By TR Robertson
Co-owners Randall Hickman and Douglas Davis had 2 years to think about how they wanted to re-open Vista’s Broadway Theater –San Diego County’s Biggest Little Theater. The duo closed their doors 2 years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic and on April 2nd they will officially re-open the theater with “The Gala”, a celebration of performers who they have worked with over the 18 years the theater has been open. “The Gala” will have two shows on April 2nd, 2 pm and 7:30 pm and two shows on April 3rd, 2 pm and 6 pm.
Vista’s Broadway Theater will be off and running after that with a full slate of monthly performances, including a Summer Cabaret Series with Youth Shows and Drama Camps. For the remainder of 2022, the monthly programs will consist of the following performances, running Wednesday-Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday with 2 pm matinees:
April 13-May 1 – “Malt Shop Memories” – Let the Music Play – a musical comedy
May 11-29 – Daniel Newheiser – “I’m Old Fashioned”
September 8-25 – “Public Domain” – a new musical review celebrating American Music & its roots. Enjoy the sounds of Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, The Gershwin’s and many more.
October 6-22 – “We Never Met a Piece of Scenery we Couldn’t Chew” – hilarious performances by Randall Hickman and Eileen Bowman
November 30-December 18 – “Life of a Sofa” – One sofa, one hundred years and countless lives lived on it.
Go to www.broadwayvista.biz or call 760-806-7905 to order tickets and for more information about each performance. Click on the show to find out more info.
Vista’s Broadway Theater will also be offering a Summer Cabaret Series with performances on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 pm and on Sunday at 2 pm.
These are the performances that will be offered through June-July-August:
Tribute to Big Band Era – Erica Rose – June 17-19
Paula Samonte and Gary Busby – June 24-26
“I Can Cook, 2!” – Erica Mario – July 8-10
Heather Megill and Athena Espinoza – July 15-17
“Take Me to the World” – Sondheim in Concert – July 22-24
“Hot Soiree – Summer Cabaret” – Leigh Anne Sutherlin – July 29-31
“Double Divas” – Melissa Fermandes & Sandy Campbell – August 5-7
“It Could Be Worse – We Still Have Wine” – Jessica Hackenson – August 12-14
“Inge – Who?” – Marisa Taylor Scott & Julie Meram – August 19-21
“Alegria Boys – Together Again” – August 26-28
For more information online about each of these performances go to: www.broadwayvista.biz
Randall and Doug are also involved with eight Youth Shows a year and five Summer Drama Camps for young people ages 7-14 years or age. Interested parents can sign their children up online with the registration form provided. Currently the following shows are available for auditions –
“101 Dalmatians” – Saturdays only
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” & “The Jungle Book Musical” – March
“Annie Jr.” & “Alice in Wonderland” – June
“Mary Poppins” – July
“Wizard of Oz” – July & August
Also offered through Vista’s Broadway Theater are Vocal Lessons for Kids and Teens, Beginner Piano Lessons for 6–15 year-olds and Beginner Art Classes for all ages.
Auditions are currently underway for “Hooray for Hollywood”, with Douglas Davis as Groucho Marx playing March 25-27 and April 8-10 at Wildwood Crossing & Cantina for the Dinner Theater Show.
Go to the Vista Broadway Theater website for information and the form to fill out for auditions. Reservations for the Dinner Theater can be made at the WildWood website – www.wildwoodcrossing.net. Only fifty seats available.
A great deal of thought and planning has gone into a variety of shows and performances offered to theater goers. As Doug and Randall said, “It’s been a long two years, but we made it through!” Take advantage of Downtown Historic Vista’s intimate theater and check out what is offered, and the reasonable prices offered for great entertainment.
