Productions of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” “Spring Awakening,” “Such Small Hands,” “Sweat” and “Tick, Tick...BOOM!” Among This Year’s Standouts Katie Perry Page in 'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,' Curtis Theatre and Southgate Productions. Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad. Feb. 23, 2026  – Anaheim, California On Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, during the OC Theatre Guild’s membership meeting, nominees for the fifth annual OCTG Theatre Awards were officially announced. W

Sandy Rustin’s 2023 Broadway farce arrives on a newly renovated stage. From Left: Zoe Nauman, Garrett Claud, Jack Cooper, Shelby Perlis, Ashley Montgomery and Martin Ba lcaitis.   Photo courtesy of Cabrillo Playhouse. By MaryAnn DiPietro The art of farce depends on confidence and precision: confidence that a door will open at exactly the wrong moment, that a secret will be overheard by precisely the wrong person, and that the audience, delighted co-conspirators on the journey

A riotous Renaissance comedy that’s rip-roaring fun. From left, Spike Pulice and Taras Wybaczynsky Jr. Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad and Jon Infante. By Anne Reid The Curtis Theatre is about to be taken over by ruffs, tights, tap shoes and an avalanche of theatrical inside jokes as “Something Rotten!” takes the stage in a collaboration between Southgate Productions and the City of Brea. Set in the bustling world of Renaissance England, “Something Rotten!” centers on Nick an

When the Truth Won’t Stay Buried From Top Left: Feyara Bellefleur, Zion Aguilar, Lars Toler, Sophia Gonzalez. From Bottom Left: Jarid McCarthy, Josh Causley, Mae Montgomery, and Rosa Sandoval . Photo courtesy of Lizzy McCabe. By MaryAnn DiPietro Family reunions are rarely clean and simple, and in “Bug In Mouth Disease,” the sharp, dark yet funny new play making its world premiere, the secrets are undeniably messy. Produced by The Larking House, “Bug In Mouth Disease” arrives

A quiet, heartfelt love story and joyous musical journey. From left, Emma Laird and Morgan Hollingsworth . Photo courtesy of Doug Catiller. by Anne Reid At a moment when the world feels increasingly fractured by grief, isolation and uncertainty, the musical “Once” arrives not as an escape from reality but as a gentle, deeply human response to it.  With a book by Enda Walsh and music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, “Once” is based on the Academy Award-winning f

A newly raised roof sets the stage to examine isolation, commitment, and intimacy. From Left, Front Row: Kathy Villanueva, Eric T. Anderson, Sophie Matossian and Katie Nicol. Middle Row: Jeff Tierney, Mackinzie Rummell, Elana Harnack, Ariana Nin, Robert Krattli, Marc Marger. Back Row: Will Minton and Juliet Fischer. Photo courtesy of Cabrillo Playhouse. By Shannon Cudd In a world where modern technology increasingly isolates, one brave community theater in San Clemente pla

Would you answer a stranger’s phone? And how far would you go once you do? These questions ring through this Obie Award–winning and Pulitzer Prize finalist play.

One of the funniest Christmas stories to delight holiday audiences comes to Laguna Beach From Left: Jen Kucera Rothman, Teddy Rayburn, Adam Ferguson and Lila Etherton . Photo courtesy of No Square Theatre. by Anne Reid Based on the beloved book by Barbara Robinson, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” brings holiday chaos, comedy and unexpected heart to No Square Theatre this season. In this hilarious classic play, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is face

A fresh take on one of the most classic holiday tales ever written From Left: Bruce Goodrich and Winston Peacock . Photo courtesy of Doug Catiller. by Anne Reid Chance Theater’s holiday Literature Series has long celebrated the power of great books to inspire imaginative theatrical storytelling, and this season’s addition, “Scrooge! The Musical,” invites audiences into a fresh, intimate retelling of one of the most enduring holiday tales ever written. Literary Manager and Res

The original ‘Gaslight’ is a chilling tale of trust and terror From Left: Micheal Corcoran, Jason Cook, Mikayla Acevedo and Amanda Dasilva. Photo courtesy of Yvonne Robertson. by Anne Reid It begins, as the best thrillers often do, in the quiet comfort of a seemingly perfect home. The gas lamps flicker. The footsteps creak. A husband’s charm begins to curdle into menace. And somewhere above, in the attic of memory and guilt, lies a secret waiting to be unearthed... This OC Th

What happens when faith falters and voices rise? From Left: Allison Regen and Kelly Frannett. Photo courtesy of Jon Ingal. by MaryAnn DiPietro As The Wayward Artist prepares to close its 2025 season, founding artistic director Craig Tyrl is stepping onto sacred ground. His upcoming production of “The Christians” by Lucas Hnath will unfold not in a black box theater but within the walls of a church. This is most fitting for a play that asks audiences to confront questions of b

Sondheim’s modern masterpiece reminds us that happily ever after is only the beginning. From Left: Marcus S. Daniel, Shannyn Page, Emily Curington, Angie Chavez, Jeff Lowe and Owen Switzer. (Photo courtesy of Katelyn Abaya.) by Anne Reid James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” is more than a fairy-tale musical – it’s a masterwork of wishes, consequences and connection. This Tony Award-winning classic takes beloved storybook figures and threads them together into

A fairy tale with heart, humor, and modern twists. From Left: Hillary Mead, Samantha Leone and Paige Zell (Photo courtesy of JStage Irvine) By Shannon Cudd Even veteran theatergoers may be surprised to learn that Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s beloved show “Cinderella” did not reach Broadway until 2013. The musical originated as a 1957 television special written so Julie Andrews could shine in the title role. It was so popular that it was revived for television in 19

Reimagining our founding document through four generations of extraordinary women Aubrey Saverino (Photo Courtesy of Doug Catiller) By Anne Reid The role of the Constitution today is being challenged like never before, so it seemed like the perfect time to focus on the document itself and examine the living context in which it resides in American life.  For director Katie Chidester, it is deeply personal and why she’s thrilled to direct the Tony-nominated and Pulitzer Prize-f

A timeless story of ambition, love, loss and family brought to life with fresh heart and vision From Left: Olivia Tewksbbury, Dylan Panetta, Caleb Simmons, Sarah McGuire and Kasey Jacques (Photo Courtesy of Charna Lopez) By Shannon Cudd Author Louisa May Alcott did not want to write her beloved novel “Little Women.” She only did so at the request of her editor, Thomas Niles, who wanted a “girl’s story.” Alcott struggled to know how to even start. “Never liked girls or knew ma

The Cold War collides with Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy From left, Lauren Velasco, William Thomas, Elisabeth Saenz Hunter and Sidney Aaron Aptaker. Photo courtesy Francis Gacad By Anne Reid The Larking House will present William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” at the Curtis Theatre in Brea, running Oct. 3-12. The production reimagines the classic tragedy in Cold War-era Scotland, layering political tension, supernatural imagery and 1980s horror tropes into a darkly atmospheric stagi

From left, Landon Moss, Greg Stokes and Desi Molinari. Photo courtesy of Sam Rutledge. See Neil Simon’s comic fable of wit, wonder and...

From left, Rose London, Kathleen Switzer, and Stacy Castiglione. Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad. Tracy Letts’ 2008 masterpiece makes its...

From Left: Emma Magbanua, Naya Ramsey-Clarke, Kayley Stallings and Linda Bard. Photo courtesy of Doug Catiller. History gets loud: the...

From Left: Ben Green, Brianna Graves, Anabelle Finch, Logan Pearson, Aria Healy, Siggi Harrison, McKaylee Buccola, Mason Buccola, Megan...