ALL THE NATALIE PORTMANS to Make San Diego Premiere at Carlsbad Playreaders
Michael Amira Temple leads the cast as Keyonna in the Schulman Auditorium staged reading.
Carlsbad Playreaders (CPR) continues its 2026 season with a staged reading of All the Natalie Portmans by C.A. Johnson, marking the play's regional premiere in San Diego County. The performance will take place Monday, August 31, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Carlsbad City Library, Dove Library branch.
Directed by Bryan Barbarin, All the Natalie Portmans follows Keyonna, a Black teenager who escapes into old movies starring Natalie Portman to cope with the instability of her home life and who begins to imagine the actress as a guide, confidante, and mirror for the life she longs to live. C.A. Johnson's play blends humor and heartbreak in an unflinching look at family, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
Cast
Michael Amira Temple as Keyonna
Jocorey Mitchell as Samuel
Monique Gaffney as Ovetta
Nio Russell as Chantel
Katie Sapper as Natalie Portman
Elizabeth Guiten, Stage Directions
'This is a play about the stories we tell ourselves to get through hard things and it does it with so much heart and humor. I fell in love with it immediately, and I think our audiences will too.' said Melissa Fernandes, Artistic Director of Carlsbad Playreaders.
As with all Carlsbad Playreaders productions, All the Natalie Portmans will be presented as a staged reading: a stripped-down, actor-driven format that puts the play's language and performances front and center.
Event Details
What: All the Natalie Portmans by C.A. Johnson, a staged reading (San Diego regional premiere)
When: Monday, August 31, 2026, at 7:00 PM
Where: Carlsbad City Library, Dove Library, Schulman Auditorium 1775 Dove Lane Carlsbad, CA 92011
Tickets: 'Pay what you can' at the door.
For more info, go to the Playreaders website here.
Carlsbad Playreaders is a staged reading theater company based in North County San Diego, dedicated to bringing thought-provoking, contemporary, and classic plays to life through the power of live performance and spoken word. Through its readings, CPR fosters a love of theater and storytelling throughout the region, making theatre accessible to everyone.
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