San Diego Interviews - Page 2

It would be easy to wonder about the person who can write a show as funny, heartfelt, insightful, and contemplative as WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANNE FRANK.  Yet when speaking with playwright Nathan Englander it becomes clear that the humor, the nimble turn of phrase and topic, and then ...

You may watch a show and root for the leads to get their heart's desire, but the audience always walks away laughing at the memorable supporting characters. Taking this as inspiration Alyssa Anne Austin created her one-woman show ALWAYS A BANANA, NEVER THE BRIDE: AN ODE TO BROADWAY’S: “LESSER LADIES...

The opera El último sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Frida and Diego) premieres in October at the San Diego Civic Center. I spoke with the work's composer Gabriela Lena Frank for more than an hour via Zoom while she was in Booneville, the rural area North of San Francisco where she lives. A...

Stage Director Vanessa Dinning talks about bringing DIDO AND AENEAS to life for three performances only on September 23rd, 24th, and 25th from Bodhi Tree Concerts....

Tony Freeman, who has performed in various roles in THE LION KING for 22 years talks about bringing Timon to life on the national tour now playing at Broadway San Diego through September 11th....

 Nathan Darrow stars as Tony Wendice, the married man who is convinced that his wife had an affair, and as his jealousy and obsession escalate so does the danger in The Old Globe'sworld premiere adaption of DIAL M FOR MURDER - playing through August 28th....

PRETTY WOMAN the musical brings the beloved rom-com to the stage with some updates and a musical twist, and a lot of love. Olivia Valli, talks about being able to bring the role of Vivian Ward and this show to the San Diego stage. PRETTY WOMAN is playing July 26th - 31st from Broadway San Diego at t...

One night only! Justin Slagle & Matt Cox talk about this special event to have a meet and greet with some of the original cast and crew of PUFFS, OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A CERTAIN SCHOOL OF MAGIC AND MAGIC this Comic-Con weekend at Fenix Theatre Collaborative...

THE REMARKABLE MISTER HOLMES director and co-writer David Ellenstein talks about working with his talented co-creators Omri Schein and Daniel Lincoln, and why they knew audiences would love a musical comedy about the world's greatest detective -playing July 20th - August 21st. ...

Interview with Jordan Beck, who conceived of WITNESSES, & is also the Managing Producer of Theatrical Productions for CCAE, along with the show Director and CCAE’s Artistic Director J. Scott Lapp about the process of bringing this piece to the stage, and what they hope audiences take away from it....

Cygnet Theatre's CABARET leading ladies Karson St. John and Megan Carmitchel talk about approaching their roles, some of their favorite moments, and why they think the show is still as relevant as ever....

“The ON BECKETT evening, at least if I’m doing my job, is full of laughter.” Bill Irwin, who is not only a two-time Tony Award winner but also a master clown is sure to bring a uniquely funny experience in his solo piece ON BECKETT playing at The Old Globe July 14 -17th....

Director Rhiannon McAfee talks about PUFFS: OR SEVEN INCREASINGLY EVENTFUL YEARS AT A CERTAIN SCHOOL OF MAGIC AND MAGIC, what she loves about this show, her talented cast, and showing the world of Hogwarts to stage with a distinctly Hufflepuff perspective. PUFFS is playing at the Tenth Street theatr...

FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME creator Anthony Veneziale (who is part of the FLS founding trio which includes Thomas Kail and  Lin-Manuel Miranda) talks about what makes the hip-hop improv show so unique, and why the audience is such an important part of the show where every performance is different every t...

Interview with Harter Clingman, who plays police officer Oz Fudge in COME FROM AWAY. He talks about what it’s like to perform this show, the real-life people they portray on stage, and bringing the show back to San Diego.  COME FROM AWAY is playing at the San Diego Civic Theatre from Broadway San ...

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 Symphony’s Music Director and Conductor Rafael Payare took up the notoriously difficult French horn at the age of 13. During an hour-long Zoom interview while he was in Montreal, I asked how he had managed to become a soloist less than six months later! “I have to admit it was a little...

BOB FOSSE’S DANCIN’ currently playing at The Old Globe and three of the show's dancers, Ioana Alfonso, Khori Michelle Petinaud, and Kolton Krouse talk about Fosse, working on the revival, and some of their favorite moments in the show. BOB FOSSE’S DANCIN’ is playing through June 5th at The Old Globe...

Jason Blitman talks about being a part of the original production team of THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL and how he is now the director of the production playing at San Diego Junior Theatre through May 15th. ...

Can a symphony orchestra have a role in solving problems like homelessness and global warming? If you don't think so now, you might change your mind after a conversation with Laura Reynolds, the San Diego Symphony's recently appointed Vice President of Impact and Innovation. In 2015, while she was t...

Interview with Tim Weil the Musical Director of RENT and the Musical Supervisor for the national tour. RENT is playing April  22nd - April 24th at the San Diego Civic Theatre....

THE FRONTERA PROJECT, an interactive, bilingual theater piece, makes its West Coast premiere on April 23 and 24 as part of La Jolla Playhouse WOW Festival at the Arts District in Liberty Station....

WOW Festival producer Amy Ashton talks about the festival, what to expect from this year's shows, and what she hopes it inspires in people for the future. The sun is shining and it’s the perfect time to go outdoors and see some theatre!  The La Jolla Playhouse WOW Festival is back April 21- 24th at ...

TOOTSIE  the musical is bringing the hijinks from the 1982 hit movie (with some modern updates) to the stage.  Playing at the San Diego Civic Theatre from Tuesday, April 11th to Sunday, April 17th, Lukas James Miller brings a new character to the show, Max Van Horn.  Miller talks about the show, and...

BHANGIN’ IT: A BANGIN’ NEW MUSICAL is bringing a new perspective on culture, identity, and dance to the La Jolla Playhouse stage.  Brandon Contreras, who plays Billy in this show, his favorite part of playing Billy, and what it’s like working on a world premiere musical. BHANGIN’ IT: A BANGIN’ NEW M...

Stephen Schmitz, Artistic Director and Vision Curator for Fenix talks about what to expect from Fenix, making theatre accessible, and their first show BLUE/ORANGE which is playing through April 16th....

Interview with Rae Henderson-Gray is pulling double duty for this production, both as the Managing Director of NVA and appearing as the Witch in the show.  She spoke withbus on the production, tackling such an iconic show and character, and why working this production has been a challenge and a drea...

AN ILIAD the acclaimed production that was available via streaming last year returns live to the stage of the North Coast Rep through April 10th.  Director David Ellenstein talks about bringing the show back for live performances, how the show is still relevant today, and the brilliance of Richard B...

Conductor Yves Abel arrived in San Diego from Europe a few days ago to begin rehearsals for Romeo and Juliet by French composer Charles Gounod. The Maestro does get around a lot, even for an internationally in-demand musician. His wife and boys five and eight sometimes travel with him when he conduc...

Junior Theatre is always a place where people of all ages kind enjoy the magic of live theatre. In their current production of THE JUNGLE BOOK, playing through March 20th, the cast and crew of the production had a master class in composition, music, and theatre from percussionist and composer Miles ...

Jeff Thayer was at the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony in Temecula when we spoke for an hour on Zoom. 'I'm usually here right before I have something big to do.' He was referring to upcoming performances of the ninth violin concerto of The Chevalier de St. George at The Conrad in La Jolla. As the San ...

Tony Meneses talks about creating EL BORRACHO, the excellent cast, and why he loves working with The Old Globe.  EL BORRACHO is playing through March 20th at The Old Globe....

In its most recent season, Classics 4 Kids reached nearly 37,000 people at 256 San Diego County schools, two thirds of them in lower income areas. You’d think Taylor Swift or Justin Bieber was performing the way more than 1000 young San Diego students cheer at a Classics 4 Kids concert. Music Direct...

Jahlil Burke and THE CHOIR OF MAN want to welcome you to The Jungle. That's the name of the on-stage pub the show is set in with nine men all eager to have a pint and sing a song. Jahlil talks about the camaraderie of being on the road, the music mix that's sure to have you singing along, and how th...

'I'm just Reggie from Atlanta' baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. explained during our hour-long discussion on Zoom. That may be how he would like to view himself, but it's hardly how most others do since he's also a Grammy winning opera star who's performed at the Met. Until high school, neither o...

Writer and director Patrica Amon talks about creating the work, the importance of the audience connection, and her personal inspiration for the show ON HER SHOULDERS WE STAND from TuYou Theatre and Turnkey Theatre - playing at the Bread & Salt Gallery from February 11th - 26th....

Coronado Playhouse Board Member Heather Barton Tjalm talks about their open Director and Co-Production Partner Submissions initiative and their 2023 season. The Coronado Playhouse is accepting submissions for their plays, musicals, cabarets, and concerts for their 2023 season are open through Saturd...

The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse are excited to be a part of the networking event BROADWAY & BEYOND: ACCESS FOR STAGE MANAGERS OF COLOR. This event is continuing the mission of Broadway and Beyond to provide opportunity, education, and vital industry connections for stage managers of color. If y...

North Coast Rep brings together Shakespeare and the wild, witty west in their production of DESPERATE MEASURES. No wild west story is complete without someone to bring law and order and Elijah Rock is happy to bring that role to life.  A classically trained singer, Rock talks about helping bring thi...

One of San Diego’s favorite theatre events is coming up, but it can’t happen without your help!  The Broadway San Diego Awards are nothing without their talented performers who are nominated by their theatre educators and nominations are open through Friday, January 14, 2022....