By TR Robertson
Live Theatrical Plays and Musicals are still on hold at the present time with no performances scheduled through the summer, but many of the companies are optimistically planning for some type of early fall opening. Since most of these theatrical companies depend on patrons in seats buying tickets, as well as a variety of donors and fundraisers, closed doors have put many of the theatres in jeopardy of struggling to pay the bills and, hopefully, bring performances back to the stage. Looking at a number of theatrical companies in San Diego County, every one of them has a number of online, digital programs designed to keep people in touch with their specific theatre and every one of them is asking for donations to assist the theatres in keeping their head above water until they can bring back live performances. The following is a look at what some of these theatres are involved in and their web sites where you can take a look at what they offer and a way you can help them out.
Moonlight Amphitheatre – Vista – Moonlight Stage will be putting out an announcement next week giving an update of what they will be offering as well as their plans for bringing back their musicals for next season. Moonlight TV is broadcast on Facebook and reposted on Instagram and YouTube. Moonlight memories features familiar Moonlight faces that have appeared on stage or behind the scenes. Go to www.moonlightstage.com for more details
Broadway Vista – Broadway Vista will most likely not be running their Summer Youth Camps and plans on bringing back 5 plays beginning in January, running one play a month. Go to www.broadwayvista.biz for more details.
North Coast Repertory Theatre – Solana Beach – North Coast Rep runs a number of online Theatre conversations with actors, actresses, directors and other stage personalities. They are also on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. They will be running Online Summer Camps for 4-19 year olds. Contact Ben@northcoastrep.org for more details. Go to their web site at www.northcoastrep.org to stay in touch with their online programs.
Cygnet Theatre – Old Town – Cygnets plays are cancelled through the summer. They have a number of online programs including the Cygnet Interview series and Directors Company including interviews with actors and actresses as well as behind the scenes members like the costume designers. Cygnet encourages people to subscribe to their YouTube Channel. Go to www.cygnettheatre.com for more information.
Star Repertory Theatre – Star announced on their web page that the “Aladdin Jr.” auditions are on hold and the show date for “Carrie” has not been rescheduled as of yet. Go to www.starrepertorytheatre.com for more info.
Welk Theatre – “A Chorus Line” was interrupted as well as the opening of “Nunsense” and there is currently no date listed for either of these performances. The Welk summer season of musical performances is also on hold.
Lambs Players – Coronado – Lambs lists their summer performances as closed. They have a number of online programs like “From Our Home to Yours” featuring a number of performances by many of the actors and actresses done from their homes. If Lambs can open, the first play listed would be “The Belle of Amherst” opening on Oct. 3-Nov 15. Also listed is Lambs Cabaret on Oct. 11 and “Lambs Festival of Christmas” opening on Nov. 19. Go to www.lambsplayers.org for more information.
New Village Arts – Carlsbad – is currently running a Virtual Arts series on Facebook, and other Social Media outlets. Currently all productions are on hold. Go to www.newvillagearts.org for more details.
Scripps Ranch Theatre – nothing is currently listed on line for any of the Scripps Ranch Theatre productions. Go to www.scrippsranchtheatre.org.
Oceanside Theatre – Oceanside Theatre sponsored several online reading programs and a Mother’s Day piano performance online. Luke Monday in “Call Back Queen” is now available for streaming. More information is at www.oceansidetheatre.org.
San Diego Musical Theatre – Gas Lamp District – SDMT has several Educational Out Reach programs, like the SDMT Designer Corner. They also have a Behind the Curtain program and an online class called Self Tape. They are also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. On their web page, the opening of “42nd Street” is listed as August 21st, and no update is noted. Go to www.sdmt.org.
LaJolla Playhouse – located on UCSD Campus – Their next digital Without Walls production is Blindspot Collective’s “Walks of Life”. You can check online for their seven Digital WOW projects. Also online was the performance of a new song from the musical “Diana”, performed on “CBS Sunday Morning” on May 24th. Performances through the summer are all on hold. Check www.lajollaplayhouse.org for more information.
San Diego Repertory Theatre – Lyceum Theatre in San Diego – SD Rep just announced their 45th Season beginning with “She the People” opening on Sept. 9th, followed by JQA on October 8th. SD Rep has a number of virtual presentations like Talkin’ Theatre, Lunch Break, Curious Coversations, Classes for the Curious Soul and over 200 videos in their Video Archives. They will also offer “Beachtown Live” beginning June 3rd online. Go to www.sdrep.org for descriptions.
The Old Globe Theatre – Balboa Park – The Old Globe recently announced a tentative schedule for postponed spring productions. There will be no summer performances. The proposed plan for resuming fall productions would begin with the West Coast premiere of “Faceless”. January 2021 would see the West Coast premiere of “Little Women” followed by the world premiere of “The Gardens of Anuncia”. The 2020 Summer Season will move to 2021 featuring the Summer Shakespeare Festival beginning with “The Taming of the Shrew”. Also opening will be the musical “Hair” and the murder mystery “Dial M for Murder”. The Globe has a number of online programs like “Thinking Shakespeare Live”, Flashbacks, the Old Globe Coloring Book and Act Breaks. Go to www.theoldglobe.org for a complete description of the programs.
This is but a sampling of some of the theatres around San Diego County and what they are offering now and their hopes for the future. If you have a favorite theatre or two, do what you can to support them and follow their efforts to keep theatre live on their online programs.
