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

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