By Carol Davis SOLANA BEACH, California—The North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach is smiling from ear to ear these days. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee that garnered two Tony’s and is making its San Diego Premiere (if you don’t count that other one at the Civic Theatre in 2006) has […]
North Coast Rep spells ‘success’ with ‘Bee’ Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO—Way back in 2007 The Old Globe Theatre, as part of its season, brought the Tony Award winning (Book of a musical and original score) musical, “Avenue Q” to San Diego in its West Coast Premiere. At that time Executive Producer of the Old Globe Lou Spisto said that “Avenue Q”
On the Q.T., everything’s good on the ‘Avenue’ Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO — The second of the two Shakespeare plays being mounted on the Lowell Davies Festival Stage is his comedy/farce Taming of The Shrew directed by Ron Daniels. Every now and then companies like to dust off this misogynist piece and see how funny they can make it by just being
Misognynistic ‘Taming of the Shrew’ likely to insult some in Globe audience Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Carol Davis SAN DIEGO (Press Release)–What a better way to kick off the Old Globe’s summer outdoor Festival than to mount a stunning production of William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy King Lear staring Robert Foxworth and directed by Adrian Noble formally of the Royal Shakespearean Company? None that I can think of thank you. Now
Shakespeare’s ‘Lear’ a blockbuster opener for Outdoor Festival Stage Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Carol Davis LA JOLLA, California–In Annie Weisman’s world premiere Surf Report now playing at the La Jolla Playhouse in the Mandel Weiss Forum, the waves have yet to break, the water’s flat, the surf is receding and the rip currents are enough to drag you down. Yup, all that and the characters are as
‘Surf Report’In: Caution, dangerous rip currents Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Carol Davis SAN DIEGO–Two shows worth seeing and scheduled to close this weekend (June 27th) are worthy of comment. One is a comedy/farce; the other is based on the Greek Tragedy Eurydice. The theatre companies offering these polar opposite productions are A Talent To aMuse Theatre Company (W.S. Gilbert’s “Engaged”) and Sarah Ruhl’s “Eurydice”
‘Eurydice’ and ‘Engaged’ are ‘E-ticket’ shows in San Diego Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO — If you’re a softie for a little bit of nostalgia, you might want to pack your snuggie, a thermos of warm coffee/hot chocolate and a warm blanket and head down to Balboa Park where Starlight Musical Theatre is presenting a robust production of the
‘Suds’ ‘N Starlight Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Carol Davis SAN DIEGO–The 17th annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Arts Festival: ‘A Joyous Celebration of Art and Soul’ spread its program across the June calendar offering a variety of art, dance, music and theatre. Here are some impressions of the programs yours truly was able to attend. The first offering, The
‘The Show Across the Street’ and then some Read More »
Carol Davis, Eileen Wingard, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Carol Davis CORONADO, California–Lamb’s Players Theatre is mounting a charming, sometimes zany but solid production of Mary Chase’s Harvey. You remember Harvey; he’s the invisible six foot three and a half inch tall white rabbit or pooka no on can see except the loveably eccentric Elwood P. Dowd (David Cochran Heath). Dowd’s
‘Harvey’ still a great American classic Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO— Cygnet Theatre in Old Town has done it again. After a successful run of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeny Todd they are off and running with Noel Coward’s Comedy of Manners, Private Lives. What makes this madcap comedy so amazingly engaging is the terrific five (Annie Hinton comes in
Shana Wride hits her stride in ‘Private Lives’ Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Carol Davis SOLANA BEACH, California—It’s funny how some things in life come full circle. In 1988 two budding young actors, Lynne Griffin and Sean Sullivan appeared together in the Old Globe’s Cassius Carter Theatre production of John Olive’s The Voice Of The Prairie. From that theatrical tale, another and much larger production
Fine cast energizes ‘Prairie’ at North Coast Rep. Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food
By Carol Davis CARLSBAD, California — There’s a glowing ember just beneath the surface in Tennessee Williams characters, Alma Winemiller and John Buchanan in his Summer And Smoke that sizzles, but never ignites. It’s frustrating as well as intriguing watching the two volley back and forth teasing and retreating, coming close to intimacy, but Williams
‘Summer and Smoke’ sizzles at New Village Arts Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & BroadcastBy Carol Davis ESCONDIDO, California–One might wonder if Footloose-The Musical would go over big at The Welk Resorts Theatre in Escondido. If you were sitting where I was on a matinee performance a short time ago, you would say, “Bring it on!” Heads were bobbing, swaying and sometimes shoulders lifting to the beats of the
Welk’s ‘Footloose’ is high energy entertainment Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & Broadcast
By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO — It’s not my intention to write another obituary about Craig Noel. So many others have already written volumes. He died peacefully April 3rd 2010 at home surrounded by his loved ones. He was 95. If you opened any newspaper that day and read either the Arts or
Craig Noel as I remember him Read More »
Carol Davis, Theatre, Film & Broadcast