San Diego Theater Reviews Page 4

Review: THE XIXTH (THE NINETEENTH) at The Old Globe Goes For the Gold
by E.H. Reiter - March 28, 2023

The Old Globe Theatre is going for the gold with their World Premier  THE XIXTH (The 19th).  The show is funny, and thought-provoking, and shows that sadly, the issues of protesting systematic racism and looking for freedom and equality are still as relevant now as it was then.  THE XIXTH is playing...

Interview: SAN DIEGO OPERA'S TOSCA at San Diego Civic Center Theatre
by Ron Bierman - March 20, 2023

Puccini is one of Michelle Bradley’s favorite composers, and she’s in San Diego to sing his Tosca for the San Diego Opera company. We were originally scheduled to talk in person, but a rehearsal change meant Zoom was going to work better for an hour discussion. “I'm happy to be back, and I know tha...

Review: GUNTOPIA at The Roustabouts Theatre Co
by E.H. Reiter - March 20, 2023

It took 3 years and one pandemic, but Will Cooper’s world premiere satire gUnTOPIA has finally opened to audiences at The Roustabouts Theatre Co. The show is a dark comedy pondering what life and society could look like if gun ownership was universal, and not carrying a weapon was against the law.  ...

Review: GOD OF CARNAGE at Backyard Renaissance
by E.H. Reiter - March 18, 2023

Backyard Renaissance pulls no punches with their current production of GOD OF CARNAGE- where two couples have come together to resolve a fight between their children, but it quickly devolves from polite pretense to a delightfully chaotic and comedic confrontation as the gloves start to come off.  GO...

Review: THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory Theatre
by E.H. Reiter - March 18, 2023

THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory Theatre brings a contemporary contemplation to a classic play with strong performances and a lovely set.  THE CHERRY ORCHARD is playing through April 2nd at North Coast Repertory Theatre....

Review: THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY at San Diego's Civic Center Theater
by Ron Bierman - March 15, 2023

Edo de Waart is now in his fourth year as Principal Guest Conductor of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. In his long career he’s headed orchestras on four continents and taught in this country’s finest music schools. It’s no coincidence that his frequent conducting appearances in San Diego have coin...

Interview Part 2: NICOLAS REVELES OF SAN DIEGO OPERA'S PRODUCTION OF GHOSTS at The Balboa Theatre
by Ron Bierman - March 06, 2023

GHOSTS, an opera Nicolas Reveles completed shortly before his recent death, premieres on Friday, April 14. He was visibly ill when I interviewed him in January, but excited and enthusiastic about the coming production. Part 1 of my interview described how the new opera came to be written. This concl...

Review: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WTH GEORGE at CCAE Theatricals is not to be missed
by E.H. Reiter - February 22, 2023

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE may be a beloved musical,  but it isn’t staged that often- it requires an excellent cast to perform a show based on a classic painting by George Seurat, with the complicated but gorgeous Sondheim music to perform in order to make it great.  Luckily, this show by CCAE T...

Review: UNDER A BASEBALL SKY at The Old Globe
by E.H. Reiter - February 23, 2023

 San Diego has deep ties to baseball well before the Padres arrived on the scene. The Old Globe’s new play UNDER A BASEBALL SKY, set in Logan Hieghts shows how baseball can become an important thread in the tapestry of individuals and their communities. This 90-minute play has mystery, family, magic...

Review: THE SAN DIEGO OPERA'S PUCCINI DUO at San Diego Civic Center Theater
by Ron Bierman - February 16, 2023

The big question for the evening was how mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe would do as the first woman in professional opera to sing the baritone title role in Gianni Schicchi. But the question wouldn’t be answered until the second one-act opera in San Diego Opera’s “Puccini Duo.” Blythe was first a co...

Review: BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA at MOXIE Theatre
by E.H. Reiter - February 14, 2023

BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA now playing at Moxie Theatre through March 5th is a moving and thoughtful show about a father and daughters relationship, and is anchored by two excellent performances.  ...

Review: ANYTHING GOES at San Diego Musical Theatre is Full of High Seas Hijinx and Classic Songs
by E.H. Reiter - February 14, 2023

Full of tap dancing, classic Cole Porter songs, and high seas hijinx,  ANYTHING GOES now playing at San Diego Musical Theatre through March 12th is a delovely time at the theatre....

Review: Lamb's Players Theatre pays a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T to the music of the 1960s with their new show
by E.H. Reiter - February 10, 2023

R-E-S-P-E-C-T playing at Lamb’s Players Theatre welcomes everyone back to the ’60s with the fun and entertaining musical tribute to the women singers and songwriters of the 1960s  playing through March 26th....

Review: EL HURACÁN at Cygnet Theatre Explores Magic, Memories, and Matriarchs
by E.H. Reiter - February 08, 2023

Usually, the vanishing act is everyone’s favorite magic trick on stage, but for one family the magic is in the memories, and tragedy strikes when those start to disappear.  EL HURACÁN  at Cygnet Theatre explores the matriarchs, the memories, and the magic of one family in Miami through February 19th...

Review: Tarmo Peltokoski Makes His U.S. Debut with The San Diego Symphony Orchestra at the Southwestern College Performing Arts Center
by Ron Bierman - February 08, 2023

What did our critic think of TARMO PELTOKOSKI As He MAKES HIS U.S. DEBUT WITH THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at Southwestern Colleges Performing Arts Center? We seem to be going through an unprecedented flood of young conducting talent. Finnland's Tarmo Peltokoski is an example. At 22 his recent-c...

Review: THE NOTEBOOKS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI at The Old Globe
by E.H. Reiter - January 28, 2023

THE NOTEBOOKS  OF LEONARDO DA VINCI at The Old Globe brings a visually sumptuous peek into the mind of a creative genius.  The production is so much more than a play; it is art, movement, dance, math, and philosophy all brought to life on stage....

Review: RIPPED at Loud Fridge Theatre Group Is an Excellent and Nuanced Look at Sexual Consent
by E.H. Reiter - January 23, 2023

Loud Fridge Theatre Group started off its 2023 theatrical year with an excellent and thoughtfully nuanced look at a sexual assault on a college campus.  RIPPED from Loud Fridge Theatre Group is playing through February 5th at OnStage Playhouse....

Review: ANNE AKIKO MEYERS And THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY at The California Center For The Arts, Escondido
by Ron Bierman - January 11, 2023

What did our critic think of ANNE AKIKO MEYERS AND THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY at The California Center For The Arts, Escondido? Review: A New Violin Concerto Delights the Audience!...

Review: ROMANCE OF THE WESTERN CHAMBER is Lovely and Lyrical at Poway Center For The Performing Arts
by E.H. Reiter - January 08, 2023

ROMANCE OF THE WESTERN CHAMBER is a lovely and lyrical operetta telling ”A modern love story from long ago.”  With only two performances this weekend, through January 8th, this show is making its West Coast Premiere at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts....

Review: AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS at San Diego Civic Theatre
by E.H. Reiter - January 05, 2023

It seems appropriate that the musical AIN’T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS, like the band its story tells, is consistently entertaining, and full of impressive musical performances. Playing through January 8th at the San Diego Civic Theatre by Broadway San Diego....

Review: PONCHO SANCHEZ LATIN JAZZ BAND at The Conrad
by Ron Bierman - December 20, 2022

“We love you, Poncho!” came a shout from the audience before the musicians had played their first note. And a few tunes later, even some silver-haired members of the La Jolla community were dancing in the aisles. The Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band has that effect on people. It’s hard to keep your fe...

Interview: Chatting with THE WHO'S WHO OF THE WHOVILLE WHO'S at The Old Globe
by E.H. Reiter - December 15, 2022

An interview with the young performers of DR. SEUSS’S HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! Playing at The Old Globe through December 31st....

Review: 2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS brings music and mirth to the North Coast Repertory Theatre
by E.H. Reiter - December 12, 2022

2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS is a love letter to classical music, the work it takes to dream of a life in music, and to the piano itself.  With two talented and entertaining performers, the show is funny, bittersweet, and music to your ears.  2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS is playing at North Coast Repertory Theatre throug...

Review: THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP at Diversionary Theatre offers zany and high-camp humor
by E.H. Reiter - December 11, 2022

THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP playing at Diversionary Theatre through December 24th provides a lot of laughter in this zany, fast-paced comedy.  A send-up of Victorian Gothic literary tropes, Sci-fi B movies, and more this two-person farce offers queer, high-camp humor making this a great show option for ...