Spooky season has arrived in Orange County! We may still be enjoying sunshine and 80-degree afternoons, but that doesn't mean we can't get into the Halloween spirit. And our local theatres are ready to help, with a delightfully eerie mix of macabre musicals, murder, monsters, dark comedy, and a little theatrical magic. This October, you can spend an evening with the delightfully strange Addams family at Cabrillo Playhouse or Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center, encounter a comedic take on the...

A kooky family crisis comes to life. From left, Christopher Vournas, Isabella Klein, Patrick Brannelly, Juliet Fischer, Rebecca Leeds, Andrew Whitwell and Rob Bergman. Photo courtesy of Cabrillo Playhouse By MaryAnn DiPietro Every family has its problems. Some involve miscommunication, growing children or awkward introductions to the in-laws. For the Addams family, naturally, things get a little stranger. Cabrillo Playhouse opens its 2026-27 season with “The Addams Family,” the musical comedy...

Are you making the most of your life? Billy Mann. Photo courtesy of Catherine Oregon By Shannon Cudd One of the many things that separates human beings from the animal kingdom is our awareness of our own mortality. That awareness takes on new meaning for the six teenagers who pass while riding a roller coaster at a traveling fair at the beginning of their young lives. Theatergoers under 30 will recognize “Ride the Cyclone” while more mature aficionados might not yet be aware of this powerful...