The Arts

   By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO—At the opening night performance of Anna K. Jacobs (music) and Bill Nelson’s (book and lyrics) world premiere production of Harmony Kansas, Diversionary Theatre’s executive director John Alexander was so thrilled to announce its opening that he was almost tongue tied as he introduced and thanked its creators. In reality, […]

By Carol Davis CORONADO, California–When John Patrick Shanley’s wrote Doubt: A Parable for the stage in 2004 I doubt many knew that Moonstruck, the movie was his work as well. Or if they made the connection that he had written Joe Verses the Volcano (also a movie) in 1990, or that he would later go

By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO—Wicked is back in town for another run and it is still rocking the house down because it’s just Pop-u-lar! The Tony Award Winning Broadway musical Wicked is back by popular demand at the Civic Theatre in downtown San Diego. Brought to us by Broadway/San Diego, it is expected to fill

By Carol Davis LA JOLLA, California—The West Coast premiere of playwright J.T. Rogers’ Blood and Gifts is now in a solid but wordy production at the La Jolla Playhouse. Not that the words aren’t important, it’s just that the first act of this two-hour plus thriller (as it is marketed) takes too long to get

By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO–The year 2012 seems to be the year of premieres. Recently The Old Globe mounted world premieres of Nobody Loves You by Itamar Moses and Gaby Alter (it plays through June 17th) and Jonathan Caren’s The Recommendation. The La Jolla Playhouse is still on target with its latest hopeful transfer to Broadway

By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO— Following on the heels of The La Jolla Playhouse unveiling its world premiere docu-musical, Hands on a Hardbody by Doug Wright (book), Amanda Green (lyrics) and Trey Anastasiio (music), The Old Globe has unleashed another world premiere musical, Nobody Loves You by Itamar Moses (Book and Lyrics) and Gaby Alter

By Carol Davis LA JOLLA, California —Reality T.V. has never made it to the top ten of my favorite things to watch. However, I do like watching documentaries, especially when I find them informative and offer a new outlook on an old subject that I may or may not have already have formed an opinion.

 By Carol Davis SAN DIEGO — Before I went off to see the latest incarnation of the Kander and Ebb musical Chicago now playing for a limited run at the Civic Theatre downtown, I reached for my trusty CD of the movie soundtrack. Big mistake. In my mind’s eye I saw every scene and smiled

  SAN DIEGO—Just recently the curtain came down on Cygnet Theatre’s critically acclaimed Parade, Alfred Uhry’s historical musical drama depicting the story of Leo Frank and the lynching that led to his untimely death after being falsely accused of raping and killing young Mary Phagan. Frank managed an Atlanta pencil factory where Phagan was brutally murdered on the

By Carol Davis CHULA VISTA, California— Remember that fictitious place Rydell High? That’s where the Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey 1959 high school musical Grease happens. The musical debuted in Chicago in 1971, quickly moved to Broadway where it ran for 18 years and 3388 performances. Grease was made into a movie in 1978 starring