Lauren King Thompson News

HEAD OVER HEELS now playing at Diversionary Theatre is a zippy, pop culture, pop song, technicolor crowd pleaser celebrating the music of the Go-Go’s.  HEAD OVER HEELS is playing through June 18th.

Diversionary Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for its San Diego-premiere of Head Over Heels, a musical based upon “The Arcadia” by Sir Philip Sidney, with songs by the iconic 80's all-girl rock band, The Go-Go's. 

“boy: a new musical” made it's stage debut in a concert fundraiser at SDMT stage on Monday, May 16th. “boy: a new musical” is still in the development stage, and the concert was a fundraiser to help them continue to work on the show and present it to industry professionals in New York. 

Interview with Jonathan Sangster book writer, conceiver, and co-lyrist of 'boy: a new musical' on creating the show, his talented cast, and the concert fundraiser Monday, May 16th at the SDMT Stage.

The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle has announced the nominations for its 2018 Craig Noel Awards. Now in its 17th year, the Craig Noel Awards honor the achievements of professional theaters in San Diego County. The nominees are chosen by a nine-member body of professional critics who write for San Diego newspapers, magazines, online publications and blogs.

There is an infectious energy that starts with the opening beats of San Diego Musical Theatre's HAIRPSRPAY at the Horton Grand Theatre that grabs the audience and doesn't let them go.  There is no need to ask what gives this show power and punch, because with this top notch cast, the choreography, and the sense of joy in the telling, because you just know that it's HAIRSPRAY.

Here is a first look at production photos for San Diego Musical Theatre's production of the Tony-Award winning Broadway musical HAIRSPRAY, which opened on Saturday night!

San Diego Musical Theatre announced today the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of Hairspray. Hairspray, winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Book, is a family-friendly musical, piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs. Music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Hairspray will be directed by J. Scott Lapp (SDMT's First Date), with choreography by Jill Gorrie (SDMT's Singin' in the Rain, 42nd Street, Damn Yankees), and music direction by Don LeMaster. Hairspray runs August 3 - September 2, 2018 at the historic Horton Grand Theatre, with press opening on Saturday, August 4 at 8:00 PM.

San Diego Musical Theatre announced today the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of Hairspray. Hairspray, winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Book, is a family-friendly musical, piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs. Music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Hairspray will be directed by J. Scott Lapp (SDMT's First Date), with choreography by Jill Gorrie (SDMT's Singin' in the Rain, 42nd Street, Damn Yankees), and music direction by Don LeMaster. Hairspray runs August 3 - September 2, 2018 at the historic Horton Grand Theatre, with press opening on Saturday, August 4 at 8:00 PM.

After the lauded World Premiere of The Boy Who Danced On Air, Diversionary is proud to produce the World Premiere of another groundbreaking new musical.

ANIMAL CRACKERS is playing at the Cygnet Theater through August 13th. For tickets and show times go to www.cygnettheatre.com

Cygnet Theatre will launch its 15th season with the musical comedy Animal Crackers, the hallmark of the Marx Brothers lunacy, based on the 1928 Broadway hit with book by Broadway masters George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind.  The success of the play was followed by the film version (1930), which launched the brothers into film stardom, never again appearing on Broadway. The Marx Brothers are commonly thought to be among the greatest and most influential comedians of the 20th century.

You go on a blind date organized by your sister's husband or a work colleague, and you meet a complete stranger in a busy, inner-city cafe; What could possibly go wrong - apart from everything? Opposites attract in this uproarious romantic musical comedy about the chances we take to find love. When blind date newbie Aaron meets serial dater Casey, a first date turns into a hilarious high stakes dinner. In an unexpected twist, Aaron and Casey's inner critics' transform restaurant patrons into scheming exes, overbearing parents, and supportive best friends who sing and dance them through their date. Will Aaron and Casey be able to turn this disastrous date around before the check arrives?

San Diego Musical Theatre (SDMT) presents the complete cast and creative team for the San Diego Regional Premiere of First Date. This musical comedy includes music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, with a book by Austin Winsberg. First Date marks the opening of SDMT's 2017 Off Broadway Series and features direction by J. Scott Lapp, music direction by Jon Lorenz, and choreography by Allison Spratt Pearce. Performances run from March 31 - May 7, 2017 at the Horton Grand Theatre. 

In addition to planning an Off-Broadway series at the Horton Grand Theatre, SDMT is cultivating two, site-specific works; LAST NIGHT IN TOWN - a new musical based on the discography of Ben Folds, and HALL PASS - an immersive musical set and performed in a high school. Both musicals were featured in New York University's Forum on Site-Specific Performance in 2015. LAST NIGHT IN TOWN has another San Diego connection: one of the show's creators, Amy Cordileone, grew up in San Diego and worked locally for many years before moving to New York City.

Cygnet's tradition of shows performed in rotating rep continues with Noel Coward's HAY FEVER (dir. Rob Lutfy) and THE VORTEX (dir. Sean Murray). These two plays turned Coward into an overnight sensation, one light and madcap, the other dark and shocking. Written at the same time, they represent opposite sides of Coward's talent. San Diego favorite Rosina Reynolds takes on the strong female roles in both these productions. Opening night for both productions is Today, October 3rd at 3 (HAY FEVER) and 8 pm (THE VORTEX). BroadwayWorld has a first look at both shows in action below!

Cygnet's tradition of shows performed in rotating rep continues with Noel Coward's Hay Fever (dir. Rob Lutfy) and The Vortex (dir. Sean Murray). These two plays turned Coward into an overnight sensation, one light and madcap, the other dark and shocking. Written at the same time, they represent opposite sides of Coward's talent. San Diego favorite Rosina Reynolds takes on the strong female roles in both these productions. Opening night for both productions is Today, October 3rd at 3 (Hay Fever) and 8 pm (The Vortex).

Cygnet's tradition of shows performed in rotating rep continues with Noel Coward's HAY FEVER (dir. Rob Lutfy) and THE VORTEX (dir. Sean Murray). These two plays turned Coward into an overnight sensation, one light and madcap, the other dark and shocking. Written at the same time, they represent opposite sides of Coward's talent. San Diego favorite Rosina Reynolds takes on the strong female roles in both these productions. Opening night for both productions is Saturday, October 3rd at 3 (HAY FEVER) and 8 pm (THE VORTEX). BroadwayWorld has a first look at both shows in action below!

Cygnet's tradition of shows performed in rotating rep continues with Noel Coward's Hay Fever (dir. Rob Lutfy) and The Vortex (dir. Sean Murray). These two plays turned Coward into an overnight sensation, one light and madcap, the other dark and shocking. Written at the same time, they represent opposite sides of Coward's talent. San Diego favorite Rosina Reynolds takes on the strong female roles in both these productions. Opening night for both productions is Saturday, October 3rd at 3 (Hay Fever) and 8 pm (The Vortex).