Skip to main content
My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Costa Mesa Theater Reviews

The latest reviews and critic recommendations from Costa Mesa.

BWW Reviews: SCR Revives Brit Comedy ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR

BWW Reviews: SCR Revives Brit Comedy ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR

by Michael L. Quintos — September 28, 2012

British playwright Alan Ayckbourn's amusing 1972 comedy ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR--which celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year--is currently eliciting chuckles through October 7 at South Coat Repertory in Costa Mesa.

BWW Reviews: OC's 3D Theatricals Presents Enjoyable Berlin Revue I LOVE A PIANO

BWW Reviews: OC's 3D Theatricals Presents Enjoyable Berlin Revue I LOVE A PIANO

by Michael L. Quintos — September 18, 2012

Orange County-based 3D Theatrical's surprisingly ebullient new production of the Irving Berlin musical revue I LOVE PIANO--now performing through September 23 at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton before it moves to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, September 28-30--is buoyed by its compose

BWW Reviews: High-Energy MEMPHIS Tour Says 'Hock-a-doo!' to L.A.

BWW Reviews: High-Energy MEMPHIS Tour Says 'Hock-a-doo!' to L.A.

by Michael L. Quintos — August 9, 2012

While overly melodramatic and a bit cliched, MEMPHIS--the winner of the 2010 Tony Award for Best Musical now performing at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through August 12--is, overall, a rousing, electrically-charged show that rightfully triumphs because of its slick production values and its in

BWW Reviews: OC's Chance Theater Stages Reworked WEST SIDE STORY

BWW Reviews: OC's Chance Theater Stages Reworked WEST SIDE STORY

by Michael L. Quintos — August 6, 2012

Once again making the audacious gamble to re-work one of musical theater's most sacred properties, the little award-winning theater company with big visions, the Chance Theater, is currently staging an admirable, revamped version of the Laurents/Bernstein/Sondheim classic WEST SIDE STORY for a just-

BWW Reviews: Sieber Draws Big Cheers in Smaller-Scaled LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

BWW Reviews: Sieber Draws Big Cheers in Smaller-Scaled LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

by Michael L. Quintos — July 30, 2012

As presented in its current iteration, the current national tour of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, for the most part, remains a genuinely entertaining enterprise--a cheeky farce filled with super silly situations, wildly outrageous characters, a witty book by Harvey Fierstein, and a memorable Jerry Herman scor

BWW Reviews: Stroman Brilliantly Re-Stages THE PRODUCERS for the Hollywood Bowl

BWW Reviews: Stroman Brilliantly Re-Stages THE PRODUCERS for the Hollywood Bowl

by Michael L. Quintos — July 28, 2012

Ridiculously silly in all the right ways and featuring a comically gifted, star-studded principal cast--headed up by Richard Kind, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Rebecca Romijn, Dane Cook, Gary Beach, and Roger Bart--that delivers the goods with infectious gusto, this large-scale revival on this outdoor aren

BWW Reviews: Sondheim Shares First-hand Insights in Retrospective Concert

BWW Reviews: Sondheim Shares First-hand Insights in Retrospective Concert

by Michael L. Quintos — July 25, 2012

Making good on his promise to eventually show up in Orange County to speak about his enduring career in the theater, legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim finally made his long-awaited appearance at the Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa for the landmark event STEPHEN SONDHEIM: IN CONVERSA

BWW Reviews: Cathy Rigby Flies Back to Neverland as PETER PAN

BWW Reviews: Cathy Rigby Flies Back to Neverland as PETER PAN

by Michael L. Quintos — June 18, 2012

Something truly magical is happening right now in the city of La Mirada: almost 22 years after earning a Tony nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for playing this very same role, the ever-so vigorous Cathy Rigby looks about as spunky and acrobatic as she's ever been in this brand-new produ

BWW Reviews: THE ADDAMS FAMILY Musical Scares Up Laughs in L.A.

BWW Reviews: THE ADDAMS FAMILY Musical Scares Up Laughs in L.A.

by Michael L. Quintos — June 14, 2012

Now scaring up laughs at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through June 17, THE ADDAMS FAMILY: THE MUSICAL is a charmingly corny, ghoulishly droll musical comedy that features hummable music and a made-for-TV-ready story that is genuinely hilarious from top to bottom.

BWW Reviews: Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT Musical Rocks Costa Mesa

BWW Reviews: Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT Musical Rocks Costa Mesa

by Michael L. Quintos — June 6, 2012

While watching the super-charged, though slightly frustrating Tony-nominated alt-rock musical AMERICAN IDIOT--whose national touring company recently spent a brief week at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, CA--one can't help but feel genuinely entertained by the spectacle of it al

BWW Reviews: OC's 3D Theatricals Revives A CHORUS LINE

BWW Reviews: OC's 3D Theatricals Revives A CHORUS LINE

by Michael L. Quintos — May 24, 2012

Orange County, CA-based 3D Theatricals presents a fine, top-notch revival of the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning A CHORUS LINE, now playing at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton through May 27.

BWW Reviews: Brinkley Headlines CHICAGO Tour in L.A. Return

BWW Reviews: Brinkley Headlines CHICAGO Tour in L.A. Return

by Michael L. Quintos — May 18, 2012

The six-time Tony-winning 1996 Revival of CHICAGO is still earning cheers and packing in audiences both on Broadway (now in its 16th year!) and its still-running national tour--the latter of which has shimmied its way back to L.

BWW Reviews: La Mirada Presents Impressive MISS SAIGON Revival

BWW Reviews: La Mirada Presents Impressive MISS SAIGON Revival

by Michael L. Quintos — May 3, 2012

If you're looking for a good example of what great hidden gems are being produced at Southern California regional theaters these days, then look (and listen) no further than the enjoyable revival of the smash musical MISS SAIGON currently playing at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts thro

BWW Reviews: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Rocks to Life in the O.C. through 5/6

BWW Reviews: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Rocks to Life in the O.C. through 5/6

by Michael L. Quintos — May 1, 2012

Inspired by one fortuitous day that still resonates in the timeline of rock-and-roll history, the Tony Award-nominated Broadway hit MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET--now playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through May 6--is a genuinely enjoyable, musically-rich stage show that's high o

BWW Reviews: SCR Stages World Premiere Musical CLOUDLANDS, Ends 5/6

BWW Reviews: SCR Stages World Premiere Musical CLOUDLANDS, Ends 5/6

by Michael L. Quintos — April 30, 2012

Despite an intriguing premise and a lovely-sounding score delivered by a brilliant cast, CLOUDLANDS--the stirring but jumbled new Adam Gwon/Octavio Solis musical now having its commissioned World Premiere production at South Coast Repertory through May 6--just doesn't quite wow your socks off.

BWW Reviews: Funny Parodies Rule MTW's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 2, Ends 4/29

BWW Reviews: Funny Parodies Rule MTW's FORBIDDEN BROADWAY 2, Ends 4/29

by Michael L. Quintos — April 27, 2012

Full of biting wit and hilarious parodies of various popular Broadway shows--and the famous actors that star in them--Musical Theatre West's cabaret-style send-up FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2 plays its final, laugh-filled set of performances this weekend ending April 29 at the Carpent

BWW Reviews: Rousing BILLY ELLIOT Earns Worthy Cheers in L.A.

BWW Reviews: Rousing BILLY ELLIOT Earns Worthy Cheers in L.A.

by Michael L. Quintos — April 26, 2012

Charming and unabashedly buoyant, BILLY ELLIOT--which danced away with 10 fairly well-deserved Tony Award wins including Best Musical back in 2009--is a smile-inducing, pleasingly-staged musical based on the 2000 film.

BWW Reviews: SCR Stages Funny Debut Play THE PRINCE OF ATLANTIS

BWW Reviews: SCR Stages Funny Debut Play THE PRINCE OF ATLANTIS

by Michael L. Quintos — April 13, 2012

In THE PRINCE OF ATLANTIS, Steven Drukman's funny new play set in the heavy-accented neighborhood of Nonantum, Massachusetts, the characters all seem to believe that the key to good relations with others and living a good life (or at least a nicer-than-average one) is to make things appear better th

BWW Reviews: Street-Savvy 'TRACES' Leaps to The O.C.

BWW Reviews: Street-Savvy 'TRACES' Leaps to The O.C.

by Michael L. Quintos — March 2, 2012

A recent critical hit in New York as well as in its stop in Los Angeles last year, the Montreal-based TRACES is a sensational e-ticket thrill ride of a show that mixes extraordinary circus feats with the easy-going vibe of urban cool.

BroadwayWorld TV


TLC, Salt-N-Pepa & En Vogue in Costa Mesa TLC, Salt-N-Pepa & En Vogue
Toyota Pavilion at Concord (10/11-10/11)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Costa Mesa Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (7/05-7/25)
Pokemon Night Out: Marshmello & Alison Wonderland in Costa Mesa Pokemon Night Out: Marshmello & Alison Wonderland
Intuit Dome (10/24-10/24)
Alison Krauss and Union Station in Costa Mesa Alison Krauss and Union Station
Pacific Amphitheatre (8/29-8/29)
Back to the Future in Concert in Costa Mesa Back to the Future in Concert
Great Park Live (8/01-8/01)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Costa Mesa Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (7/11-7/25)
Tchaikovsky Spectacular: Concert of Hope in Costa Mesa Tchaikovsky Spectacular: Concert of Hope
Tchaikovsky Spectacular: Concert of Hope (9/05-9/05)
Comedy Oakland at Elbo Room Sat Aug 1 7pm in Costa Mesa Comedy Oakland at Elbo Room Sat Aug 1 7pm
Elbo Room Jack London (8/01-8/01)
The Book of Mormon (Non-Equity) in Costa Mesa The Book of Mormon (Non-Equity)
Segerstrom Center for the Arts (12/29-1/03)
Pageant of the Masters “The Greatest of All Time” in Costa Mesa Pageant of the Masters “The Greatest of All Time”
Festival of Arts (7/09-9/04)