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SAN DIEGO, CA (October 27, 2021) — The Old Globe announced today its full cast and creative team for the live, in-person return of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The cast will be led by Andrew Polec as The Grinch. Polec returns to The Old Globe after his stellar performance as Berger in the 2021 summer hit production of Hair, The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. Resident Artist James Vásquez will once again direct San Diego’s beloved holiday musical. Rehearsals are underway for the 24th annual holiday production, which will run from November 10 to December 31, with the official opening on Sunday, November 14. Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!will play on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe’s Conrad Prebys Theatre Center in San Diego’s Balboa Park. Tickets are now on sale at www.TheOldGlobe.org.
“It’s hard to imagine the holidays in San Diego without the mean, green Grinch, and so we are especially happy to welcome him back to our stage live and in person, after he sheltered in place for 20 long months on Mt. Crumpit,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “That the Grinch will be played for the first time by the extremely gifted Andrew Polec is a special joy. The company that surrounds him includes new faces and returning veterans and is bursting with talent. The 24th annual iteration of this beautiful and moving show will be better than ever.”
The Grinchfeatures a book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin. The original production of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! was conceived and directed by Jack O’Brien, with additional lyrics by Theodor S. Geisel, additional music by Albert Hague, and original choreography by John DeLuca.
In addition to Polec, principal cast members for Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! include Tommy Martinez as Young Max; John Treacy Egan as Old Max; and, alternating in the role of Cindy-Lou Who, Sophia Adajar (Pink Team) and Leila Manuel (Red Team).
Rounding out the cast of The Grinch are Christopher M. Ramirez as Papa Who, Ariella Kvashny as Mama Who, Larry Raben as Grandpa Who, and Bets Malone as Grandma Who; alternating the role of Annie Who are Dempsey Baker (Red Team) and Juliette Cutugno (Pink Team); alternating the role of Betty-Lou Who are Isabella Pruter (Red Team) and Maya Washington (Pink Team); alternating the role of Boo Who are Benji Katzke (Pink Team) and John Perry Wishchuk (Red Team); and alternating the role of Danny Who are Alexander Dalton (Pink Team) and Ali Nelson (Red Team).
The ensemble consists of Leo Ebanks, Kyrsten Hafso Koppman, Patricia Jewel, Corey Jones, Bibi Mama, and Lance Arthur Smith.
The swings for The Grinch are Arya Bosworth, Jacob Caltrider, Bobby Chiu, Bethany Slomka, and James Vásquez.
For the full press release, click here! For tickets to Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, click here! For the press page for Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, click here!
Photo: The cast of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 2019. Photo by Jim Cox.
SAN DIEGO, CA (October 22, 2021) — A global announcement was made today that The Old Globe will present the World Premiere of Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical, produced on Broadway by Yash Raj Films, the biggest film studio in India.The studio will adapt its most popular film, DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE (DDLJ as it is called throughout India) for the Broadway stage. Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical will debut in San Diego from September 1 to October 16, 2022, with the official opening on Wednesday, September 14. The limited engagement will play on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
The film DDLJ premiered in 1995 and is the longest running film in Indian cinema history, which is still running in theatres.
Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical is the story of Simran, a young Indian-American woman whose future is set: an arranged marriage back in India to a family friend. But when she convinces her very strict dad that she should spend a summer of freedom and fun in Europe, she falls for the charming Rog, and her careful, logical plans go out the window. Can she be true to both her heritage and her heart? Can carefree American Rog win over her traditional father? Take a whirlwind trip from Boston to Europe to India as cultures collide in the stage musical adaptation of the beloved hit romantic comedy film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
The family owned Yash Raj Films is the largest film studio in India and has produced some of the biggest blockbusters of Indian Cinema. Headed by Aditya Chopra, he returns to directing for the 50th anniversary of the studio. DDLJ was Chopra’s directorial debut, the historic romantic film is one of the highest grossing movies in the history of India’s rich and diverse movie industry.
The creative team will bring together Indian and US based artists. Based on an original story by Chopra, the musical will feature book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Mean Girls), top Indian songwriters Vishal Dadlani & Shekhar Ravjiani will serve as composers. Tony and Emmy winner Rob Ashford (Frozen, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Boys from Syracuse) will choreograph with associate choreographer Shruti Merchant. The design team will also include set design by Emmy and Tony Award winner Derek McLane (Moulin Rouge!, Hairspray Live!, 33 Variations) and music supervision by Bill Sherman.
Adam Zotovich serves as Executive Producer.
The Old Globe's ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion will be evident in programming that reflects the vast chorus of voices echoing through communities all around San Diego. With productions such as Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical, the theatre continues to present even more of what San Diego audiences have come to know and love about it - great theatre made by great artists, that entertains, enlightens, and reminds us why this artform truly matters.
“The Old Globe is beyond delighted to bring ‘Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical’ to our stage. To collaborate with the brilliant director Aditya Chopra as he makes his stage debut is a real honor for all of us at the Globe,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “And it’s a special privilege to bring India’s most popular movie to vivid theatrical life in San Diego, as we build on the Globe’s storied legacy of premiering exciting and important new musical theatre.”
For the full press release, click here! For the Come Fall in Love - The DDLJ Musical press page, click here!
SAN DIEGO (October 14, 2021)—The Old Globe recently announced the in-person return of the Globe for All Tour, our free Shakespeare tour that reaches locations throughout San Diego County—now in its seventh year of making theatre matter to more people! The touring show is Shakespeare: Call and Response, a fun and fast-moving new Shakespeare-centered show conceived and directed by Patricia McGregor. It features a talented company of professional actors and an inventive creative team, who will bring this stirring admission-free production to various economically, geographically, and culturally diverse communities throughout San Diego County, including Old Globe Community Partner venues from San Ysidro to Oceanside. A list of venues, dates, and times is below.
The tour kicks off on Tuesday, October 26, with an opening night performance on Thursday, October 28, and runs for three weeks, from Tuesdays to Sundays, with a culminating closing night performance on November 14, 2021 in beautiful Balboa Park.
Rooted in a vibrant interplay between performers and audience, Shakespeare: Call and Response is an hour-long celebration of verse, music, dance, and audience participation. Built for plazas and outdoor venues, the piece features five virtuosic actors, who transform into a variety of roles based on feedback from the audience. Part “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and part The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), the event is anchored by a DJ inviting the crowd in while spinning hits to get people on their feet. No two shows are the same, but all include scenes from five significant Shakespeare plays. Shakespeare: Call and Response is a dynamic dialogue between the greatest writer of all time and the dynamic citizens of America’s Finest City, leaving both transformed for the better.
The cast features Eddie R. Brown, III (Firebrand), Sofia Jean Gomez (Traditionalist), Christopher Michael Rivera (Clown), Anne Son (Romantic), and Miki Vale (DJ).
The creative team includes Patricia McGregor (Conceiver and Director), Regina Fernandez (Movement Consultant), Mr. MAXX MOSES (Mural Design and Concrete Alchemist), Carmen Amon (Costume Design), Miki Vale (Original Music), and Chandra R.M. Anthenill (Production Stage Manager).
For the full press release, click here! For more information on Globe for All, click here! For the press page for Globe for All, click here!
SAN DIEGO (September 23, 2021)—The Old Globe presents the return of the Globe for All Tour, our free Shakespeare tour that reaches locations throughout San Diego County—now in its seventh year of making theatre matter to more people! Director and creator Patricia McGregor, an Old Globe Resident Artist, returns to the Globe with her innovative Shakespeare production of Shakespeare: Call and Response, featuring our talented Globe for All company of professional actors. The company will bring a stirring production to various economically, geographically, and culturally diverse communities throughout San Diego County, including Old Globe Community Partner venues from San Ysidro to Oceanside. The free-admission Globe for All Tour kicks off on Tuesday, October 26, with opening night on Thursday, October 28, and running for three weeks, from Tuesdays to Sundays, with a culminating closing night performance on November 14, 2021, on the Globe’s Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stage.
Rooted in the vibrant interplay between performers and audience, Shakespeare: Call and Response is an hour-long celebration of verse, music, dance, and audience participation. Built for plazas and outdoor venues, the piece features five virtuosic actors, who transform into a variety of roles based on feedback from the audience. Part “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and part “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged),” the event is anchored by a DJ inviting the crowd in while spinning hits to get people on their feet. No two shows are the same, but all include scenes from five significant Shakespeare plays. Shakespeare: Call and Response is a dynamic dialogue between the greatest writer of all time and the dynamic citizens of America’s Finest City, leaving both transformed for the better.
“It’s a real joy to bring the Globe for All Tour back to neighborhoods around our region,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “The return of this key program in our commitment to making theatre matter to more people is yet one more sign that our city, and the arts in particular, are roaring back to vibrant life after a long shutdown. Globe for All is a celebration of theatre and community, and Shakespeare is its beating heart. This year, the brilliant Patricia McGregor breaks new ground and shows us how thrilling the connection between artist and audience can be. Under her direction a gifted company of actors connects Shakespeare to this moment with laughter and celebration. I’m so looking forward to being with our partners and rejoicing that theatre is back!”
“These last couple of years have taught us that we are resilient in the face of uncertainty,” stated Freedome Bradley-Ballentine, Associate Artistic Director and Director of Arts Engagement. “Shakespeare is masterful at exploring the human condition, and his prolific works are very relevant in speaking to the times we are living in today. Globe Resident Artist Patricia McGregor has gathered Shakespeare scenes that speak to the moment we are in and stitched them together with newly written and devised work to create something unique. Shakespeare: Call and Response is a celebration and exploration of the things that bind us: love, family, loss, and tragedy. It’s a beautiful way for us to enjoy theatre outdoors, safely and together.”
For the full press release, click here! For the Krapp's Last Tape press page, click here!
SAN DIEGO (September 30, 2021) — The Old Globe announces upcoming free and exciting arts engagement in-person events and digital offerings for the remainder of 2021. Audience favorites such as the seventh annual Day of the Dead Celebration and Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Sensory-Friendly AXIS Event will happen in person after having pivoted to digital-only content due to the pandemic.
This fall season includes a Globe Learning professional development opportunity, more AXIS performing arts events, and additional Reflecting Shakespeare TV episodes for the public to join in on. The Arts Engagement Department continues to make theatre matter to all of San Diego and beyond with in-person and digital private offerings in the community. With so much to choose from, there is something for everyone!
“The Old Globe’s three Balboa Park theatres are back in business after a too-long closure, and our announcement now of a broad and deep program of arts engagement events is yet one more thrilling step in our return to full operations,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “Freedome Bradley-Ballentine and his wonderful team have put together a brilliant slate of performances and participatory programs that truly demonstrates what the Globe means when we say that our goal is to make theatre matter to more people. These are fun, enlightening, and entertaining programs that capture everything that San Diego loves about The Old Globe, and bring our work to our neighbors all over the county. I’m so grateful to our partner organizations, and I look forward to welcoming San Diegans to this bounty of great work.”
“I am absolutely bursting with excitement,” shared Associate Artistic Director and Director of Arts Engagement Freedome Bradley-Ballentine. “We are so fortunate to be able to return to in-person work with our neighbors and communities, in addition to continuing the inclusive digital work we pioneered during the pandemic. Our Teaching Artists offer such high-quality programs to so many. We have been overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude at this ability to reconnect with old friends and the chance to make new friends with people from all over San Diego and beyond.”
For the full press release, click here!
Photo by Rich Soublet II.
SAN DIEGO (September 23, 2021)—The Old Globe presents the return of the Globe for All Tour, our free Shakespeare tour that reaches locations throughout San Diego County—now in its seventh year of making theatre matter to more people! Director and creator Patricia McGregor, an Old Globe Resident Artist, returns to the Globe with her innovative Shakespeare production of Shakespeare: Call and Response, featuring our talented Globe for All company of professional actors. The company will bring a stirring production to various economically, geographically, and culturally diverse communities throughout San Diego County, including Old Globe Community Partner venues from San Ysidro to Oceanside. The free-admission Globe for All Tour kicks off on Tuesday, October 26, with opening night on Thursday, October 28, and running for three weeks, from Tuesdays to Sundays, with a culminating closing night performance on November 14, 2021, on the Globe’s Lowell Davies Festival Theatre stage.
Rooted in the vibrant interplay between performers and audience, Shakespeare: Call and Response is an hour-long celebration of verse, music, dance, and audience participation. Built for plazas and outdoor venues, the piece features five virtuosic actors, who transform into a variety of roles based on feedback from the audience. Part “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” and part “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged),” the event is anchored by a DJ inviting the crowd in while spinning hits to get people on their feet. No two shows are the same, but all include scenes from five significant Shakespeare plays. Shakespeare: Call and Response is a dynamic dialogue between the greatest writer of all time and the dynamic citizens of America’s Finest City, leaving both transformed for the better.
“It’s a real joy to bring the Globe for All Tour back to neighborhoods around our region,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “The return of this key program in our commitment to making theatre matter to more people is yet one more sign that our city, and the arts in particular, are roaring back to vibrant life after a long shutdown. Globe for All is a celebration of theatre and community, and Shakespeare is its beating heart. This year, the brilliant Patricia McGregor breaks new ground and shows us how thrilling the connection between artist and audience can be. Under her direction a gifted company of actors connects Shakespeare to this moment with laughter and celebration. I’m so looking forward to being with our partners and rejoicing that theatre is back!”
“These last couple of years have taught us that we are resilient in the face of uncertainty,” stated Freedome Bradley-Ballentine, Associate Artistic Director and Director of Arts Engagement. “Shakespeare is masterful at exploring the human condition, and his prolific works are very relevant in speaking to the times we are living in today. Globe Resident Artist Patricia McGregor has gathered Shakespeare scenes that speak to the moment we are in and stitched them together with newly written and devised work to create something unique. Shakespeare: Call and Response is a celebration and exploration of the things that bind us: love, family, loss, and tragedy. It’s a beautiful way for us to enjoy theatre outdoors, safely and together.”
For the full press release, click here! For the Globe for All press page, click here!
SAN DIEGO (September 15, 2021) — The Old Globe presents Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part I featuring students from The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program. Program Director and USD Craig Noel Distinguished Professor Jesse Perez directs a cast of 12. The limited engagement will play eight performances only from November 12 to 19, 2021 at The Old Globe’s House of Charm Rehearsal Hall. Situated across from the Globe’s main campus and located three stories below Balboa Park, this space is rarely opened to and seen by the public, yet is where world premieres have been developed for decades. Tickets go on sale on Friday, October 15.
“Henry IV, Part I is one of the towering works in the Shakespeare canon, and its gallery of extraordinary characters is always a gold mine for a great cast of classical actors,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “That’s what makes it such a great choice for The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program. The actors now in training represent the future of classical acting on the American stage, and they will meet the challenge of this extraordinary work with aplomb, showing us a glimpse of the direction our field will move in in the time ahead. Program Director and USD Craig Noel Distinguished Professor Jesse Perez is a prolifically inventive stage artist, and he will guide this talented group toward a memorable production. I can’t wait to see it!”
Henry IV, Part I will be performed live by the M.F.A. students from The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program. The cast of 12 features Henian Boone, Brett Cassidy, Jacqui Dupré, Savannah Faye, Komi M. Gbeblewou, Camilla Leonard, Becca Lustgarten, Jeffrey Rashad, Bernadette Sefic, Jude Tibeau, Nathan VanAtta, and Maggie Walters.
The actors in training at The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program bring Shakespeare’s epic tale of history, power, honor, and family to thrilling life. Staged in the unique environs of the Globe’s large, open, and raw rehearsal studios, this modern production brings Hal, Hotspur, Quickly, and, yes, Falstaff into the 21st century. A small company of 12 M.F.A. actors conjures an intimate experience that moves from the tavern to the battlefield, with laughter, poetry, and drama throughout.
In addition to Henry IV, Part I director Jesse Perez (M.F.A. Program Director), the creative team includes scenic design by Robin Sanford Roberts, costume design by Elisa Benzoni, lighting design by Jason Bieber, sound design by Melanie Chen Cole, fight choreography by Ka’imi Kuoha, assistant direction by Jersten Seraile, vocal and speech coaching by Jan Gist, dramaturgy by Abraham Stoll, and stage management by Nicole Ries.
For the full press release, click here! For The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program Henry IV, Part1 press page, click here!
Photo: Program Director and USD Craig Noel Distinguished Professor Jesse Perez.
SAN DIEGO (September 10, 2021) — The Old Globe announced the full cast and creative team for Shutter Sisters written by Mansa Ra (Too Heavy for Your Pocket) and directed by Donya K. Washington (Beautiful Blackbird at Alliance Theatre and Festival Producer at Oregon Shakespeare Festival). The Globe-commissioned world premiere play features Terry Burrell (Broadway’s The Threepenny Opera and Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Mykal and Shana Wride (The Old Globe’s Native Gardens and Diversionary Theatre’s 2.5 Minute Ride) as Michael. Performances begin October 7, 2021 and run through November 7, 2021, with the official opening on Thursday October 14, in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Single tickets for Shutter Sisters go on sale on today, Friday, September 10.
“Bringing exciting world premiere plays to life is an important part of the Globe’s work,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “We commissioned the brilliant Mansa Ra some time ago, then developed this play in our Powers New Voices Festival, and now it’s our privilege to produce it as we reopen our intimate theatre-in-the round after a too-long hiatus. Ra’s play is a charmer: warm, funny, and deeply heartfelt, it’s about two very different women who discover just how very much they have in common—to their surprise, and ours. It’s a pleasure to restart our programming with such a smart and engaging play, and to welcome both Ra and director Donya Washington into the Globe family.”
Shutter Sisters tells the story of two women living parallel lives on the hardest days of their lives. A White woman named Michael attends her adopted mother’s funeral, while a Black woman named Mykal kicks her adult daughter out of her home. It’s a heartfelt and surprising journey through womanhood, identity, and what it means to belong.
In addition to Mansa Ra and Donya K. Washington, the creative team for the world premiere play Shutter Sisters includes scenic design by Wilson Chin, costume design by Kara Harmon, lighting design by Zach Murphy, sound design by Chris Lane, casting by Caparelliotis Casting, and production stage management by Marie Jahelka.
For the full press release, click here! For tickets to Shutter Sisters, click here! For the Shutter Sisters press page, click here!
Artwork courtesy of The Old Globe.
SAN DIEGO (August 19, 2021) — The Old Globe announced that in order to provide the safest and healthiest space possible for patrons, staff, casts, program participants, and crews, as of Tuesday, August 24, 2021, all patrons who attend an event or performance at The Old Globe will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and present proof of vaccination in order to enter its theatres.
“Fully vaccinated” is defined by the CDC as being at least 14 days after the receipt of the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (such as the currently available Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna) or one dose of a single-dose vaccine (like Johnson & Johnson).
To gain admittance to The Old Globe, all attendees will be required to present a photo ID and proof of vaccination status. Acceptable proof of vaccination is: 1) the physical COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card issued to the patron at the time of vaccination, 2) a photograph of the patron’s COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, or 3) a digital vaccination record. All residents of California may request a digital vaccination record at www.myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov.
Patrons who do not receive COVID-19 vaccinations due to medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs can attend a production at The Old Globe, but will be required to present the negative results of a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of entering The Old Globe.
Patrons under the age of 12, whose age does not yet permit vaccination, can attend a production or event at The Old Globe but will be required to wear a mask or present the negative results of a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of entering The Old Globe’s outdoor theatre, or Copley Plaza when an event occurs.
All documents will be checked by The Old Globe staff members before patrons will be admitted to the theatre. The Old Globe reserves the right to deny admission to any patron who does not provide the necessary documentation or follow any COVID-related policy.
When The Old Globe’s indoor theatres reopen in September, patrons attending performances in those theatres (the Old Globe Theatre or Sheryl and Harvey White Theatres) must wear masks throughout the performance as an additional safety measure.
It is recommended, but not required, that patrons wear masks while attending the production of Hair in the Globe’s outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. In addition, these recommendations also apply to all events scheduled in the Globe’s Copley Plaza.
For the full press release, click here! For the full updates on our COVID-19 Health and Safety policy, click here!
SAN DIEGO (August 13, 2021) — Just two days before the opening performance of the American tribal love-rock musical Hair and amid strong demand in tickets, The Old Globe announced a one-week extension of the show due to popular demand. Resident Artist James Vásquez (The Old Globe’s American Mariachi and Tiny Beautiful Things) directs a cast of 16. The award-winning musical features book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot. Performances play now through October 3, 2021, with the official opening on Sunday, August 15, at The Old Globe’s outdoor venue, the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. Tickets for the extension are now on sale at www.TheOldGlobe.org.
“The Globe’s return to full production with Hair fills me with pride and happiness,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “As we thought about the right show for this moment, Hair, which we’d planned for our indoor theatre in 2020, seemed perfect. What could the world use more right now than a group of passionate young people, gathered in a spirit of ‘harmony and understanding,’ singing out for the sun to shine in? At its core, Hair is about optimism. Its characters share a vision of an America that’s more peaceful, just, and inclusive. In this production, staged under the stars in our beautiful outdoor venue, that vision is in the hands of immensely talented artists whose gifts herald a period of recovery and return. The Globe is back, and I’m deeply moved and very delighted to share our work again, at long last, with San Diego.”
For the full press release, click here! For tickets to Hair, click here! For the Hair press page, click here!
Photo: The cast of Hair, 2021. Photo by Jim Cox.
SAN DIEGO (August 5, 2021) — The Old Globe announced the full cast and creative team for The Gardens of Anuncia, featuring book, music, and lyrics by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael John LaChiusa (the Globe’s Rain, Broadway’s The Wild Party). The Globe-commissioned world premiere, which is inspired by the life story of American stage icon Graciela Daniele (2021 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre and original productions of Ragtime and Once on This Island), is directed and co-choregraphed by Daniele. Performances will run September 10, 2021 – October 17, 2021, with the official opening on Friday, September 17. The limited engagement plays on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Single tickets go on sale Friday, August 13, 2021.
“The Gardens of Anunciarepresents The Old Globe at its best,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “It’s a beautiful and personal story, and it brings to San Diego a collection of eminences of the American stage. Two are bona fide legends: director/choreographer Graciela Daniele and lighting designer Jules Fisher. Composer Michael John LaChiusa is also a towering figure whose innovations have shaped the American musical stage for decades. Like Rain, his last work at the Globe, Anuncia is simply ravishing, with a score that’s as moving as it is beautiful. The show’s simple story is inspired by Graciela Daniele’s life: her path from a simple girlhood in Argentina to Broadway success, and her love for the women who shaped her artistic and emotional lives. The company assembled, including the incomparable Eden Espinosa, is a gift to all of us who love theatre. It brings me immense joy to reopen our largest indoor venue with this very, very special show.”
In addition to LaChiusa and Daniele, the creative team for the world premiere musical The Gardens of Anuncia includes co-choreography by Alex Sanchez, scenic design by Mark Wendland, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Jules Fisher + Peggy Eisenhauer, sound design by Drew Levy, orchestrations by Michael Starobin, music direction by Deborah Abramson, casting by Tara Rubin, CSA and Xavier Rubiano, CSA, and production stage management by Anjee Nero.
The cast for The Gardens of Anuncia features Enrique Acevedo as That Man, Andréa Burns as Tía (Lucia), Eden Espinosa as Mamí (Carmen), John Herrera as Grandfather, Carmen Roman as Older Anuncia, Tally Sessions as The Deer, Mary Testa as Granmama (Magdalena), and Kalyn West as Younger Anuncia. Rehearsal stand-ins are Summer Broyhill and Joz Vammer.
A Globe-commissioned world premiere musical by five-time Tony Award nominee Michael John LaChiusa, The Gardens of Anuncia is inspired by the life story of an icon of the American stage who directs and choreographs the show at the Globe: Broadway legend Graciela Daniele. Anuncia tends the garden of her country house as she reflects on her life, looking back on her girlhood in Juan Perón’s Argentina and paying homage to the family of women whose sacrifices allowed her to become an artist. This funny, poignant, and beautiful musical features a beguilingly romantic and tango-infused score filled with the exuberant sounds of women reveling in the joys of being alive.
For the full press release, click here! For the press page on the The Gardens of Anuncia, click here!
SAN DIEGO (August 2, 2021) — The Old Globe announced today that the theatre will recognize San Diego health care workers for their service and dedication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with tickets to its production of the legendary love-rock musical Hair. The Globe will offer a limited number of free tickets to health care workers for every performance of the show during its run from August 10 to September 26.
“The Old Globe's gift of complimentary tickets for Hair is intended to provide, in some small way, a token of appreciation for the hardships, sacrifices, and tireless hours of service that our San Diego health care workers gave and continue to give to our community during COVID-19,” said Audrey S. Geisel Managing Director Timothy J. Shields. “We hope that our health care workers will enjoy an evening of entertainment under the stars in The Old Globe’s fabled outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.”
The Old Globe is proud to present the American tribal love-rock musical Hair, which marks the Globe’s first full-scale production in the 17 months since the inception of the pandemic. Resident Artist James Vásquez (The Old Globe’s American Mariachi and Tiny Beautiful Things) directs a cast of 16, which will perform iconic hits from the Grammy Award–winning musical such as “Let the Sunshine In,” “Aquarius,” “Good Morning Starshine,” and the exuberant title song, “Hair.” The crowd-pleasing musical features book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot.
Limited free tickets for San Diego health care workers are available for every performance of Hair and are first-come, first-served. Health care workers may reserve one pair of tickets to Hair by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE (234-5623); in-person at The Old Globe Box Office, 12:00 noon – 6:00 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday; or online at www.TheOldGlobe.org/healthcareworkers. Tickets may be reserved until 48 hours prior to the showtime of the performance date, while supplies last. A hospital/health care ID must be presented to the Box Office when picking up tickets. For more information on The Old Globe’s complimentary tickets to Hair for San Diego health care workers, please visit www.TheOldGlobe.org/healthcareworkers.
For the full press release, click here! For more on tickets for Health Care Workers to Hair, click here! For tickets to Hair, click here! For the Hair press page, click here!
The Old Globe to Resume Live, In-Person Holiday Performances This Year with the 24th Annual Production of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! November 3 – December 31 and the Return of the Dickens Mash-Up and Music-Filled Comedy Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show November 19 – December 26
SAN DIEGO (July 14, 2021) — The Old Globe announced today it will resume live and in-person holiday programming this year with the Globe’s productions of the 24th annual Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and the return of the Dickens mash-up and music-filled comedy Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show. After a pause in the onstage production caused by the pandemic, San Diegans can resume attending the yuletide theatre tradition of The Grinch from November 3 to December 31, with the official opening night on November 7, and Scrooge from November 19 to December 26, with the official opening night on November 23. The cast, creative team, and ticket on-sale date for both productions will be announced at a later date.
“As San Diego continues to glimpse our post-pandemic life, the Globe is happy to announce one more contribution to the new normal: the return of our fabulous holiday programming,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “The 24th year of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!will once again celebrate the spirit of community and togetherness, a spirit that has made this show such a central part of the holidays in our city. And the return of Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show will again bring laughter and kindness to the fore at a moment when both could not be more needed. All of us at the Globe are thrilled to be back in action, and excited to share these beautiful works of theatre with our city.”
For the full press release, click here! For the press page on the Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, click here! For the press page on the Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show, click here!
Photo: Tommy Martinez as Young Max, Edward Watts as The Grinch, and John Treacy Egan as Old Max. Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, book and lyrics by Timothy Mason, music by Mel Marvin, original production conceived and directed by Jack O'Brien, original choreography by John DeLuca, and directed by James Vásquez, 2019. Photo by Jim Cox.
SAN DIEGO (July 6, 2021) — The Old Globe continues its outdoor summer offerings as Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein directs and hosts Thinking Shakespeare LOVE!, a celebration of love in the plays, poems, and songs of Shakespeare. Edelstein will host an evening of excerpts all about the crazy, wonderful, intoxicating spirit of love that suffuses the Bard’s works. Performances will play for two nights only on July 16 and 17 at The Old Globe’s outdoor venue, the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
Thinking Shakespeare LOVE! will be performed live by the 2021 graduates of The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program. The cast features Christopher Cruz, Lily Davis, Christopher M. Ramirez, Klarissa Marie Robles, Claire Simba, Joz Vammer, and Jonathan Aaron Wilson. These seven talented, hardworking, and resilient graduates have attended online classes for 15 months of a two-year graduate program. Rehearsals begin today in person with Edelstein and will culminate with an onstage performance of Thinking Shakespeare LOVE! in front of a live audience.
“Shakespeare helped me get through the pandemic, and I owe him a debt of gratitude,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “Celebrating his beguiling, beautiful love poetry and the current of love that sweeps through his plays seems a wonderful way to thank him. Also, to continue my Thinking Shakespeare series in this way gives me a chance to thank the class of brilliant actors graduating from The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program for their resilience and optimism over the past 15 months. They will brighten our Festival stage with their abundant talent and make a memorable evening of romance, language, and song, and I look forward to sharing it with our audience.”
Thinking Shakespeare LOVE! will play in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre at The Old Globe in San Diego’s Balboa Park (1363 Old Globe Way). The performance schedule isFriday, July 16 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 17 at 8:00 p.m. only. Tickets are available at www.TheOldGlobe.org or by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE (234-5623). Tickets prices start at $20.00.
Thinking Shakespeare LOVE! is supported by Elaine and Dave Darwin.
Major underwriting of The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program at The Old Globe is provided by Darlene Marcos Shiley.
Financial support for The Old Globe is provided by The City of San Diego.
The Theodor and Audrey Geisel Fund provides leadership support for The Old Globe’s year-round activities.
For the full press release, click here! For tickets to Thinking Shakespeare LOVE!, click here! For bios and headshots, click here!
SAN DIEGO (June 23, 2021)—The Old Globe is back and ready to party! Celebrate is the theme of the 2021 Globe Gala, held on Saturday, September 25 in support of the theatre’s arts engagement and artistic programs and in salute of all the generous philanthropists who have supported the Globe during its 15 months of closure. Globe Board members Jennifer Greenfield and Sheryl White serve as Co-Chairs, and Darlene Marcos Shiley is the Honorary Gala Chair.
The can’t-miss black-tie event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails by Snake Oil Cocktail Company and hors d’oeuvres on the Globe’s Copley Plaza. At 7:30, guests will be treated to a musical performance by Tony Award–nominated Broadway star Joshua Henry (Carousel, The Scottsboro Boys, the U.S. tour of Hamilton) in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. After the performance, guests will enjoy dinner catered by the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine and dancing to the music of the Cowling Band.
The Old Globe believes that theatre matters, and our commitment is to make it matter to more people. Your attendance at the 2021 Globe Gala will support a vibrant, nationally renowned theatre dedicated to serving the public good through thrilling productions of great classics, provocative new works, and exciting musicals. The Globe reopens this summer with an array of in-person and virtual programming, including the fabulous rock musical Hair, opening in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre on August 15. Our remarkable arts engagement programs are redefining how a professional not-for-profit theatre transforms lives across the community it serves. These programs serve 40,000 children, families, and individuals, ranging from students in Title I schools to homeless communities, from military service members and veterans to incarcerated populations. Help us make theatre matter to more San Diegans—that’s a reason to celebrate!
The 2021 Gala Committee includes Board members Terry Atkinson, Eleanor Y. Charlton, Susan Hoehn, Sandra Redman, and Margarita Wilkinson.
Tickets are $800 (regular seating) and $1,000 (VIP seating) each and include the reception, performance, dinner, and dancing. Tables of 10 are available starting at $8,000. Underwriting levels, which include tickets for the Gala, begin at $5,000 per couple. Valet parking is included in the price of the ticket. See the full list of underwriting and sponsorship opportunities by clicking here. To underwrite or to purchase a table or individual tickets, contact Events Director Haley Meyer at (619) 684-4146 or hmeyer@TheOldGlobe.org.
Our generous vendors include Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, which will cater the elegant four-course dinner and provide dinner wines; Snake Oil Cocktail Company, which will provide specialty cocktails; Katrina O’Donnell from The Sassy Bucket, who will provide lush florals; and the Cowling Band, which will get everyone up on the dance floor. Guests will be captured in photos by Douglas Gates of Gates Photography and Melissa Jacobs; Ace Parking will valet; APR Fine Linen Rentals will provide linens, chargers, specialty tables, and chairs; FourFin Creative is creating the Gala’s graphic design; Trevor Norton and CleverCo will set the scene with lighting and set design; and SEAS will enhance the mood with lighting and sound.
For the full press release, click here! For the press page on the 2021 Globe Gala, click here! For more on the 2021 Globe Gala, click here!
SAN DIEGO, CA (June 11, 2021) – The Old Globe, which reopened earlier this month to live performances after a 14-month shutdown, will present their summer 2021 outdoor concert series AN EVENING WITH… in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. The series will feature the return of Solea Pfeiffer (the Globe’s Almost Famous, national tour of Hamilton), Tony Award nominee Carmen Cusack (Bright Star at the Globe and on Broadway, Broadway’s upcoming Flying Over Sunset), and Eden Espinosa (the Globe’s Rain, Broadway’s Wicked and Rent) to the Globe. These critically acclaimed artists will perform the best of Broadway show tunes and delight audiences with classic and contemporary songs for an extraordinary San Diego experience under the stars.
“The Globe is reopening with the work of three of the great voices in the contemporary American musical theatre, and that’s a huge happiness,” said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “Carmen Cusack, Eden Espinosa, and Solea Pfeiffer are thrilling talents gifted not only with rich and dynamic musicianship but also with emotional reserves that turn songs into deeply engaging human experiences. Each has led world premiere musicals at the Globe, and so our audiences will have the chance to visit with old friends even as they celebrate this new chapter in our post-pandemic world with the talent, professionalism, and charisma that have always been the hallmark of this theatre. I’m grateful to all three of these true stars, and I can’t wait to enjoy the special evenings they are bringing to San Diego.”
Financial support for The Old Globe is provided by The City of San Diego.
The Theodor and Audrey Geisel Fund provides leadership support for The Old Globe’s year-round activities.
For the full press release, click here! For tickets to the outdoor concert series, click here! For bios and headshots, click here!
SAN DIEGO (May 28, 2021)—The Old Globe today announced plans for the long-awaited full reopening of its three theatres in Balboa Park. Audiences will be able to once again gather in the Globe’s outdoor theatre starting June 4 and in the two indoor theatres in September. A full lineup of virtual and in-person theatre, boasting five world premieres, offers something for everyone, from musicals, Shakespeare, and new plays to movies, cabarets, family events, immersive storytelling, and more. This slate of programming, telling stories that range across many cultures and created by a diverse group of major talents, is part of the Globe’s ongoing commitment to make theatre matter to more people, especially now as San Diego begins to return to public spaces and this art form we deeply love.
“With great joy, I’m thrilled to announce The Old Globe is back!” exclaimed Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. “We celebrate our return to live performance by thanking the generous San Diego community, which supported us so fulsomely over the past 14 months, by acknowledging the artists, staff, and craftspeople who worked so hard to keep the theatre’s lights on in a dark time, and by remembering the real pain and loss experienced by so many as the pandemic raged on. Our reopening lineup is characterized by all the richness and vitality that audiences have come to expect from the Globe. There’s comedy, drama, and music, classic work and world premieres, and a wide range of theatrical forms, all created by our country’s very finest artists. There’s a deep sense of engagement with our many community constituencies. And there’s a renewed passion behind our commitments to social justice, representation, inclusion, and belonging. The post-COVID Globe is energized, excited, and excellent. It’s also healthy and safe, following all the latest public health guidelines. I cannot wait to see audiences in our venues again, and I am honored to welcome them with a truly sterling slate of programming. See you soon, San Diego!”
The health and safety of all audiences, artists, and staff is the highest priority for The Old Globe. Prior to June 15, seating for all Globe events will be socially distanced regardless of vaccination status. Currently, all patrons, whether they are vaccinated or not, must wear a mask at all times while on The Old Globe’s plaza or in our venues. Masks must cover both your nose and mouth. Gaiters, bandanas, and coverings with exhalation vents are not permitted. A face shield will still require a face mask. For the safety of everyone, guests unable to wear proper face masks will not be admitted onto our plaza or into our venues. You may lower your mask when consuming a beverage or food, but you will be required to put it back on when you are not actively drinking or eating.
For performances and events starting June 15, please visit The Old Globe’s website, which will be updated regularly as we continue to monitor and follow the latest health guidelines from State of California and San Diego County public health officials.
For the full press release, click here! For more bios, headshots, and more details on each event, click here!
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