Theater Talk

Elizabeth Youngman-Westphal

Special to The Village News

Wow, there is a lot of entertainment this month. You will want to grab your calendar to book seats for these upcoming shows like "Spiderman." It's only here for one night Saturday, Nov. 4, at Broadway San Diego, and it's playing at the San Diego Civic Theatre downtown at 3651 Fourth Street, followed by "Mama Mia" opening Tuesday, Nov. 7. Remember to buy parking at the Wells Fargo Bank building just a few blocks away. For more information, visit http://www.broadwaysd.com.

Opera lovers can enjoy Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata" close to home. Coming Friday, Oct. 20, seats are still available for the few performances at the California Center for the Arts. Presented by the Pacific Lyric Association, this not to-be-missed love story is performed in three acts at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. in Escondido. It runs Tuesday to Saturday. Call 858-232-2990 or 760-839-4138 for more information or visit http://www.artcenter.org.

The Cygnet Theatre just closed "Evita" and is bringing another notorious woman's life to the stage soon. The risqué "The Little Fellow (or - The Queen of Tarts Tells All)" is loosely based on the life of Harriet Wilson, a renowned courtesan, opening Oct. 25, to Nov. 19, in Old Town San Diego, 4040 Twiggs Street. For more information, call 619-337-1525 or visit http://www.cygnettheare.com.

Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd. Suite 101, in San Diego is running their cabaret nights until they open "The Glass Menagerie" at the end of November. For more information, call 619-220-0097 or visit http://www.diversionary.org.

Lambs Playhouse, 1142 Orange Ave. in Coronado is currently showing "Jane" until Sunday, Nov. 12, it's another world premier and not-to-be-missed. This compelling story by Charlotte Bronte sets "Jane Eyre" in the 1920s. For more information, call 619-437-6000 or visit http://wwwlambsplayers.org.

La Jolla Playhouse opened "Sumo" late in September, and as of today, the show is completely sold out. Yet, additional performances may be added. So, check back. As for now, it closes Wednesday, Nov. 29. It will be followed by Sinclair Louis' "Babbitt" starring Matthew Broderick. For more information, call 858-550-1010. Free parking and a shuttle is available on Gilman Drive. For more information, visit http://www.ljp.org.

New Village Arts, 2787 State St., in Carlsbad will close "Doubt" Sunday, Oct. 22. While I've not seen it, the show has been given good reviews. For more information, call 760-433-3245 or visit http://www.newvillagearts.org.

Down Interstate 5 at Lomas Santa Fe, North Coast Repertory, 987 Lomas Santa Fe, in Solana Beach is presenting an adaptation by the prolific playwright Jeffery Hatcher of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." For more information about "Winston Churchill Returns" and its upcoming short run in November, call 858-481-1055 or visit http://www.northcoastrep.org.

Oceanside Theatre Company brings "Sleepy Hollow" to the stage. This classic Halloween tale closes Wednesday, Nov. 29. Oceanside Theatre Company uses the mainstage at Brooks Theatre at 217 North Coast Highway in Oceanside. For more information, call 760-433-8900 or visit http://www.oceansidetheatre.org.

Meanwhile Shakespeare is in the house at The Old Globe Theater in Balboa Park. "Two Gentlemen of Verona" runs from Saturday, Oct. 28, to Sunday, Nov. 5, plus "The Comedy of Errors" is touring the county performing free in public spaces. For more information, call 619-234-5623 or visit http://www.theoldglobe.org.

Roustabouts Theatre will perform a series of readings over the next weeks and months starting with Lillian Hellman's "Watch on the Rhine" coming Sunday, Oct. 22, with more readings to follow. For more information, call 619-568-5800 or http://www.theroustabouts.org.

Get your spook on at San Diego Musical Theatre, 4650 Mercury St., this month with the hilarious "The Addams Family," which closes Sunday, Oct. 29. Enjoy free parking. For more information, call 858-560-5740 or http://www.sdmt.org.

Star Wars' fans will not want to miss San Diego Symphony's performance of "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back In Concert" at the Rady Shell Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 28-29, at 7 p.m. For more information, call 619-235-0804 or visit http://www.sandiegosymphony.org.

Scripps Ranch Theatre opens "The 39 Steps" Friday, Oct. 27, to Sunday, Nov. 19. It is a fast-paced hilarious whodunit directed by none other than Phil Johnson. Lastly, remember the theater is located at 9783 Avenue of Nations with plenty of free parking. For more information, call 858-395-0573 or visit http://www.scrippsranchtheatre.org.

Nearby at the Theatre at the The Welk, Monty Python's whacky "Spamalot" continues until Sunday, Oct. 29, in Escondido. For more information, visit http://www.TheWelkSanDiego.com.

Elizabeth Youngman-Westphal can be reached by email at [email protected].