Musical triumph is an inspiring celebration of fresh starts and the power of what one person can do. From left: Shane Murphy, Jeremy Krasovic, Taylor LaBarbera, Charlie Massey, Sarah Jane Finch, Mary Price Moore. Photo courtesy of Eric Modyman By Anne Reid Cabrillo Playhouse will open its production of “The Spitfire Grill” this summer, bringing the acclaimed musical about redemption, forgiveness and finding home to its intimate San Clemente stage. Based on the 1996 film by Le

Broadway hit explores themes of identity, trauma and healing. From left, Ryan Smith, Autumn Kirkpatrick, Jeremy Kie Vance, Allen Everman, Jocelyn A. Brown and Doshima Iyorlu. Photo courtesy of Steve Leiken. by Anne Reid When "Jagged Little Pill" premiered on Broadway in 2019, audiences embraced its unflinching examination of addiction, racism, identity and the complicated realities that often exist beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Now Chance Theater is bringing

The Absurdity of Modern Relationships Explored in New Play From left, Rachel Bailey, Coleman Summers, and Jessica Schreiber. Photo courtesy of Jarid McCarthy. By Shannon Cudd Imagine trying to connect with your partner and an ostrich interrupts by knocking at the door. No, this is not a fever dream but a scene from The Larking House’s world premiere production of “Ostrich in the Room.” This exciting new work by Seanan Palmero Waugh explores the complexities of romantic relati

Putting on a Very Happy Face Bruno A. Satalino and the ensemble of Bye Bye Birdie. Photo courtesy of The Phantom Projects Theatre by Anne Reid Rock-and-roll fever is set to sweep through Phantom Projects Theatre at La Habra Depot as “Bye Bye Birdie,” one of Broadway’s most beloved musical comedies, arrives with laughs, lively dance numbers and timeless charm. Directed and choreographed by Alan M-L Wager, the Tony Award-winning musical follows the chaos that erupts when rock-a

When Elvis leaves the stage, an unexpected journey of identity, family and self-discovery begins. Jacob Wilson. Photo courtesy of Beatrice Casagran. By Anne Reid "The Legend of Georgia McBride" combines broad comedy with themes of identity, family and belonging in a story that explores both performance and personal transformation. According to Ophelia's Jump founder Beatrice Casagran, the production appealed to the company not only because of its humor but because of the huma

Celebration of Shakespeare’s Friendship and Legacy From left, Genevieve Kauper, Kelly Franett and RigelKent Paden. Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad. by Anne Reid Director Amanda Hallman has wanted to stage “The Book of Will” since the moment she first read Lauren Gunderson’s play. After years of waiting for the rights, that vision is finally coming to life at Curtis Theatre through Begins And Ends With A, the production company Hallman co-founded with producer and costume desi

A diner, a wide-open road, and a story that proves even the smallest places can hold the biggest hearts. From Left, Rachel Williams and Sadie Black. Photo courtesy of Dylan Cranford. by MaryAnn DiPietro American Coast Theatre Company is heading somewhere a little quieter this summer, somewhere with porch swings, mountain air and the kind of stories that sneak up on your heart. The company invites audiences into the small town of Gilead, a place where folks know your name and

A Close-Up, Heartfelt Production About Defying Expectations. Sammy Spiegler. Photo courtesy of Laura Lejuwaan By Shannon Cudd Omigod you guys! Westminster Community Playhouse looks good in pink, a make-over courtesy of its latest production, “Legally Blonde.” This high-energy musical is based on the 2001 hit film of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon as the charismatic and intelligent ingénue Elle Woods. After her college boyfriend, Warner, dumps her because she isn’t s

Outstanding Production of a Musical, Tick, Tick...BOOM! at Chance Theater. Photo courtesy of Eric Modyman. Chance Theater, Curtis Theatre, and Costa Mesa Playhouse Among Top Honorees May 12, 2026 – Orange County’s vibrant theater scene took center stage on Monday night at the 5th Annual OC Theatre Guild Awards, held at the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Artists, designers, and companies from across the county were recognized for their creativity, dedicatio

Shakespeare comedy reimagined through a Western lens. From left: Morgan Holcomb, Colin Rinard and Ash Frost. Photo courtesy of Kiya Sakari. By Anne Reid “Twelfth Night” is a beloved Shakespearean romantic comedy about twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated by a shipwreck. In this modern take, it’s set on the coast of California, where Viola seeks to rebuild her place in the world. She disguises herself as a man named Cesario and enters the service of the lovesick Duke O

A picture-perfect 1950s dream, a life styled to perfection, and the moment the fantasy starts to slip. From left: Shane Murphy, Jeremy Krasovic, Taylor LaBarbera, Charlie Massey, Sarah Jane Finch, Mary Price Moore. Photo courtesy of Eric Modyman By MaryAnn DiPietro At first glance, it looks like perfection. But in “Home, I’m Darling” at Cabrillo Playhouse, that polished facade is only the beginning. In a production that leans into both nostalgia and nuance, director Hilary Pe

Two teenagers confront identity, belonging and change in post-9/11 New Jersey. From left, Vicky Yvonne and Spike Pulice. Photo courtesy of Doug Catiller. by Anne Reid Where were you born? Where did you grow up? For most people, those questions are answered without much thought. In Martyna Majok’s “Sanctuary City,” opening May 1 at Chance Theater, they carry real weight. Set in Newark, New Jersey, in the years following 9/11, the play follows two teenagers known simply as B an

An innovative reimagining of a classic Christie mystery. From Bottom Left; Clockwise: Sawyer Reece Maier, Paul Burt, Holly Jones, Abel Miramontes, Shawn Plunkett, Noah Chin, Tanya Raisa, Catalina Tan, Emily Hood, Olivia Oakley. Photo courtesy of Katelyn Abaya by Anne Reid Just after midnight, a snowdrift brings the Orient Express to a halt, stranding its passengers in the dead of winter. By morning, one of them is dead: an American tycoon found in his compartment, stabbed ei

A courtroom in purgatory, a cast of saints and sinners, and a story that asks the big questions arrive in OC with urgency, humor and heart. From left, Will Thomas as Judas and Majd Khdair as Jesus . Photo courtesy of Miguel Angel "Mack" Tapia II. By MaryAnn DiPietro There’s something especially exciting happening in Orange County theater right now, the kind of collaboration that feels a little spontaneous, a little serendipitous and completely meant to be. “The Last Days of J

Paranoia, human nature and potential societal collapse are explored as the sky rains down birds From left, Lauren Belt, Zack Mallgrave and Mimi Franks . Photo courtesy of Eric Modyman. by Anne Reid When the birds attack, the real danger isn’t outside – it’s inside the house. In “The Birds,” a stage adaptation of the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film, strangers take refuge from a relentless, unexplained wave of bird attacks. But as the threat closes in, the play shifts its focus fr

Mistaken identities, theatrical ambition and a dash of Shakespearean mischief. From Left: Bobby D Lux & Adriano Brown. Photo courtesy of Laura Lejuwaan. by Anne Reid In Westminster Community Playhouse’s (WCP) new production, “Leading Ladies,” two down-on-their-luck actors turn female impersonators in an attempt to swindle an elderly woman out of her fortune in 1950s Pennsylvania. Written by Ken Ludwig, the show, which premiered in 2004, is generally praised for its charm and

Musical revisits the 1970s with a satirical nod to free love, open marriage and a flirtation with ménage-à-quatre From left, Ryan Rees and Sawyer Reece Maier. Photo courtesy of No Square Theatre by Anne Reid “I Love My Wife” is a 1977 Broadway musical comedy about two suburban married couples who start to question whether they’ve missed out on the sexual revolution of the 1960s and ’70s. Largely left to the dustbins of history due to its provocative nature, the musical is act

Four women. One truth. And the dangerous cost of carrying it. From left, Kallie Pong, Megan Sigler, Juliet Fischer and Rori Flynn . Photo courtesy of Shinshin Tsai . by MaryAnn DiPietro At Chance Theater, the stage becomes a crossroads of memory and consequence. In “The Messenger,” written by Jenny Connell Davis and directed by Katie Chidester, a nonlinear drama unfolds as the stories of four women, decades apart, speak into the same restless space. “Four interwoven monologue

A Whimsical Invitation to See the Best in Others From left, Barry Ko and Angie Chavez . Photo courtesy of Katelyn Abaya. by Shannon Cudd We all know that one person who embellishes every story they tell. On the surface, this can be an exhausting character trait because it feels like you can’t discern the truth. Now imagine this individual is your father. That’s the dilemma at the core of Alchemy Theatre Company’s upcoming production of “Big Fish.” Based on both the 1998 novel

A Musical That Dares You to Hear Women’s Voices From left, Mariah Martin, Arianna Nelson, Danielle Heaton and Mads Durbin. Photo courtesy of Ophelia's Jump Productions. By Shannon Cudd Ophelia's Jump Productions’ upcoming musical “In the Green” is a rarely produced show that will stimulate your brain and challenge you to think about a new subject matter.“ In the Green” tells the origin story of Hildegard von Bingen, a German Catholic Benedictine abbess and polymath during the