SUBSCRIBER ONLY Theater | With ‘Wicked’ back in town, we picked the top 10 girl songs of musical theater By Pam Kragen February 1, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. The Oz-inspired musical is a bonanza for women's ballads and belters, but we combed Broadway's...
Theater | Star of San Diego Musical Theatre’s ‘Hello, Dolly!’ calls the musical ‘super timely’ By David L. Coddon January 31, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. The classic Broadway musical is about a clever and resourceful woman making things work in...
Theater | Review: San Diego-themed ‘Some Like It Hot’ tour kicks up some fun By Pam Kragen January 30, 2025 at 1:34 p.m. The nostalgic, tap dance-filled musical comedy, playing through Sunday at the Civic Theatre, is set...
Theater | Review: New Village Arts’ ‘Marie Curie’ a moving story of female friendship By Pam Kragen February 2, 2025 at 4:26 p.m. Lauren Gunderson's play "The Half-Life of Marie Curie" is based on the true friendship of...
Theater | Review: Old Globe’s dark family drama ‘Appropriate’ packs a wallop By Pam Kragen January 31, 2025 at 4:07 p.m. Branden Jacobs-Jenkins play “Appropriate” at the Old Globe couldn’t have arrived at a better time....
Look in the camera and be honest. La Mesa artist explores identity, loneliness in short film ‘I’m Not Alone’ By Lisa Deaderick January 31, 2025 at 3:43 p.m. Originally, Victor De La Fuente wanted to create a theatrical play that was to be...
Movies | San Diego arts roundup: Three movies to catch this week and two theater events By David L. Coddon January 30, 2025 at 8:36 a.m. Local cinemas are screening 'Groundhog Day' and 'Six Triple Eight,' a new Diego Rivera play...
Theater | Locally raised costume designer talks about San Diego-bound ‘Some Like It Hot’ musical By Mark Meszoros January 26, 2025 at 6:01 a.m. Three-time Tony-winner Gregg Barnes grew up in San Diego and earned his bachelor's degree at...
Theater | New Village Arts to explore the private life of famed scientist Marie Curie in new play By David L. Coddon January 24, 2025 at 6:01 a.m. The 2019 play by Lauren Gunderson explores the friendship Curie shared with fellow widow, inventor...
Theater | Cygnet Theatre unveils debut season in soon-to-open ‘Joan’ theater at Liberty Station By Pam Kragen January 21, 2025 at 2:49 p.m. The company's 21st season, kicking off with Stephen Sondheim's 'Follies,' will launch in September in...
Theater | Fresh from Broadway, Tony-winning play ‘Appropriate’ arrives in San Diego By David L. Coddon January 17, 2025 at 6:01 a.m. The dark comedy examines how a trio of dysfunctional Southern siblings uncovers their father's disturbing...
Theater | Review: ‘Back to the Future’ musical a mixed bag in San Diego visit By Pam Kragen January 16, 2025 at 2:52 p.m. When it comes to Broadway musicals, there’s virtually no such thing as a new idea,...
Things to do | San Diego arts roundup: Author Fran Lebowitz brings her wry quips to San Diego By David L. Coddon January 16, 2025 at 5:01 a.m. Also this week, CCAE Theatrical takes 'Curious Incident' on the road, the Holo Holo Music...
Theater | Review: TuYo Theatre’s funny politics play an eye-opening look at Hispanic voters By Pam Kragen January 15, 2025 at 4:10 p.m. 'The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote' examines the mistakes American politicians make about non-White voters
Entertainment | NEA announces $36.8 million in funding nationwide. 16 San Diego County arts organizations are on the list. By Pam Kragen January 15, 2025 at 12:01 p.m. The $305,000 in combined gifts would fund art exhibits, a children's opera, free dance classes,...
Theater | Review: North Coast Rep’s ‘Heart Sellers’ a touching universal story By Pam Kragen January 15, 2025 at 11:45 a.m. The two-character play, set in 1973 America, is about two newly arrived immigrant women who...
Theater | ‘Back to the Future’ musical soars into San Diego on Tuesday By David L. Coddon January 10, 2025 at 6:00 a.m. Based on the 1985 time-travel film comedy starring Michael J. Fox, the musical has a...
Theater | San Diego arts roundup: Old Globe’s Powers New Voices play fest returns By David L. Coddon January 9, 2025 at 5:00 a.m. Also this week, the Palm Springs and Atmosphere film festivals, Tiffany Haddish and Keith Sweat
Theater | North Coast Rep’s ‘Heart Sellers’ to offer a heartwarming immigrant story By David L. Coddon January 4, 2025 at 3:33 p.m. In Lloyd Suh's play, two newly arrived women from Korea and the Philippines bond as...
Theater | San Diego arts roundup: TuYo Theatre staging play about Hispanic diversity By David L. Coddon January 2, 2025 at 5:01 a.m. Also this week, the Golden Globes, comedian Dustin Nickerson, the closure of Landmark Hillcrest Cinemas,...
Theater | San Diego Theatre Critics Circle unveils nominees for 2024 Craig Noel Awards By Pam Kragen January 2, 2025 at 8:47 a.m. The 22nd annual awards ceremony on Feb. 24 will recognize achievements in professional theater in...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Things to do | A bucket list of 50 free things to do in San Diego County in 2025 By San Diego Union-Tribune January 7, 2025 at 2:15 p.m. Our list of things to do across the San Diego region includes hiking, major events,...
National News | Linda Lavin, Tony-winning Broadway actor who starred in the landmark sitcom ‘Alice,’ dies at 87 By Associated Press December 30, 2024 at 9:42 a.m. Lavin died in Los Angeles on Sunday of complications from recently discovered lung cancer
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Theater | 2025 preview: The San Diego theater events we’re most excited about this year By Pam Kragen December 31, 2024 at 2:01 p.m. Cygnet opens the Joan, new plays and musicals, two theater festivals, an operatic return are...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Entertainment | 2025 preview: Legendary and international companies highlight the local dance scene By Marcia Luttrell December 29, 2024 at 5:03 a.m. Martha Graham and Twyla Tharp troupes visit, along with companies from Mexico and Ukraine
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Theater | Our picks for the top 10 San Diego theater shows of 2024 By Pam Kragen December 27, 2024 at 8:43 a.m. An ambitious Shakespeare adaptation, a soon-to-be Broadway musical, a Tolstoy-inspired tale and more made U-T...
Things to do | San Diego arts roundup: Our picks for nontraditional New Year’s Eve entertainment By David L. Coddon December 26, 2024 at 5:01 a.m. Stream "When Harry Met Sally," or check out the X Christmas party in North Park,...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Entertainment | Year in review: San Diego dance became more inventive and diverse in 2024 By Marcia Luttrell December 22, 2024 at 5:04 a.m. This year's highlights included works by City Ballet, San Diego Ballet, Malashock Dance, Ballet Collective...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Theater | Year in review: San Diego’s theater scene got bigger, and smaller, in 2024 By Pam Kragen December 27, 2024 at 2:17 p.m. Three of the region's largest theaters marked milestones, while smaller companies tightened budgets and staged...
Theater | La Jolla Playhouse unveils cast for world premiere musical ‘3 Summers of Lincoln’ By Pam Kragen December 19, 2024 at 7:54 p.m. Actor Ivan Hernandez will replace originally announced Brian Stokes Mitchell in the title role
Music and Concerts | San Diego arts roundup: Kennedy Center honoree trivia By David L. Coddon December 19, 2024 at 2:11 p.m. Also this week Sara Petite's Loretta Lynn Christmas show, Social Distortion, Project Blank and more
Theater | Review: Jefferson Mays weaves spellbinding tale in Old Globe’s solo ‘Christmas Carol’ By Pam Kragen December 16, 2024 at 2:14 p.m. The stripped-down, 80-minute play showcases the Tony-winning actor's mastery of live theater and the power...
San Diego arts roundup: ‘A Victorian Christmas’ to be presented at historic mansion By David L. Coddon December 12, 2024 at 8:56 a.m. Also this week, San Diego Symphony's "Noel, Noel," Dea Huston's "Black Family Christmas," the Santacon...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Theater | Tony-winner Jefferson Mays plans unique, solo ‘Carol’ ghost tale at Old Globe By Pam Kragen December 9, 2024 at 7:31 a.m. The revered actor will narrate the story of Ebenezer Scrooge in a new pared-down, in-the-round...
Theater | John Waters ready to make merry with annual naughty-and-nice Christmas show By Nick Sestanovich December 6, 2024 at 6:01 a.m. The filmmaker and raconteur will perform Sunday and Monday at Lou Lou's Jungle Room in...
Theater | Common Ground revives its popular gospel-filled ‘Black Nativity’ production By David L. Coddon December 5, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. Written by Langston Hughes in 1961, it tells the Christmas story with an all-Black cast,...
Arts roundup: ‘Manny and the Wise Queens’ opens Friday in Oceanside By David L. Coddon December 5, 2024 at 5:31 a.m. Also this week: Penn and Teller, Sarah Brightman, San Diego Opera's choral concert and more
Theater | Review: Scripps Ranch Theatre’s ‘Tiny Beautiful Things’ is funny and heartbreaking By Pam Kragen November 29, 2024 at 4:17 p.m. The play was inspired by Cheryl Strayed's real-life experience as an online advice columnist
Music and Concerts | Arts roundup: Judy Collins’ holiday music leads off holiday weekend happenings By David L. Coddon November 28, 2024 at 5:30 a.m. Also this week, Judy Collins, La Jolla Playhouse's DNA New Works Series, comedian Patton Oswalt...
Review: La Jolla Playhouse’s ‘Your Theater Presents’ a funny, touching behind-the-curtain Scrooge tale By Pam Kragen November 25, 2024 at 1:57 p.m. Anna Ouyang Moensch's world premiere play explores Dickens' themes through one theater's 'A Christmas Carol'...
Theater | Review: Backyard’s eerie ‘Misery’ a gripping and grisly horror thriller By Pam Kragen November 24, 2024 at 10:16 a.m. Adapted from Stephen King's 1987 novel, it's the story of a famous romance novelist taken...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Music and Concerts | Broadway, film star Leslie Odom Jr. on Christmas, fashion and finding the divine By Pam Kragen November 24, 2024 at 6:45 a.m. The "Hamilton" Tony-winner will bring his Christmas concert tour to San Diego on Nov. 30
Theater | Stephen King’s dark novel ‘Misery’ headed to a San Diego stage this weekend By David L. Coddon November 21, 2024 at 6:01 a.m. Backyard Renaissance Theatre is presenting William Goldman's stage adaptation of the 1987 horror novel
Music and Concerts | San Diego arts roundup: Think X to explore Pink Floyd’s music in a heavier way By David L. Coddon November 21, 2024 at 6:01 a.m. Also this week: Comedian Kathleen Madigan, NVA's 'Miracle on 34th' radio play, San Diego Symphony...
Theater | La Jolla Playhouse’s ‘Your Local Theater Presents’ looks at the lives of jobbing actors By David L. Coddon November 20, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. The world premiere play by Anna Ouyang Moench is about an actor who keeps returning,...
Theater | Review: Moxie’s ambitious repertory experiment has pluses, minuses By Pam Kragen November 18, 2024 at 6:17 p.m. The rotating productions of a G-rated musical and R-rated horror drama show off the cast's...
Theater | Review: ‘Paradise’ docu-play finds commonalities among San Diego’s homeless By Pam Kragen November 16, 2024 at 6:46 a.m. Blindspot Collective based this world premiere play with music on interviews with 100 local unhoused...
Theater | Check out these 18 seasonal plays and musicals at local theaters By Pam Kragen November 22, 2024 at 9:24 a.m. The Grinch, Ebenezer Scrooge, Kris Kringle, the Wonderettes and many more holiday characters are heading...
Entertainment | 'Nutcracker' ballets set to dance in to local stages By Pam Kragen November 21, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. The seasonal ballet twirls back into town this month with productions in all shapes, sizes...
Theater | Moxie Theatre set to present two very different plays in rotating rep By David L. Coddon November 15, 2024 at 6:01 a.m. The same cast will alternate performances of Broadway's 'Little Women" musical and the dark comedy...
Things to do | San Diego arts roundup: Edward S. Curtis’ American Indian photography books on display By David L. Coddon November 14, 2024 at 5:31 a.m. Also this week: the Old Globe's "Henry VIII," the San Diego Environmental Film Festival, Patti...
Theater | Review: Old Globe’s ‘Grinch’ just as sharp, funny and sweet as ever By Pam Kragen November 14, 2024 at 1:18 p.m. In its 27th production of the holiday family comedy, the Globe and its high-spirited lead...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Theater | New play with music gives a voice to San Diego’s homeless community By David L. Coddon November 10, 2024 at 10:19 a.m. Blindspot Collective's 'Another Day in Paradise' is based on interviews with more than 100 local...
Music and Concerts | Local arts roundup: San Diego Film Week showcases local auteurs By David L. Coddon November 7, 2024 at 9:05 a.m. Also this week: 'Anchorman' 20th anniversary, Roustabouts' 'Odd Couple,' Project BLANK's 'Intrusion' and more
The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: Nov. 8-10 By San Diego Union-Tribune November 8, 2024 at 6:30 a.m. Our list of top things to do this weekend includes concerts, theatre, a festival and...
Theater | Review: Diversionary’s ‘Midnight’ a heart-tugging musical mystery By Pam Kragen November 4, 2024 at 2:21 p.m. Set in a secret gay bar in 1965 Greenwich Village, the cabaret-style show packs hidden...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Theater | Old Globe’s Grinch musical back for 27th annual attempt to steal Christmas By Pam Kragen November 14, 2024 at 1:20 p.m. Actor Andrew Polec returns for the fourth year as the green-skinned Grinch in the book-inspired...
Entertainment | City Ballet set to premiere new ‘Dracula’ ballet led by a vampire ballerina By Marcia Luttrell November 3, 2024 at 6:01 a.m. Company choreographer Geoff Gonzalez created the dance piece, which will star his wife, ballerina and...
Theater | Review: San Diego Opera’s ghostly ‘La boheme’ brings out its sadness, beauty By Pam Kragen November 4, 2024 at 11:13 a.m. Season-opening production re-created the concept first staged at the company's drive-in production in 2020
Entertainment | Seattle dance duo brings sly ‘Drive Wolves Mad’ to San Diego By Pam Kragen November 1, 2024 at 8:20 a.m. Jenny Peterson and Kaitlin McCarthy's dance work examines misogyny, predatory violence and the power of...
Theater | Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Working Girl’ musical premiere highlights La Jolla Playhouse’s 2025-26 season By Pam Kragen November 2, 2024 at 11:42 a.m. Christopher Ashley's final season in La Jolla will also include a new play about cooking...
Arts and Culture Newsletter: San Diego Asian Film Festival marks 25th year By David L. Coddon October 31, 2024 at 5:31 a.m. Also this week, a Joan Rivers play at South Coast Rep, Kirk Franklin's Reunion Tour,...
Theater | Review: North Coast Rep’s playful ‘Incident’ a funny family story By Pam Kragen October 30, 2024 at 3:36 p.m. Set in 1973, the unpredictable stage comedy looks at women's changing roles in society in...
Entertainment | ‘Cultivate’ creates community in Malashock Dance company’s season-opener By Marcia Luttrell October 27, 2024 at 6:01 a.m. The dance concert will feature a personally inspired piece by artistic director Christopher K. Morgan...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Fresh off global win at Operalia, soprano to make role debut in San Diego Opera’s ‘La bohème’ By Pam Kragen October 27, 2024 at 7:40 a.m. The Puccini opera will open the company's 2024-25 season with three performances next weekend at...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Theater | Culture Clash at 40: Chicano theater troupe to celebrate four decades of collaboration By David L. Coddon October 27, 2024 at 6:01 a.m. Founded in 1984 in San Francisco's Mission District, the Latinx trio produced many of its...
Theater | Five years later, Diversionary can finally present ‘Midnight at the Never Get’ By David L. Coddon October 25, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. The musical is set in a hidden gay bar in New York City in 1965,...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Music and Concerts | San Diego Opera kicks off 60th anniversary season with ambitious five-year growth plan By Pam Kragen October 20, 2024 at 10:10 a.m. After pandemic-related setbacks in attendance and income, the company has set goals for new commissions,...
Theater | North Coast Rep’s ‘Incident’ to examine the Catholic Church’s view on women By David L. Coddon October 18, 2024 at 3:17 p.m. Katie Forgette family comedy, set in the 1970s, involves a frank ‘birds and bees’ lesson...
Review: New Village’s ‘Thanksgiving Play’ takes hilarious look at off-key holiday traditions By Pam Kragen October 17, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. Native American playwright Larissa FastHorse's comedy pokes fun at the way grade-schoolers learn about the...
Theater | Review: Veteran San Diego actress sparkles in Roustabouts’ ‘Looped’ By Pam Kragen October 14, 2024 at 12:05 p.m. Eileen Bowman gives a rich, multilayered performance as the wild-living stage and screen star Tallulah...
Theater | Review: ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ tour captures the humor, poignance of Broadway original By Pam Kragen October 10, 2024 at 12:56 p.m. San Diego is one of the first stops on the inaugural tour for the musical,...
Theater | Roustabouts’ ‘Looped’ revives the outrageous silver screen and stage star Tallulah Bankhead By David L. Coddon October 10, 2024 at 8:36 a.m. San Diego actress Eileen Bowman re-creates an infamous, real-life studio recording session in 1965
Arts & Culture Newsletter: San Diego International Film Fest returns By David L. Coddon October 11, 2024 at 1:52 p.m. Also this week, a Latino storytelling festival, Soulkiss Theater's '2 Rappers, 2 Plays,' Art of...
Theater | Review: Oceanside Theatre’s ‘Stranger Sings’ an immersive, high-energy show By Pam Kragen October 10, 2024 at 10:37 a.m. Fans of the Netflix sci-fi series "Stranger Things" will most appreciate this musical parody in...
Review: Onstage Playhouse’s ‘Masa’ a touching family story about grief and starting over By Pam Kragen October 7, 2024 at 4:43 p.m. Salomón Maya's play is set in Mexico City, eight months after the 1985 earthquake that...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Theater | ‘Kimberly Akimbo’ director talks about bringing the highly quirky musical to life By Pam Kragen October 6, 2024 at 10:34 a.m. The funny and bittersweet musical won five Tony Awards in 2023, including Best Musical, Best...
SUBSCRIBER ONLY Entertainment | San Diego Ballet’s new season to open Friday with a blaze By Marcia Luttrell October 6, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. 'The Firebird' will be presented along with 'Mambomania' at the Joan B. Kroc Theater in...
Classic British farce ‘Noises Off’ to complete the Old Globe’s 2025 season By Pam Kragen October 4, 2024 at 8:01 a.m. Gordon Greenberg, director and co-writer of the current 'Dracula' spoof onstage at the Globe, will...
Theater | Oceanside Theatre Co. plans ‘Stranger Things’ parody musical By David L. Coddon October 3, 2024 at 6:01 a.m. The off Broadway hit spoofs the spooky Netflix show, its characters, the '80s and more
Theater | Arts and Culture Newsletter: Latinx New Play Festival opens Friday in La Jolla By David L. Coddon October 3, 2024 at 5:31 a.m. Also this week, Jerry Seinfeld, the 'Little Women' musical, author Malcolm Gladwell and Cake at...
Theater | OnStage Playhouse to present world premiere family play ‘Masa’ By David L. Coddon October 2, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Salomon Maya, wrote and co-stars in the play, is based on the true story of...
Theater review: L.J. Playhouse’s haunting ‘Primary Trust’ looks at the power of kindness By Pam Kragen September 30, 2024 at 11:29 a.m. Eboni Booth's play, which won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, is making its West...
Gavin Creel, Tony-winning musical theater actor, dies at 48 By The New York Times News Service Syndicate September 30, 2024 at 2:17 p.m. The star of 'Hair,' 'Hello, Dolly!' and 'Book of Mormon' passed away Monday from a...
Theater | Old Globe’s not-so-spooky ‘Dracula’ comedy bites deep into the funny bone By Pam Kragen October 2, 2024 at 9:57 a.m. The latest comedy play from the writing duo Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen is the...
Theater | Theater review: Wilde’s wit sparkles in Lamb’s Players’ ‘Importance of Being Earnest’ By Pam Kragen September 27, 2024 at 3:42 p.m. Kerry Meads' well-cast, cleverly designed and lavish staging is both funny and charming
Theater | New Village Arts staging comically woke ‘Thanksgiving Play’ By David L. Coddon September 27, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. Larissa FastHorse's 90-minute Broadway comedy is about well-meaning pilgrim pageant that goes horribly wrong
Theater | Theater review: Cygnet’s return to ‘Rocky Horror’ a campy and exuberant celebration By Pam Kragen September 26, 2024 at 9:10 p.m. The show's leading man, Nathan Madden, steals the show in reimagining of the theater company's...
La Jolla Playhouse’s Christopher Ashley tapped to lead New York’s Roundabout Theatre Company By Pam Kragen September 26, 2024 at 11:15 a.m. The Tony Award-winning director has been hired to serve as artistic director of New York...
Theater review: SDMT’s well-staged ‘Sweeney Todd’ offers fresh take on setting, characters By Pam Kragen September 23, 2024 at 3:17 p.m. The impressive Kearny Mesa production of the Stephen Sondheim/Hugh Wheeler musical features strong singing and...
Entertainment | Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Gaffigan announce 2025 arena tour that is headed to San Diego By George Varga September 24, 2024 at 12:41 p.m. The laughs won't come cheap. Ticket prices for their joint Pechanga Arena San Diego performance...
Theater | Exploring loneliness, finding family at the heart of La Jolla Playhouse’s ‘Primary Trust’ By David L. Coddon September 22, 2024 at 6:01 a.m. Eboni Booth's 95-minute drama won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Theater | S.D. Musical Theatre’s ‘Sweeney Todd’ star learned from the master By David L. Coddon September 20, 2024 at 6:01 a.m. Actor/singer DeAndre Simmons had the best possible training to one day star in a Stephen...
Theater | Old Globe turns ‘Dracula’ horror story into a contemporary, comic vampire tale By David L. Coddon September 20, 2024 at 10:58 a.m. Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen's 90-minute 'Dracula, a Comedy of Terrors' features five actors playing...
La Jolla Playhouse’s artistic director to receive prestigious national theater honor By Pam Kragen September 19, 2024 at 6:16 a.m. Christopher Ashley was honored Tuesday with the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation's 'Mr. Abbott' Award
S.D. Arts and Culture Newsletter: Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ remembered at the Shell By David L. Coddon September 18, 2024 at 3:01 p.m. Also this week: Adams Avenue Street Fair, Write Out Loud, Paul Weller, 'The Breakfast Club'...
Theater | Theater review: Chalk Circle’s well-crafted ‘Constellations’ a stellar production By Pam Kragen September 19, 2024 at 2:24 p.m. The two-character British play imagines a couple's relationship in infinite ways
Theater review: CCAE Theatricals’ lavish ‘Jersey Boys’ lives up to original By Pam Kragen September 17, 2024 at 7:21 a.m. The Tony Award-winning musical got its start 20 years ago just across town at La...
Theater review: North Coast Rep’s ‘View from the Bridge’ a timely tragedy By Pam Kragen September 18, 2024 at 2:58 p.m. The 1955 Arthur Miller classic touches on hot-button issues voters will be grappling with in...
Theater | Review: Old Globe’s eye-popping ‘Orient Express’ a fun and entertaining ride By Pam Kragen September 16, 2024 at 7:51 a.m. Adapted from the 1934 novel by Ken Ludwig, the murder mystery is set on a...