Taking the audience on an enchanting journey from the land of the living to the depths of the underworld, Sarah Rhul’s Eurydice is the Oceanside Theatre Company’s current attraction at the Sunshine Brooks Theatre. Based …
February 21, 2017
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Stories by Larry Steckling
To the depths of the underworld in Eurydice
My Fair Lady at Welk Resort Theatre
With lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, My Fair Lady has frequently been called “the perfect musical.” The well-known story of the cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, may bring a “ho-hum” …
January 30, 2017
Marjorie Prime at North Coast Rep
We try to remember…we imperceptibly edit, ruthlessly censor, select, and reshape until memories become more like myths. All of this plays in your mind and takes root during Marjorie Prime, Jordan Harrison’s quietly unsettling drama …
January 17, 2017
1940s Radio Hour at New Village Arts
Authenticity abounds in New Village Arts’ production of Walton Jones’s 1940s piece, and the audience becomes immersed in the music and ambience of the period. Under the nurturing care of director Dana Case, aboard for …
December 12, 2016
Tricked into falling in love!
The simple and timeless story of The Fantasticks, set to lilting, haunting melodies by Harvey Schmidt with book and lyrics by Tom Jones, holds the distinction of being the longest continuously running production in theatrical …
November 14, 2016
You can't really call The Lion a play
There have been many notable plays about fathers and sons. Strindberg’s Fathers and Sons and O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night come to mind. Yet none are quite as powerful as the one-man autobiographical musical, …
October 17, 2016
Comic joys and boy-toys
According to Christopher Durang, author of Vanya and Sonia and Masha, and Spike, “My play is not a Chekhov parody. I take Chekhov scenes and characters and put them in a blender.” Although his characters …
September 21, 2016
No 16-piece orchestra necessary
Today we as a nation face the threat of international and domestic terrorism in ways we have never experienced before. It is against this backdrop — similar to the one faced on Broadway in 1943 …
August 26, 2016
Musicalization of one of the biggest disasters of all time
Moonlight Amphitheatre’s latest effort, Titanic, the Musical, boasts a book by Peter Stone, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. The script attempts to move expertly between three classes of passengers, officers, and serving staff, …
August 23, 2016
With the eye of a child
Clap your hands if you can believe it: the Tony Award–winning musical has flown into the hearts of San Diego theatergoers. This classic tale that whisks you away to where dreams are born and no …
July 28, 2016
SD Fringe: The Test and Mysterium: A Magic Show
The Test Katie Brady wrote this musical about “surviving college application hysteria” and says it’s best described as: “Sara Bareilles meets Stephen Schwartz,” but the Coronado resident also cites 10,000 Maniacs and Jason Mraz as …
July 1, 2016
SD Fringe: Will You Swear Your True Love and The Heart of a Goof
Will You Swear Your True Love Direct from Japan, Theatre Group GUMBO’s world premiere is a comedy of crazy Japanese lovers motivated by their own quirky views on distorted love. The crazy-love spectrum in this …
June 30, 2016
Soul, funk, disco flavor
Sister Act has arrived at Moonlight Amphitheatre with laugh-out-loud comedy and hand-clapping music. Based on the 1992 movie of the same name, the musical is created by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner (book), Alan Menken (music), …
June 17, 2016
Wallow in the awkwardness
Jon Lonoff’s comedy is scoring many laughs at Scripps Ranch. The play has one of the simplest plots ever. An overweight, insecure woman meets a rough-cut but sweet guy. They fall for each other. Then …
April 12, 2016
Lottie the knockout
A play whose framework is used to explore sexual problems, economic depression, family violence, anti-Semitism, and class prejudice is now the current production at the Scripps Ranch Theatre. William Inge’s 1957 play is probably an …
January 26, 2016
Killer smile and sexy Ginger
It is December 1942. BJ Gibson, a youthful guy with a killer smile and a beautiful voice, is in love with a singer but soon must go off to war. Walton Jones’s 1940s Radio Hour …
December 18, 2015