Summer Stages: BWW's Top Summer Theatre Picks - San Diego!

Summer in San Diego is just around the corner and it is brimming with some amazing shows!  Here are my top five – don’t-miss- picks for the San Diego theater region.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS
The Old Globe – June 10th
www.theoldglobe.org
This daring new musical is based on the 1930s Scottsboro case, and tells the tale of nine African-American men who were unjustly accused of a crime and how the treatment of them would eventually spark the Civil Rights Movement. The show explores a pivotal moment in American history in an original and striking way utilizing inventive staging that highlights the Kander and Ebb score.   This show is directed by theatre powerhouse and by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman.

WICKED
Broadway San Diego – June 20 – July 15
www.broadwaysd.com
After selling out in San Diego is 2005 and 2009, this favorite is back! WICKED is worldwide hit as it follows the story of the Elpheba, Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda, before Dorothy and her ruby slippers landed in Oz.  One is a girl with green skin who is smart, fiery and misconstrued. The other is beautiful, confident and determined.  When they meet Oz will never be the same.

THE GOD OF CARNAGE
The Old Globe – July 27 – September 2nd
www.theoldglobe.org
This Tony award winning play is about parents behaving badly when they get together to discuss their sons playground incident.  What starts as a simple discussion quickly delves into an evening of chaos as the parents progress from a civilized adults to squabbling like children.

THE NIGHTINGALE
The La Jolla Playhouse – July 10th  – August 5th
www.thelajollaplayhouse.org
Based on the Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, , The Nightingale is a gripping musical about a young emperor in ancient China.  His life is luxurious but restricted to inside the walls of the Forbidden City and is turned upside down when he hears the song of a bird that is beyond his reach. This engaging new musical has music by Grammy- and Tony Award winning pop composer/musician Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award winner Steven Sater, and direction by Tony Award nominee Moisés Kaufman.

THE MAN OF LA MANCHA
The Cygnet Theatre
www.cygnethteatre.com – July 5th – August 26th
Cygnet brings this five Time Tony Award winning musical to the San Diego stage.  This classic story celebrates the human spirit, even when there is little hope to keep it alive.  Set during the Spanish Inquisition, Cervantes reenacts a story for his fellow prisoners.  He tells them about Don Quixote of La Mancha, a knight who lives in a world of madness by believing love, chivalry and believing in “The Impossible Dream”.

If you were to go to Urban Dictionary and search for "theater nerd," you may find a photo of ErinMarie as an example of the term. By day, ErinMarie manages the concierge desks at multiple luxury high-rises... but, really, this is just a sneaky way for her to stay close to theater while at work--allowing her the chance to tell people about all the theatre options in San Diego. By night, she sings, dances, acts and performs around town, sometimes even in theaters! Her love for theater and the performing arts started at a young age and hasn't abated since. In 2011, ErinMarie saw a personal record of seeing 56 live shows, in addition to being a judge for the National Youth Theatre Awards.

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