enigmatic with details on the man behind the legend. “Ailey” premieres nationwide August 6th.
57 CHEVY
57 CHEVY, now streaming at San Diego Rep is a delightful road trip down memory lane in this one man show starring Ricardo Salinas. This comedic play provides plenty of characters and stories as it recounts life as an immigrant family, living up to a father's dreams for his kids, and the beloved 57 Chevy.
DR. GLAS
DR. GLAS, now streaming from North Coast Rep through August 15th tells the story of a doctor who finds it increasingly difficult to stay true to the “Do no harm” he promised when he became a doctor.
DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE
DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE: A LOVE LETTER EXPERIENCE is the newest virtual and interactive theatre event from The Old Globe and offers a thoroughly captivating, romantic, and lovely experience delivered to you through the mail. Mailings continue on the 1st and 15th of each month while supplies last.
Carmen Cusack at The Old Globe
It's no accident that the start of this weekend's live concert performances by Carmen Cusack at The Old Globe is her singing "I can't wait to see your face" as she enters the stage. It's the most appropriate song for a performer and the audience who have waited through quarantine, zoom performances, and another technology-based theatre to make it to this point - a performer who is live on stage. Carmen is performing her live concert at The Old Globe through Sunday, June 27th.
SWEAT at Chance Theater
SWEAT, the Lynn Nottage play now streaming from Chance Theatre, proves itself to be a play that offers plenty of food for thought on work, relationships, and the seemingly elusive American Dream. SWEAT is streaming through July 18th.SWEAT, the Lynn Nottage play now streaming from Chance Theatre, proves itself to be a play that offers plenty of food for thought on work, relationships, and the seemingly elusive American Dream. SWEAT is streaming through July 18th.
THE QUEER WITCH CONSPIRACY
THE QUEER WITCH PROJECT streaming through June 27th from The Seeing Place theatre is a world premiere play that explores representation, inclusion, cultural appropiation, and what lines can be drawn that can’t be crossed. Based on true events in 2015-2016, it follows an online group named “The Queer Witch Project” started with good intentions, and ends with a controversy about selling human bones.
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND
ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, now playing at Moonlight Amphitheater through July 3rd is a joyful, colorful, and exuberant show with powerhouse vocals that would blow the roof of the theatre if the amphitheater had one.
THE MANGO TREE
THE MANGO TREE, streaming from MOXIE Theatre, and a part of the SAY IT LOUD Juneteenth Festival from the San Diego Black Artists Collective is an excellent one-woman show about a river goddess, family, and just how much trouble one mango can get you. The show is available for streaming on June 15th, 18th, and 19th.
BEEHIVE
Often when thinking about the past it’s thought of in black and white, but BEEHIVE: THE 60S MUSICAL now playing from New Village Arts brings the songs and the personality of the 1960s into musical technicolor. This live show is running through July 25th at the Flower Fields stage in Carlsbad.
BECOMING DR. RUTH
If you had asked me about Dr. Ruth before I watched BECOMING Dr. Ruth I would have vague memories of an older lady with an accent who used to talk about sex on the radio in the '90s and early 2000s. Now, thanks to the stellar performance by Tovah Feldshuh in the play now streaming from North Coast Repertory Theatre, I have learned so much about Dr. Ruth's extraordinary life.If you had asked me about Dr. Ruth before I watched BECOMING Dr. Ruth I would have vague memories of an older lady with an accent who used to talk about sex on the radio in the '90s and early 2000s. Now, thanks to the stellar performance by Tovah Feldshuh in the play now streaming from North Coast Repertory Theatre, I have learned so much about Dr. Ruth's extraordinary life.If you had asked me about Dr. Ruth before I watched BECOMING Dr. Ruth I would have vague memories of an older lady with an accent who used to talk about sex on the radio in the '90s and early 2000s. Now, thanks to the stellar performance by Tovah Feldshuh in the play now streaming from North Coast Repertory Theatre, I have learned so much about Dr. Ruth's extraordinary life.
SHEEPDOG
SHEEPDOG is part mystery, part love story, and part current event discussion SHEEPDOG is a compellinglook at current events now playing at OnStage Playhouse through June 27th
PASSION: A KETUVIM PLAY
With an empathetic and engaging original work, TurnkKey Theatre premiers their second audio play with PASSION: A KETUVIM PLAY. Written and directed by Eliana Payne, this work uses letters to explore the life of Vashti, a Persian queen who discovers strength and self-confidence through love, and the power in the word "no."