Spotlight on The Old Globe

Spotlight on The Old Globe

Built in 1935 in the heart of Balboa Park, The Old Globe Theatre is one of the most renowned and esteemed theaters in the country, and remains instrumental in developing Broadway-bound productions from the world’s leading playwrights, directors, and actors. Every season 15 plays perform on the Globe’s three stages, with the season culminating in the annual performance of Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas. These performances run from classics such as Shakespeare (the theater was built to honor The Bard’s plays, after all) to brand new titles from first-time writers.

The Old Globe prides itself on community involvement, fostering education and awareness of theatre through numerous programs for both children and adults, such as its Shakespeare in the Garden lectures, post-show forums, insight seminars, speakers bureau, public tours of the facilities, and autism-friendly performances. The organization also works in conjunction with the University of San Diego’s Master of Fine Arts program to nationally recruit students each year to participate in an intensive two-year course of graduate study in classical theatre, recognized as one of the premier training programs in the country.

An architectural achievement in and of itself, the Globe offers an array of stages perfect for both intimate performances — like the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theater — as well as sell-out crowds, such as the 600-seat flagship theater. The 615-seat outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theater is the perfect setting to watch Shakespeare and other performances outside in the beautiful San Diego weather.

In 1984, the Globe received the Tony Award for best regional theatre, and shows that have originated at the Globe have gone on to Broadway to win nine Tony Awards and nearly 60 nominations. Keeping with tradition, the 2014-2015 calendar of productions features an exciting array of new and old, including Two Gentlemen of Verona; Dog and Pony; Murder for Two; The White Snake; Into the Woods; The Royale; Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike; and more. This year also introduces the world premiere of Steve Martin’s new musical, Bright Star, in September, which he co-wrote with Grammy-winner Edie Brickell. It will be directed by Tony Award-winner Walter Bobby. (619.234.5623, theoldglobe.org)   RYAN THOMAS