My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR THE ARTS, ESCONDIDO

340 N Escondido Blvd
Escondido, CA 92025



Review: THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN at OnStage Playhouse


by ErinMarie Reiter - May 12, 2026

'The Velocity of Autumn' at OnStage Playhouse is a funny, heartwarming, and quietly heartbreaking production directed by Daren Scott that explores aging, identity, and the fear of losing the hard-earned version of yourself you spent a lifetime becoming....

Review: MJ THE MUSICAL Peels Back the Myth at San Diego Civic Theatre


by Lucía Serrano - May 07, 2026

I was 14 when Michael Jackson passed away, and I mourned him like I’ve never mourned a public figure since then. I was never really a fangirl of anyone, but Michael Jackson existed in a league of his own. That is exactly what the Tony Award-winning MJ The Musical, with a book by Lynn Nottage, capt...

Review: LEND ME A SOPRANO at Scripps Ranch Theatre


by ErinMarie Reiter - April 26, 2026

If you’re in the mood for something light, silly, and a little bit chaotic with a musical flair, “Lend Me a Soprano” won’t disappoint....

Review: ALIEN GIRLS at The Old Globe


by ErinMarie Reiter - April 24, 2026

“Alien Girls” is a play about friendship—specifically female friendship—in all its messy, contradictory, deeply human glory....

Review: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG at Lamb's Players Theatre


by ErinMarie Reiter - April 18, 2026

“The Play That Goes Wrong”, now playing at Lamb’s Players Theatre through June 7th does exactly what its title promises, with precision, mischief, and an undeniable sense of fun....

Review: THE NOTEBOOK at Broadway San Diego


by ErinMarie Reiter - April 16, 2026

“The Notebook” isn’t aiming for subtlety; it’s aiming straight for your heart. Judging by the collective sniffles, gasps, and tears around the theater, it hits its mark....

Review: FENCES at The Old Globe


by ErinMarie Reiter - April 15, 2026

With this excellent cast and directing, Fences' doesn’t just honor August Wilson’s language—it revels in it while bringing this classic story to life at The Old Globe through May 3rd....

Review: AIRNESS at Loud Fridge Theatre Group


by ErinMarie Reiter - April 12, 2026

'Airness' cranks the volume all the way up and dares you not to have a good time; It's a show that knows exactly what it is, big, bold, cheerfully ridiculous, and full of humor and heart....

Review: MATT & BEN at New Village Arts


by ErinMarie Reiter - April 10, 2026

“Matt & Ben” may be about two future Hollywood icons—but at New Village Arts, it’s the women who steal the spotlight, shape the story, and make the whole thing worth watching....

Review: San Diego Opera Performs Bizet's CARMEN at San Diego Civic Center


by Ron Bierman - April 03, 2026

Carmen is the world’s third most performed opera. Its tale of the doomed love affair between an innocent young soldier and a beguiling young woman unconstrained by conventional beliefs was seen in more than 6,000 productions on five continents last year. This performance was in the opera’s origi...

Past Shows

Jazz at Lincoln Center presents GREAT AMERICAN CROONERS
Jazz at Lincoln Center presents GREAT AMERICAN CROONERS
Feb 15

Public On-Sale 11/7 at 10:00 AMJAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER PRESENTS:GREAT AMERICAN CROONERSSoak in the sounds of the velvety melodies and smoky rhythms of quintessential croonerssuch...

Voices of Our City Choir
Voices of Our City Choir
Feb 4

Join us for an evening of powerful, uplifting music as the Voices of Our City Choir presents Celebration of Black Joy, a journey through inspirational songs...

D.K. Harrell
D.K. Harrell
Jan 29

D.K. HARRELL along with Taryn Donath on sale 12/5/2025 at 10am D.K. HarrellGuitarist, vocalist and songwriter D.K. Harrell, one of the most formidable young stars of the...

Intimate Classics – Matt Herskowitz
Intimate Classics – Matt Herskowitz
Jan 18

Buy TicketsClick Here to purchase an Intimate Classics Season Package (saves 10-25%)Classical/Jazz fusion master pianist Matt Herskowitz returns for another thrilling experience!Matt Herskowitz—the pianist with one...

The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters
Jan 18

A battle is being waged for your soul from an office in hell! Witness a fast-paced, tour-de-force performance in this acclaimed adaptation of C.S. Lewis’...

Eric Hutchinson
Eric Hutchinson
Jan 17

For over a decade and a half, Eric Hutchinson has been mastering the art of his unique, personal songwriting while exploring diverse musical genres like...

Museum Opening Reception | Lightwall
Museum Opening Reception | Lightwall
Jan 14

Join us for an opening reception for Lightwall, an interactive installation that explores perception, presence, and the evolving relationship between humans and responsive technologies.Developed by artist Rita...

Museum Open Studio: Farshid Bazmandegan
Museum Open Studio: Farshid Bazmandegan
Jan 10

Open Studio: Farshid BazmandeganSaturday, January 10, 2026 | 5:00 PM — 7:00 PMLocation: CH Visual Art Studio (In the Administration building across from the Museum)The...

The Frontmen
The Frontmen
Dec 4

The Frontmen – Larry Stewart (Restless Heart), Richie McDonald (formerly of Lonestar), and Tim Rushlow (formerly of Little Texas)THE FRONTMEN – comprised of three former...

Jazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS New Orleans Songbook
Jazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS New Orleans Songbook
Feb 2

New Orleans Songbook – A Jazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS Productionsfeaturing Luther S. Allison, Milton Suggs, and Quiana LynellJazz at Lincoln Center PRESENTS brings the...

BLACK VIOLIN – BV20: THEN & NOW
BLACK VIOLIN – BV20: THEN & NOW
Oct 20

Black ViolinBV20: Then & NowA 20th Anniversary CelebrationGet ready for an unforgettable evening celebrating the 20th anniversary of Black Violin, the groundbreaking duo that has...

Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys
Sep 13 – Oct 6, 2024

Don’t miss your chance to experience the San Diego Regional Premiere of JERSEY BOYS playing SEP 13 to OCT 6!Go behind the music and inside...

Jersey Boys
Jersey Boys
Sep 13 – Sep 29, 2024

They had a look, an attitude, and a sound like no other. Sure, they were born in Jersey. But they were made in America.JERSEY BOYS is...

DJ Quik Featuring Jon B. | Rodney-O & Joe Cooley | Kahlil Nash
DJ Quik Featuring Jon B. | Rodney-O & Joe Cooley | Kahlil Nash
Aug 3

DJ Quik, the Beat Architect, emerged from the streets of Compton, California, leaving an indelible mark on West Coast hip-hop. His debut album, “Quik Is...

Every Brilliant Thing
Every Brilliant Thing
Jul 5 – Jul 21, 2024

You’re six years old. Mom’s in the hospital. Dad says she’s “done something stupid.” She finds it hard to be happy. So you start to...

KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall
Jul 19

KT Tunstall burst onto the music scene with her 2004 multi-platinum debut, Eye to the Telescope,which spawned the global hits “Black Horse and the Cherry...

Música en la Plaza – Jarabe Mexicano
Música en la Plaza – Jarabe Mexicano
Apr 26

Jarabe Mexicano captures the nostalgic spirit of their border roots with their brand of “Bordeño-Soul,” which honors the musical tastes and cultural influences of its...

Cristian Fatu & Evangeliya Delizonas-Khukhua
Cristian Fatu & Evangeliya Delizonas-Khukhua
Mar 30

Cristian Fatu is an award-winning concert violinist and violin teacher based in Orange County. Currently he is teaching violin at the Orange County School for the...

Logos
Logos
Mar 10

presented by San Diego Music Society, Jean Will Presents and CCAECombining the forces of the Logos Trio (Hansen, Reeves, and Tseng), with violist Gregory Perrin,...

BOTTLE SHOCK! THE MUSICAL
BOTTLE SHOCK! THE MUSICAL
Jul 8 – Jul 23, 2023

*OPENING NIGHT*BOTTLE SHOCK! The MusicalMusic & Lyrics by CHARLES VINCENT BURWELLBook, Lyrics & Additional Music by JAMES D. SASSERMusical Direction by VADIM FEICHTNERDirected by J....

INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT & FIREWORKS FEATURING URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT AND NAVY BAND SOUTHWEST’S 32ND STREET BRASS BAND
INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT & FIREWORKS FEATURING URBAN RENEWAL PROJECT AND NAVY BAND SOUTHWEST’S 32ND STREET BRASS BAND
Jul 4

Buy TicketsThis event is free to attend or there are VIP options for $65. Urban Renewal Project and Navy Band Southwest’s 32nd Street Brass Band will be performing....

Chiquis
Chiquis
Jul 2

Chiquis, is a two time Latin GRAMMY winning recording artist (singer and songwriter),businesswoman, author and television celebrity.Chiquis is recording new music following her recent Latin...

Musica en la Plaza: Fercho
Musica en la Plaza: Fercho
Jun 30

Enjoy a free evening of music and dancing in the Lyric Courtyard with San Diego-based Fercho. This tropical, high-energy, dance-provoking Afro-Cuban band, fuses salsa, timba,...

Center Cabaret: S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous: The Songs of Gershwin
Center Cabaret: S'Wonderful, S'Marvelous: The Songs of Gershwin
Jun 24 – Jun 25, 2023

S Wonderful! ‘S Marvelous! On June 24th & 25th, we will celebrate the extraordinary catalogue of songs by George & Ira Gershwin. Featuring tunes like...

JUNETEENTH DAY OF RESTORATION
JUNETEENTH DAY OF RESTORATION
Jun 25

Join us to recognize Juneteenth with a day of restoration as we come together to honor the past, embrace the present, and envision a future...

Dale Da Dred
Dale Da Dred
Jun 10

hip-hop nounA genre of popular music that originated in New York City in the 1970s that attained widespread popularity in the 1980s and ’90s.  Join California Center...

Center Cabaret: All You Need Is Love: The Beatles
Center Cabaret: All You Need Is Love: The Beatles
May 28

Things will be rockin’ at Center Cabaret as we present “All You Need Is Love: The Music of The Beatles”. You won’t want to miss...

Guys & Dolls
Guys & Dolls
Mar 30 – Apr 2, 2023

Classical Academy High School PresentsGuys and Dolls! The Broadway MusicalEscondido, CA - Classical Academy High School presents Guys and Dolls at the California Center for...

Sunday in the Park with George
Sunday in the Park with George
Feb 17 – Mar 5, 2023

In the final days before the completion of his masterpiece, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Georges Seurat is torn between making...

Sunday in the Park with George
Sunday in the Park with George
Feb 17 – Mar 5, 2023

Inspired by the painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat, Sunday in the Park with George, Stephen Sondheim...

Motown: The Music That Changed America
Motown: The Music That Changed America
Feb 3 – Feb 5, 2023

CCAE Theatricals’ annual celebration of the sweet sound of Motown combines first class music with outstanding performers and an amazing band featuring the D. Ben-Jamin’...

Motown: The Music That Changed America
Motown: The Music That Changed America
Feb 3 – Feb 5, 2023

CCAE Theatricals’ annual celebration of the sweet sound of Motown combines first-class music with outstanding performers and an amazing band featuring the D. Ben-Jamin’ Horns...

Ain't Misbehavin'
Ain't Misbehavin'
Sep 23 – Oct 8, 2022

Step into the 1920s Golden Age of the Cotton Club and the Savoy Ballroom with the sassy, sultry Aint Misbehavin! One of the most popular...

The Piano Men: Beatles Edition
The Piano Men: Beatles Edition
Sep 2 – Sep 4, 2022

Join performers Allen Everman, Jake Jeffries, Benny Lipson, and Jack Lipson as they tradeoff performing classic Beatles hits between two grand pianos, backed by their...

Witnesses
Witnesses
Jul 15 – Jul 30, 2022

WITNESSESConceived by Jordan BeckBook by Robert L. FreedmanMusic by Carmel Dean, Matt Gould, Adam Gwon, Anna K. Jacobs, and Gerald Sternbach Lyrics by Jordan Beck,...

The Light in the Piazza
The Light in the Piazza
Jun 17 – Jun 25, 2022

the most intensely romantic score of any musical since West Side Story.The New York TimesDont miss this acclaimed Broadway musical about the life-changing thrill of...

ONCE
ONCE
Apr 22 – May 7, 2022

Glorious and inspiring (Time Out New York), fun and heartfelt (The New Yorker), ONCE is the story of a guy who gave up on love...

Disney's Newsies! The Broadway Musical
Disney's Newsies! The Broadway Musical
Apr 7 – Apr 10, 2022

Set in turn-of-the-century New York City, Newsies is the rousing tale of Jack Kelly, a charismatic newsboy, and leader of a band of teenaged "newsies."...

Videos


The Most Happy Fella in San Diego The Most Happy Fella
North Coast Repertory Theatre (6/03-6/28)
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in San Diego The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Sunshine Brooks Theater (5/29-6/14)
Beau Jest in San Diego Beau Jest
North Coast Repertory Theatre (4/22-5/24)
Hail Mary, None of the Grace in San Diego Hail Mary, None of the Grace
No Limits (5/15-5/23)
Desperado Premier Tribute to the Eagles in San Diego Desperado Premier Tribute to the Eagles
California Center for the Arts Escondido (5/16-5/16)
The Lion King in San Diego The Lion King
Civic Theatre- San Diego (2/18-3/07)
OnWord Theatre Presents Adult Storytime in San Diego OnWord Theatre Presents Adult Storytime
OnWord Theatre (6/11-6/28)
Disney''s Beauty and the Beast in San Diego Disney''s Beauty and the Beast
San Diego Civic Theatre (7/07-7/12)
Day After Day - The Life and Music of Doris Day @ The Hollywood Fringe Festival in San Diego Day After Day - The Life and Music of Doris Day @ The Hollywood Fringe Festival
The Broadwater Second Stage Theatre (6/08-6/20)
Ocean Pulse: Rhythm of the Coast in San Diego Ocean Pulse: Rhythm of the Coast
Pacific Wave Theater (7/10-8/20)