San Diego Theater Reviews Page 5

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 ...

Review: THE YELLOW WALLPAPER at Write Out Loud proves that sometimes you truly can't trust what you see
by E.H. Reiter - December 09, 2022

THE YELLOW WALLPAPER from Write Out Loud showcases a wonderful performance by Rachel VanWormer as a young woman who is on a restorative holiday that turns from tranquil to traumatic.  Based on the classic short story of the same name, this solo performance brings the story vividly to life through De...

Review: ISABEL LEONARD and PABLO SÁINZ-VILLEGAS Together at The Conrad in La Jolla
by Ron Bierman - December 05, 2022

Mezzo Isabel Leonard and classical-guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas are stars in their fields. Leonard has sung on two Grammy-winning opera recordings and won a Beverly Sills Artist Award at the Metropolitan Opera--and even guested on Sesame Street. He's garnered 30 international awards, including the...

Review: PLAID TIDINGS Bring Sweet Holiday Harmonies to San Diego Musical Theatre
by E.H. Reiter - December 04, 2022

If you’re looking for a holiday season show that is as cuddly as a warm cup of cocoa on a chilly night, then you can’t get more festive than PLAID TIDINGS from San Diego Musical Theatre playing through December 24th on the SDMT stage....

Review: THE OCTOBER NIGHT OF JOHNNY ZERO at Backyard Renaissance
by E.H. Reiter - December 04, 2022

THE OCTOBER NIGHT OF JOHNNY ZERO at Backyard Renaissance is a play that has a lot of mystery and secrets woven into the plot - which makes it difficult to write about without spoiling.  What can be said is that it brings some excellent performances to the stage as the dramatic tensions raises, but m...

Review: TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Brings a Reimaged Classic to the San Diego Civic Theatre
by E.H. Reiter - December 02, 2022

TO KILL  A MOCKINGBIRD from Aaron Sorkin and directed by Bartlett Sher offers a reimagined framing of the classic novel and movie.  The excellent cast, including Richard Thomas as Atticus, brings a moving confident, and powerful story to the stage about a time gone by with issues that feel as releva...

Review: Much to love in AS YOU LIKE IT at La Jolla Playhouse
by ErinMarie Reiter - November 22, 2022

The talented cast of  AS YOU LIKE  IT, now playing at La Jolla Playhouse through December 11th proves how false it is when other places say that casting in a representative way is too difficult to do. With lively performances and songs, along with gorgeous costumes, and scenery, there is much to lov...

Review: THE CHILDREN at MOXIE Theatre ponders what price you are willing to pay today for the future of tomorrow
by E.H. Reiter - November 20, 2022

THE CHILDREN, a play by Lucy Kirkwood now playing at MOXIE Theatre through December 4th is a funny, and thought-provoking play brought to life through strong direction and excellent performances.  Set in a world after a disastrous event, it asks how much are we willing to mortgage the future to avoi...

Review: HAMILTON Brings the Musical Revelation About the American Revolution Back to the San Diego Civic Theatre
by E.H. Reiter - November 17, 2022

It can seem a reasonable question to ask of a musical that was so explosively popular that it dominated music charts, history lessons, current-day politics, and social issues all at once - now that some time has passed, is it worth the hype?   Well, the touring production of  HAMILTON now playing at...

Review: SAN DIEGO OPERA'S WORLD PREMIERE OF THE LAST DREAM OF FRIDA AND DIEGO at the San Diego Civic Theater
by Ron Bierman - November 02, 2022

What did our critic think of SAN DIEGO OPERA'S WORLD PREMIERE OF THE LAST DREAM OF FRIDA AND DIEGO at San Diego Civic Theater? ​ ​The San Diego Opera, reveling in modern phantasies, has followed its successful production of Aging Magician with El último sueño de Frida y Diego (The Last Dream of Fri...

Review: INTO THE BREECHES! at North Coast Repertory Theatre
by E.H. Reiter - November 01, 2022

Behind-the-scenes antics, a play within a play, and costumed comedy are well loved because they work, and INTO THE BREECHES! combines them in wartime for a fun night at the theatre.  INTO THE BREECHES! is playing at North Coast Repertory Theatre through November 13th. ...

Review: THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at The Rady Shell
by Ron Bierman - October 20, 2022

On this storm-threatened evening, Symphony CEO Martha Gilmer was clad in a yellow rain-slicker worthy of a bout with a North Atlantic gale as she told a surprisingly full outdoor-amphitheater audience, 'Now I know how much you love your San Diego Symphony!' She went on to explain a late change in co...

Review: FIRST DATE Brings High-Energy Musical Comedy to OnStage Playhouse
by E.H. Reiter - October 16, 2022

What is funny, with a charming and talented cast, and has many moments that will make you laugh?  The musical FIRST DATE now playing at OnStage Playhouse through November 6th....

Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at San Diego Musical Theatre
by E.H. Reiter - October 08, 2022

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is an audience favorite any time of year, but San Diego Musical Theatre has brought it back just in time for a killer, man-eating plant to fit right in for the spooky month of October.  Playing on the San Diego Musical Theatre stage through October 30th, this show is delightfu...

Review: KRISTINA WONG, SWEATSHOP OVERLORD at La Jolla Playhouse
by E.H. Reiter - October 04, 2022

KRISTINA WONG, SWEATSHOP OVERLORD,  playing at La Jolla Playhouse through October 16th performance artist Kristina Wong gives a funny, sweet, and bittersweet journey of how one woman accidentally became a mask sewing overlord from behind her Hello Kitty sewing machine. It's the comedic rundown of th...

Review: AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' brings charm and energy at CCAE Theatricals
by E.H. Reiter - October 04, 2022

 AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ is a fun musical visit to the age of the Harlem Renaissance and a tribute to the music of Fats Waller. By the end of the show, the joint is definitely jumpin'....

Review: DIDO AND AENEAS at Bodhi Tree Concerts is filled with 'Music, Love, Magic, And Tragedy'
by E.H. Reiter - September 24, 2022

The opera DIDO AND AENEAS may clock in under an hour, but this production by Bodhi Tree Concerts is a delightful evening spent at a theatre. Performances are only this weekend through Sunday, September 25th so don’t delay!...

Review: KINKY BOOTS at Moonlight Amphitheatre proves 'there is no business like shoe business'
by E.H. Reiter - September 21, 2022

Like Cinderella, KINKY BOOTS the musical playing at Moonlight through October 1st knows that a good pair of shoes can change your life. This high-energy and heartwarming musical brings plenty of laughs and may have you shopping for some new shoes by the end....

Review: WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANNE FRANK brings serious laughter and discourse at The Old Globe
by E.H. Reiter - September 20, 2022

WHAT WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ANNE FRANK is a clever, fast-paced, and thought-provoking comedy that asks as many questions as it provides laughs and is playing at The Old Globe through October 23rd....

Review: COME FALL IN LOVE - THE DDLJ MUSICAL Brings a Bollywood Classic Adaption to The Old Globe
by E.H. Reiter - September 16, 2022

The  Old Globe invites you to COME FALL IN LOVE - THE DDLJ MUSICAL,  their new musical adaption that has a charismatic cast, and is genuinely funny, with staging, costumes, and choreography that bring cinematic Bollywood to life on the Old Globe stage. COME FALL IN LOVE is playing at The Old Globe t...

Review: FANDANGO FOR BUTTERFLIES (AND COYOTES) brings hope and heartache to the La Jolla Playhouse
by E.H. Reiter - September 11, 2022

FANDANGO FOR BUTTERFLIES (AND COYOTES) inspired by real-life stories brings empathy, hope, and heartache to the La Jolla Playhouse stage through September 25th....