San Diego's Theatrical Extravaganza: A Season of Inspiration and Laughter
San Diego’s cultural scene is set to dazzle audiences with a splendid array of performances, ranging from musicals and plays to ballets. The Old Globe Theater is at the forefront, presenting a lineup that includes the musical 'Regency Girls', the heartfelt play 'House of India', and the passionate ballet 'Romeo et Juliet'. Each event promises a unique blend of storytelling, dance, and music, offering something special for everyone. Let's delve into the vibrant tapestry of these performances and the creative minds behind them.
Ananya runs House of India, a once-successful restaurant in a strip mall outside of Cleveland. Her cook Jacob has an idea to bring in more customers: ditch the traditional dishes and embrace a trendy, fusion-forward menu (think “Indian Chipotle”). Her two grown children have their own views too. As the bills and worries pile up, Ananya must choose: hold on to her late husband’s vision, or compromise in the name of progress. Directed by Zi Alikhan, this heartwarming world premiere comedy from San Diego playwright Deepak Kumar features a vibrant cast of characters who work to build a restaurant, a legacy, and a new kind of American Dream.
Dance that Evokes Passion and Sparks the Soul. Lovely and lyrical. Compelling and heartbreaking. SDB's production's of Romeo et Juliet has been moving San Diego audiences for the past decade. A rapturous evening devoted to young love and to those who remember its triumphs and tragedies. Artistic Director Javier Velasco's re-staging of Shakespeare's masterpiece is a lush, yet intimate rumination that focuses on the inner desires of the most famous star-crossed lovers of all time.
A hilarious and heartwarming new comedy from acclaimed writer Gloria Calderón Kellett (Netflix’s Emmy Award–winning “One Day at a Time”). When Yoli brings her new boyfriend home to meet her Latino American parents, he’s not exactly what they were expecting. Everyone tries to be on their best behavior, but generational differences and cultural assumptions collide. Through equal measures of comedy and compassion, they all discover what it truly means to be a family. Directed by Kimberly Senior, the laugh-out-loud One of the Good Ones was acclaimed by the Los Angeles Times as “a theatrical comedy in the sitcom tradition of Norman Lear.”
A TIMELESS FAIRYTALE COMES TO LIFE Raúl Salamanca's CINDERELLA Step into the magic of Cinderella, where love, transformation, and destiny unfold in a breathtaking ballet. Golden State Ballet presents this enchanting production, featuring the mesmerizing choreography of Artistic Director Raúl Salamanca. Set to Prokofiev's legendary score, this ballet weaves together breathtaking storytelling and timeless magic. Music by Sergei Prokofiev.
One of Shakespeare’s wittiest comedies comes to life on the Globe’s outdoor stage. Helena is in love with the aristocrat Bertram, while he’s more interested in running off to war than in romance. But strong-willed Helena can’t be deterred, and as she moves mountains and conjures miracles to gain his affection, the play winds into flights of hilarity and passion. Clever and charming, this romantic comedy is the perfect night of theatre under the stars.
In The Odyssey, Penelope’s long wait is rewarded when her husband Odysseus returns home 20 years after leaving to fight in the Trojan War. Will the same be true for Jane in modern-day Brooklyn, 20 years after her husband left for work one fateful September morning? The acclaimed Tyne Rafaeli directs this poetic and touching play about longing, hope, and the myths we tell ourselves just to get through the day. The Janeiad, a wry contemplation of the evocative power of storytelling, marks the Globe’s third collaboration with Anna Ziegler, following The Wanderers and The Last Match.
Noises Off is a brilliant and uproarious backstage comedy that pulls back the curtain on a theatre company struggling to keep its production from falling apart. Forgotten lines, misplaced props, and romantic entanglements lead to total chaos with doors slamming and sardines flying, in a whirlwind of slapstick hilarity. As the actors’ onstage and offstage worlds collide, the result is, as The New York Times calls it, “a raucously delightful comedy” and “altogether hilarious.”
Merriment and mayhem come to life in Shakespeare’s uproarious comedy, last produced at The Old Globe in 2015. Immediately after arriving in a new town, a young man and his sidekick are mistaken for their own long-lost twins, and everyone’s lives are turned upside down as mistaken identities, confused lovers, and all kinds of shenanigans ensue. Globe Resident Artist James Vásquez makes his triumphant return to the Summer Shakespeare Festival after directing 2023’s knockout comic hit The Merry Wives of Windsor.
Deceived, based on the classic play Gaslight, is a psychological thriller that will enthrall Globe audiences, as did 2022’s smash hit Dial M for Murder. Bella Manningham’s new husband seems the doting partner, but when she sees the gaslights dim and he claims they have not, she begins to suspect the strange occurrences aren’t just in her head. Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson’s exhilarating new adaptation of the beloved mystery, directed by Globe Resident Artist Delicia Turner Sonnenberg (The Old Globe’s Trouble in Mind, Skeleton Crew), blows the dust off a classic, and is “a very satisfying piece of theatrical reinvention” (Toronto Star).
San Diego’s 2025 theatrical season at The Old Globe promises to be a captivating journey through various genres and narratives. From the regency era’s societal dances to the heartfelt dilemmas faced by modern restaurateurs, these events offer both entertainment and introspection. Whether you’re a fan of classic Shakespearean comedies, modern plays, or breathtaking ballets, there’s something on offer to engage and delight. The season is a testament to the power of storytelling and the enduring appeal of live performance, making it an unmissable experience for locals and visitors alike.