San Diego Theater Reviews

Review: SENSE OF DECENCY at North Coast Repertory Theatre
by ErinMarie Reiter - April 26, 2024

 “Sense of Decency” makes its world premiere using misdirection, manipulation, and magic to try to find the difference between a monster and a man.  “Sense of Decency” is playing at North Coast Repertory Theatre through May 12th....

Review: Silliness and Suspense Abound in THE 39 STEPS at New Village Arts
by ErinMarie Reiter - April 20, 2024

It is a novel and a hit film, but now New Village Arts brings all the mystery, murder, and imagination of “The 39 Steps” to life in this comedic Hitchcock homage through May 12th. ...

Review: BRAT at Bocón Theatre Celebrates Military Kids
by ErinMarie Reiter - April 17, 2024

Review of “Brat” a new play presented by  Bocón Theatre that looks at the unique life of being a kid of a military parent, aka a “brat.” The next performance is Friday, April 26th....

Review: NATASHA, PIERRE, AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 at Cygnet Theatre
by ErinMarie Reiter - April 16, 2024

“Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812” now playing at Cygnet Theatre is a maximalist electro-pop opera immersive musical dream, with a superb cast, and wonderful choreography, it will leave you dazzled.  “Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812” is running through May 19th....

Review: This is One 'RIDE' You Don't Want To Miss at The Old Globe
by ErinMarie Reiter - April 09, 2024

“Ride” at The Old Globe is an incredibly fun, clever, and wholly entertaining musical about a woman who chased the American Dream around the world from the back of a bicycle.  This musical is a delightful fun two-handed, one-act musical that may inspire you to go find adventure yourself.  “Ride” is ...

Review: DISNEY'S ALADDIN at Broadway San Diego
by ErinMarie Reiter - April 04, 2024

Aladdin now playing through April 7th at the Civic Theatre through Broadway San Diego invites you to enjoy their Arabian night of magic, music, and magic carpets....

Review: HAND TO GOD at The Roustabouts Theatre Co
by ErinMarie Reiter - March 27, 2024

If the saying “laughter is the best medicine” is true, then the irreverent and funny “Hand To God” by The Roustabouts will cure what ails you. ...

Review: STEPHEN HOUGH WITH THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY at San Diego Civic Center Theater
by Ron Bierman - March 22, 2024

Read BroadwayWorld's review of Stephen Hough with the San Diego Symphony at San Diego Civic Center Theater....

Review: TARTUFFE is Full of Laughter at North Coast Repertory Theatre
by ErinMarie Reiter - March 20, 2024

This standout production of 'Tartuffe' at North Coast Repertory Theatre is energetic and intelligent proving that even at 360 years old,  this show can still have an audience laughing from start to finish.  “Tartuffe” is playing through April 7th....

Review: Fandom and Friendship for the Win in KING JAMES at The Old Globe
by ErinMarie Reiter - March 18, 2024

“King James” is a funny, heartwarming look at fandom, friendship, and how sometimes the unlikeliest people can become irreplaceable members of your life.  “King James” is playing at the Old Globe through March 31st....

Review: SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY PLAYS RAVEL, RESPIGHI, AND BATES at San Diego Civic Center Theater
by Ron Bierman - March 01, 2024

If this concert didn’t convince newcomers to classical music that they’d been missing out, nothing will. Conductor Rafael Payare went all out for excitement and got it with a program that displayed the orchestra's virtuosity. The result was an exceptionally enjoyable concert....

Review: REDWOOD Looks to Turn Tragedy Into Transformation at La Jolla Playhouse
by ErinMarie Reiter - February 26, 2024

REDWOOD, the world premiere musical now playing at the La Jolla Playhouse offers soaring visuals and vocals in a story that tackles how to turn tragedy into transformation....

Review: THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME at CCAE Theatricals
by ErinMarie Reiter - February 25, 2024

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME by CCAE Theatricals is a visually and physically creative endeavor that effectively tells this story and the inner thoughts of the lead character who uniquely perceives the world....

Review: Self-Respect and Sandwiches are on the Menu at CLYDE'S at MOXIE Theatre
by ErinMarie Reiter - February 25, 2024

Welcome to CLYDE’S, where the art of making a sandwich can lead to enlightenment.  Staffed by formerly incarcerated people trying to rebuild their lives, but run by someone who has no real internet in food, or their employees beyond making the sale, this play has something to say about the work to b...

Review: FUN HOME at New Village Arts
by ErinMarie Reiter - February 19, 2024

FUN HOME will make you laugh and might make you cry, but this nuanced musical features some excellent performances by a talented cast.  FUN HOME is playing at New Village Arts through March 3rd....

Review: THE AGE OF INNOCENCE at The Old Globe
by ErinMarie Reiter - February 19, 2024

THE AGE OF INNOCENCE is a gorgeously sumptuous and lush production full of beautiful people, costumes, and lighting, as it explores the true cost of keeping up appearances.  THE AGE OF INNOCENCE is playing at The Old Globe Theatre through March 10th....

Review: BACH'S WINTER REVERIE & SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY VIRTUOSITY at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
by Ron Bierman - February 14, 2024

Edo de Waart opened a conservative program of J. S. Bach, Samuel Barber and Josef Haydn with Bach’s B-minor Orchestral Suite. The suite is often performed with a full-sized modern string section of 40 or more. De Waart chose a size much closer to one listeners would have been likely to hear in the 1...

Review: San Diego Opera's Production of Mozart's DON GIOVANNI at San Diego Civic Center Theater
by Ron Bierman - February 06, 2024

San Diego Opera’s most recent production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni is an example of how opera companies hope to attract younger audiences while coping with rising costs and smaller budgets. The pandemic hasn’t been kind to the arts. The National Endowment for the Arts has reported that stage performa...

Review: LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL at Cygnet Theatre
by ErinMarie Reiter - February 02, 2024

Billie Holiday is a superstar jazz musician though often her tremendous talent is sometimes eclipsed by the more sensational exploits of her life. LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL, now playing at Cygnet Theatre through February 18th, invites you to a cozy neighborhood bar, to enjoy the vocal styl...

Review: ENGLISH at The Old Globe
by ErinMarie Reiter - February 02, 2024

ENGLISH is a funny and contemplative play written by Sanaz Toossi that explores the vulnerability, and determination, of adults of a variety of ages in Iran who are learning English.  ENGLISH is playing at The Old Globe through February 25th....

Review: THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY PERFORMS MOZART at The Conrad In La Jolla
by Ron Bierman - January 30, 2024

The San Diego Symphony was at a little more than half its usual size, but with a near full complement of strings, and Raphael Payare conducted with great feeling and passion. (A friend commented at intermission, “I thought he was on a trampoline.”) The result was unusually satisfying versions of th...

Review: Love, Loss, And Lace - INTIMATE APPAREL at North Coast Repertory Theatre
by ErinMarie Reiter - January 15, 2024

INTIMATE APPAREL is a beautiful and detailed production that allows its cast to shine as it explores the hopes and dreams of a seamstress who dreams of more from her life and the risks and rewards of pursuing those dreams.  INTIMATE APPAREL is now playing at the North Coast Repertory Theatre through...

Review: Ease on Down To See THE WIZ at Broadway San Diego Before It Goes to Broadway
by ErinMarie Reiter - January 13, 2024

THE WIZ, now playing at Broadway San Diego at the Civic Theatre through Sunday, January 14th has soaring vocals, striking choreography, and a vibrant cast in this pre-Broadway stop....

Review: San Diego Opera Performs THE MIRACLE OF REMEMBERING at San Diego Civic Center
by Ron Bierman - December 08, 2023

What did our critic think of San Diego Opera Performs THE MIRACLE OF REMEMBERING at San Diego Civic Center?...

Review: PROOF at Backyard Renaissance
by ErinMarie Reiter - November 27, 2023

PROOF from Backyard Renaissance ponders how love, family, and mathematics can bind people inextricably together and make them strangers to each other at the same time.  Math might be hard, but interpersonal relationships and emotions might be an unsolvable mystery. PROOF is playing at the 10th Avenu...