san diego on stage


LITTLE SHOP


OF HORRORS “Feed me, Seymour!”


It’s the most-everyone- knows-it line spoken by the most famous, blood-thirsty potted plant to dig its roots into and onto the stage. Based on the low-budget 1960s, black comedy


film of the same name, this “horror comedy rock musical” by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, tells the story of Seymour Krelborn, an assistant at Skid Row ‘s Muschnik Flower Show, his pretty but relatively tacky co-worker, Audrey whom he’s in love with and the recently discovered, murderous talking plant named for her, Audrey II. It’s a musical mixture of low-budget sci-fi, filled with hilarious doo-wop ditties, comic one-liners, ‘60s rock and roll with a little Motown thrown in…Making it complete bloody fun! Little Shop of Horrorspremiered Off- Broadway in 1982, was made into a film in 1986 and contained popular ditties like, “ Suddenly, Seymour,” “Somewhere That’s Green,” and “ Skid Row (Downtown).” Coronado Playhouse raucous version runs from Friday, September 8 through Sunday, October 15 at the Coronado Playhouse, 1835 Strand Way. For tickets and more, call 619.435.4856 or go tocoronadoplayhouse.com.


BENNY & JOON Who could forget the classic 1993 Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture starring Johnny Depp as the eccentric young man who dreams of working in a video store, Mary Stuart Masterson as the mentally disturbed


young woman living with Aidan Quinn, portraying the brother who takes care of her? Written by Barry Berman and Leslie McNeil, the film offered such a great story that The Old Globe has taken on the musical premiere version for their first 2017–2018 season’s show.Benny & Joon, with book by Kirsten Guenther, music by Nolan Gasser and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, tells the story of auto mechanic Benny, who makes sure his eccentric sister, Joon, lives a comfortable, predictable and safe life, until Benny, with his off-kilter take on the world and an oddball approach to domestic life, turns everything upside down. Artistic Director Barry Edelstein said of the show, “The love between the brother and sister of the title is deep, moving, and real, and it gives this musical a gentleness and sweetness that I find completely captivating.”Benny & Joon runs Thursday, September 7 through Sunday, October 22, on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. For tickets and more information, call 619.234.5623 or go totheoldglobe.org.


BILLY ELLIOT:


THE MUSICAL San Diego Musical Theatre, one of the crown jewels in this city’s musical landscape is taking on another of the stage and screen’s spec- tacular shows. Billy Elliot: The Musical is the spectacular show based on 2000’s


international smash-hit film featuring a score by the music legend, Elton John. The stage musical, set in a northern English mining town against the background of the 1984 miners’ strike, garnered ten Tony-Awards and was dubbed byTime magazine as “The Best Musical of the Decade.” It is the inspirational story of an 11-year-old, motherless boy’s struggle against all odds, to make his deepest dream of dancing professionally, come true. Billy resists the preconceptions and expectations of others, fighting his way out of the boxing ring and in to a ballet class, where his passion for dance not only inspires his family, but an entire community... Changing his life forever. A deeply powerful story, this musical is filled with songs that illustrates his and his community’s struggle: “The Stars Look Down,” “Shine,” “Solidarity,” and “Electricity.”Billy Elliot: The Musical takes place at the historic Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway in Downtown San Diego fromFriday, September 22 through Sunday, October 8. For tickets and more information, call 858.560.5740 or go tosdmt.org.


IN THE HEIGHTS From the famedHamilton creator, Lin Manuel Miranda, In the Heights tells the story of New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood and all the dreams and aspirations of those who live within the quickly, ever-evolv- ing spot. Winner of the 2008 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations, the neighborhood is described in their press notes, as “a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.” Moonlight Stage Productions in Vista is taking on the musical at their beautiful outdoor theatre fromWednesday, September 13 through Saturday, September 30, so purchase a ticket for regular seating or pack your own picnic and enjoy either of Moonlight’s reserved lawn seating or discounted general lawn seating areas. For more information or to purchase any of the above seatings, call 760.724.2110 or go tomoonlightstage.com.


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RAGE monthly | SEPTEMBER 2017


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