The Old Globe News

Ah, yes. 2013 was indeed an outstanding year for theater in Southern California. Even better: Orange County---my home base---boasted some of the best shows, period---marking an exciting theater renaissance in brilliance and artistry that I hope continues to grow here inside L.A.'s next door neighbor. With that said, here is my Top 10 Stage Shows of 2013 from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby, followed by my picks for the year's best performances.

Kyra Sedgwick and Len Cariou star in a reading of Joni Fritz's 'In The Car With Blossom And Len' today, December 16th at Ripley Grier Studios in New York City.

New Jersey Repertory Company will present the world premiere of 'Admit One', a new comedy by Wendy Yondorf playing January 16 through February 16, 2014 at 179 Broadway in Long Branch.

Huntington Theatre Company kicks off 2014 with David Ives' sexy Broadway smash hit Venus in Fur, deemed '90 minutes of good, kinky fun,' by The New York Times. Daniel Goldstein (God of Carnage) returns to the Huntington to the direct the 2012 Tony Award nominee for Best Play. Performances will begin on January 3 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre. Huntington just revealed its first promo for the show. Click below to check it out!

Stage Directors and Choreographers Workshop Foundation, The Pasadena Playhouse, and East West Players will present a forum to explore the current state of diversity in Southern California theatre focusing on the director's role and the questions:

Don't miss these holiday shows that open this weekend, or SIDE SHOW at the La Jolla Playhouse before it closes this weekend!

On Saturday, December 7, TheatreWorks opened the Broadway musical 'Little Women' to an enthusiastic, sold-out crowd in Palo Alto, CA. After the performance, attendees emerged into the courtyard of the Lucie Stern Theatre to find snow - make with theatre magic! - followed by a champagne reception and meet-and-greet with the cast. Check out photos below by David Allen.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Other Desert Cities. A riveting new play by Pulitzer Prize nominee and creator of TV's hit drama Brothers & Sisters, Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities was named the Outstanding Play by the Outer Critics Circle and called 'the best new play on Broadway' by The New York Times. Jackson Gay returns to direct this new production after helming the Alley Theatre's productions of August: Osage County, Red andIntelligence-Slave.

The spectacular new production of Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA will make its Twin Cities' premiere tonight, December 13, 2013 through January 5, 2014 at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. With newly re-invented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM has been an enormous success since its U.K. unveiling in March 2012.

The Old Globe today announced it will present the New Voices Festival, a weekend of readings of new American plays by both professional and aspiring playwrights, today, Dec. 13 - 15, 2013.

The Old Globe presented a one-night-only event, Barry Edelstein In Conversation with Jack O'Brien, on Monday, Dec. 2, 2013. BroadwayWorld has photos from the event below!

New Jersey Repertory Company is proud to present the world premiere of 'Admit One', a new comedy by Wendy Yondorf playing January 16 through February 16, 2014 at 179 Broadway in Long Branch.

Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara announces its 2013-14 Season in its new home, the New Vic, beginning with the hit Broadway musical A Little Night Music, inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film 'Smiles of a Summer Night. Directed by Ensemble Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Fox, A Little Night Music features one of Stephen Sondheim's best-known songs, 'Send in the Clowns.' A star-studded cast featuring Piper Laurie, Stephanie Zimbalist and Patrick Cassidy will christen the stage at the New Vic.

Casting is complete for the world premiere of Greg Edwards & Andy Sandberg's new comedy, Craving for Travel, which will run Off-Broadway January 9 - February 9, 2014 at the Peter J. Sharp Theater (416 W. 42nd Street, NYC).

Off-Broadway's award-winning Irish Repertory Theatre just announced the world premiere production of the new musical TRANSPORT. With book and lyrics by world-renowned Australian author Thomas Keneally (Schindler's List, the acclaimed book on which the Oscar-winning film is based) and music by Larry Kirwan (founder of the iconic New York City band Black 47), TRANSPORT follows the uneasy ocean voyage of Irish women who were sentenced and then exiled to the relatively uninhabited south coast of Australia in the mid-19th Century. TRANSPORT has direction and set design by three-time Tony Award-winning director and designer Tony Walton, and choreography by Barry McNabb (Irish Rep's FINIAN'S RAINBOW, STREETS OF NEW YORK). TRANSPORT will be performed February 7ththrough April 6th, 2014 on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage of the Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). The Press Opening is scheduled forFebruary 16th.

Kyra Sedgwick and Len Cariou will star in a reading of Joni Fritz's "In The Car With Blossom And Len" December 16th at Ripley Grier Studios in New York City.

According to an Equity casting notice, Bright Star, a musical by Edie Brickell & Steve Martin, will get a New York City workshop this spring, presented by the Old Globe Theatre. Walter Bobbie is set to direct the project, which will be presented March 6-7, 2014.

The American Theater Group will present a one-night only concert performance featuring songs from VERY VERY, the brand new electric adaptation of Shakespeare's classic comedy "As You Like It" reimagined as a contemporary rock concert on December 9, 2013 at 8:00 pm at Union County Performing Arts Center's Hamilton Stage. Acting Company Alum, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey Artistic Associate, and current Artistic Director of National Players with The Olney Theatre Center, Jason King Jones, will direct.

The Old Globe presents a one-night-only event, Barry Edelstein In Conversation with Jack O'Brien, tonight, Monday, Dec. 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Today, BroadwayWorld is thrilled to present a world premiere exclusive song from the new promotional original cast recording of the highly anticipated new musical ALLEGIANCE, starring Tony Award winner Lea Salonga alongside George Takei and Telly Leung, as well as offer you a sneak peek video preview of the show, as well.