Eric George Tauber

The San Diego Convention Center would normally be bustling this weekend with devoted fans of science fiction, fantasy and horror dressing up and geeking out. This year, the center lays as quiet as a tomb. Yet, leave it to clever and resourceful nerds to find a way. Comic-Con International has moved online with presentations and forums via Zoom. While there is a variety of panel discussions and workshops to choose from, I decided to focus on a handful that feature comics as agents of social change. (Eric George Tauber)

[R]ising to the challenge of making theatre during the pandemic, the Old Globe’s Arts Engagement teamed up with Diversionary Theatre to create coLAB Pride! directed by Skyler Sullivan and Katherine Harroff.On Facebook Live, we were greeted by our Mistress of Ceremonies, Amber St James, a bearded drag queen and San Diego’s first official Mx Gay Pride. Appearing colorful outfits, wigs and abstract make-up, Amber St James introduced the various acts with sparkling enthusiasm. [Eric George Tauber]

What does being Jewish mean to you? Is it keeping up the practices of an ancient religion? Are the values separate from the prayers or are they symbiotic? Do we wear a Star of David as a symbol of pride or does it make us a target? Ask two Jews and you’ll get three opinions. And we can’t really say that one answer is more valid than another because each one speaks from her own point of view based on her own life. Each of this year’s Women of Valor were interviewed and then had their stories turned into monologues read by actors for the 27th Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival. [Eric George Tauber]

Our master of ceremonies was the effervescent entertainer and composer, Karen Ann Daniels. Colorfully clad in an African dashiki, Daniels interviewed a variety of local artists associated with the Globe and presented videos from the archives of previous outreach presentations.[Eric George Tauber]