January 2020 Culture Calendar

January 2020 Culture Calendar

A Christmas Carol
Thru Dec. 29
A Christmas Carol returns to Cygnet Theatre for its sixth season of cheer. Written by Charles Dickens and adapted by Sean Murray, with original score by Billy Thompson, this production is a re-imagined take on the original holiday classic featuring lively music, unique puppets, and live sound effects. cygnettheatre.com

A Christmas Story
Thru Dec. 29
In this San Diego Musical Theatre production at the Horton Grand Theatre, the central character, nine-year-old Ralphie Parker, has his heart set on a new BB gun as a Christmas present. But he encounters great pushback from justifiably concerned grown-ups, including his mother, his teacher, and maybe even Santa Claus, so he sets about convincing others of his need for cowboy glory in a protection mode. Naturally, the adults don’t want him to harm himself or others. But that isn’t the way Ralphie sees matters. His runaway imagination conjures images of himself as a hero coming to the rescue of those he loves against all sorts of villainous robbers and bullies, thus making way for the spotlight musical number “Ralphie to the Rescue” and a show-stopping tap routine performed by a gun moll caricature. 833.428.0956, sdmt.org 

Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Thru Dec. 29
Back for its 22nd year, this beloved holiday tradition is a wonderful, whimsical production that will once again jump off the pages of the classic Dr. Seuss book and onto the Old Globe’s stage. This family favorite features the songs “This Time of Year,” “Santa for a Day,” and “Fah Who Doraze.” Celebrate the holidays as the Old Globe Theatre is transformed into the snow-covered Whoville, right down to the last can of Who-hash. theoldglobe.org

Hidden Pacific 3D
Thru Feb. 16
Journey through beautiful islands and atolls, such as Palmyra and Midway, of the Pacific Ocean, gathering fascinating scientific and human stories along the way. Watching this 3D movie allows viewers to experience a sense of walking and diving with scientists, conservationists, and dedicated volunteers, all devoted to the protection of the pristine islets. sdnhm.org

The Stories They Tell: A Hundred Years of Photography
Thru Feb. 17
The Stories They Tell: A Hundred Years of Photography draws from MOPA’s collection of almost 9,000 photographs representing approximately 850 photographers. While the collection covers the entire span of photography and more, from the pre-history to contemporary work, this exhibition looks at 100 years of the medium from the 1920s to today. mopa.org

Bouguereau & America
Thru Mar. 15
The San Diego Museum of Art presents an exhibition featuring nearly 40 paintings by the popular French academic artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825–1905). sdmart.org

Bloomsday
Jan. 8-Feb. 2
If you’ve ever wished you could go back and have a second chance at a decision you made back in your 20s, this emotional story captures the intensity of experiences, as an older couple retraces their steps to discover their younger selves. northcoastrep.org

The Humans
Jan. 9-Feb. 2
This uproariously funny and deeply chilling drama takes place during a Thanksgiving dinner that reveals the hopes and heartbreaks of a modern American family. Winner of the 2016 Tony Award for Best Play. sdrep.org

Endangered: Exploring California’s Changing Ecosystems
Jan. 11 – Mar. 8
Curated by Danielle Deery, Endangered focuses on artworks that address the wonder and destruction of flora and fauna throughout California. An interactive and educational contemporary art exhibition, Endangered brings greater awareness to the current environmental issues in California. artcenter.org

Boomshaka 2020
Jan. 18
California reggae-rock band Iration and hip-hop legends Cypress Hill will ring in the return of Boomshaka 2020 at Pechanga Arena. The festival will also feature performances by the incomparable Don Carlos, The Green, The Movement, and Sensi Trails, and will be hosted by Hawaiian reggae vocalist Hirie. boomshakafest.com

August Wilson’s Jitney
Jan. 18-Feb. 23
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson had a close relationship with The Old Globe, where three of his plays premiered. His exciting work returns to the stage with the production that won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson. In 1970s Pittsburgh, unlicensed cab drivers fight to save their business and their livelihoods as their neighborhood gentrifies around them. Contains strong language. theoldglobe.org

Beethoven’s Pastoral
Jan. 24-25
From the expressive strains of Egmont to the natural beauty of the Pastoral, experience Ludwig van Beethoven’s mastery of musical drama. As conductor Edo de Waart has said, there would have been no Beethoven without Franz Joseph Haydn. The symphony first came into its own through the works of Haydn, but it was in the music of his student, Beethoven, that the form’s expressive potential truly revealed itself. sandiegosymphony.org

Murder for Two
Jan. 24-Mar. 1
Officer Marcus Moscowicz is a small-town policeman with dreams of making it to detective. One fateful night, shots ring out at a surprise birthday party. With the nearest detective an hour away, Marcus jumps at the chance to prove his sleuthing skills with the help of his silent partner, Lou. In this hilarious 90-minute show, two performers play 13 roles — not to mention the piano — in a witting and winking homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries. newvillagearts.org

Fashion & Masters
Jan. 26
Timken Museum of Art presents “Beyond Satin and Lace: Jewelry in the Context of Early Modern Fashion, 1600-1790.” Enjoy a magical evening of fashion and jewelry of the late Renaissance through the mid-Georgian eras. Speaker Jacquelyn Babush will delight with a discourse on how the jewelry of these eras was incorporated into the sumptuous costumes of the aristocratic classes. timkenmuseum.org

Hurricane Diane
Feb. 8-Mar.8
This unconventional new comedy from Pulitzer Prize finalist Madeleine George sees the Greek god Dionysus return to the modern world disguised as the gardener Diane, whose secret mission is to seduce mortal followers and restore the earth to its natural state. Contains strong language. theoldglobe.org

Awards Viewing Party
Feb. 9
Walk the red carpet and watch the Academy Awards in style! Enjoy signature dishes from San Diego’s premier chefs while sipping elegantly crafted cocktails. Delicious desserts and Champagne toasts cap off the party, which benefits the San Diego Film Foundation’s FOCUS on Impact educational programs. sdfilmfest.com/awards-viewing-party

Fly
Feb. 18-Mar. 29
Wendy’s life is about to change forever when she meets a boy named Peter, a pirate named Hook, and a beguiling crocodile who’s much more than meets the eye. In this thrilling look at J.M. Barrie’s novel Peter Pan, a whole new Neverland comes to life with a percussive score, dynamic choreography, and aerial acrobatics. lajollaplayhouse.org

The Outsider
Feb. 19-Mar. 15
The Outsider is a razor-sharp, hilarious satire of modern American politics and an inspirational tribute to democracy. Overflowing with clever plot twists portraying the contemporary political climate, Paul Slade Smith’s (Unnecessary Farce) play is a fun-house mirror, held up to reflect our often confounding governmental system. northcoastrep.org