Theater Notebook: San Diego theaters’ July calendars mix live, virtual and postbox plays as well as concerts

Daniel Gerroll stars in North Coast Repertory Theatre's "Dr. Glas," which opens for on-demand streaming on July 21.

What’s coming up onstage and on-demand from a dozen San Diego County theaters

San Diego Union-Tribune

July 10, 2021 12:24 PM PT

As venues gradually reopen, San Diego theater-lovers have their pick of of entertainment choices on tap in July. Here’s what’s playing:

“Beauty and the Beast”: Moonlight Stage Productions presents the stage adaptation of the Disney animated movie about the book-loving Belle and her castle-dwelling Beast. Opens July 21 and runs through Aug. 7. Showtimes, 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sundays, plus additional performances July 27 and Aug. 3. Moonlight Amphitheatre, Brengle Terrace Park, 1250 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista. $17 to $59. (760) 724-2110, moonlightstage.com

“Beehive: The ‘60s Musical”: New Village Arts presents this rollicking musical featuring seven women singers performing the greatest songs by women from the 1960s, ranging from doo-wop to soul to rock ‘n’ roll. Performed on an outdoor stage at The Flower Fields. 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays; through July 25. 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad. $28-$55. (760) 433-3245, newvillagearts.org

“Becoming Dr. Ruth”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents Broadway veteran Tovah Feldshuh in a filmed production of Mark St. Germain’s play about the surprising story behind the life of famed 1980s sex therapist Ruth K. Westheimer. Streaming on demand through July 11. $35-$54. Visit northcoastrep.org.

“A Comedy of Errors”: Coronado Playhouse revives its 25th annual free summer Shakespeare festival with a filmed production of this Shakespeare comedy about two sets of twins separated at birth. Free on-demand streaming from July 16 through Aug. 8 at coronadoplayhouse.org.

Dear Jack, Dear Louise: Love Letter Experience”: The Old Globe presents a mailbox-only production of Ken Ludwig’s play about his parents’ courtship by mail during World War II. Ticket-buyers will receive by mail a replica series of their letters, photos and telegrams. The next series of letter mailings began July 1, followed by another series on July 15. Tickets are $35. (619) 234-5623, theoldglobe.org

DNA New Works Series: La Jolla Playhouse presents its annual festival of new plays in a live, onsite production running July 22 through Aug. 1: Lisa Sanaye Dring’s “Sumo,” 7:30 p.m. July 22 and 24; Noah Diaz’s “All the Men Who’ve Frightened Me,” 7:30 p.m. July 23 and 2 p.m. July 25; Francisca Da Silveira’s “Not-for-profit (or the equity, diversity and inclusion play),” 7:30 p.m. July 29 and 31; and Andrew Rosendorf’s “One-Shot,” 7:30 p.m. July 30 and 2 p.m. Aug. 1. 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla; tickets are free but advance reservations are required. (858) 550-1010, lajollaplayhouse.org.

“Dr. Glas”: North Coast Repertory Theatre presents actor Daniel Gerroll in the world premiere filmed production of Jeffrey Hatcher’s new play, based on the 1905 Swedish novel about a doctor facing a moral dilemma when he falls in love with another man’s wife. It will stream on demand July 21 through Aug. 15. Tickets are $35 for individual viewing, $54 for groups at northcoastrep.org.

Eden Espinosa, pictured in The Old Globe's "Rain" in 2016, will perform outdoor cabaret concerts at the Globe July 9-11.

Eden Espinosa: The Old Globe presents a cabaret show by the star of its 2016 musical “Rain” and veteran of Broadway’s “Wicked”; 8 p.m. July 9-11. Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. Tickets start at $29. (619) 234-5623, theoldglobe.org

“57 Chevy”: San Diego Rep veteran Ric Salinas of Culture Clash returns to star in the local premiere of Cris Franco’s “57 Chevy,” a filmed one-man memory play about “Junior,” a young man looking back on his journey from poverty in Mexico to the barrios of East L.A. to the middle-class suburbs of the San Fernando Valley. On-demand streaming from July 26 through Aug. 15. Tickets are $35 at sdrep.org.

“Miss You Like Hell”: Escondido’s Patio Playhouse community theater opens its summer outdoor musical season with Quiara Alegría Hudes and Erin McKeown’s musical about an estranged mother and daughter reuniting for a road trip. 8 p.m. July 30-Aug. 1, Aug. 5-9, Aug. 12-14. Kit Carson Park Amphitheatre, 100 Amphitheatre Drive, Escondido. $18-$27. (760) 746-6669, patioplayhouse.com.

“Passion: A Ketuvim Play”: Turnkey Theatre presents an interactive theater piece in which the ticket-buyer listens to a recorded audio play while exploring interpretive objects inside a box shipped to their home. Based on the Ketuvim writings of poems, prophets and scrolls of Esther in the Jewish Torah, this play is the story of a woman in ancient Persia who finds strength in herself by exploring her sexuality. Play is now streaming on demand while box supplies last. $10 without box; $35 includes box and shipping. Register at turnkeytheatre.com.

“The Catastrophist”: San Diego Rep presents Marin Theatre Company and Round House Theatre’s filmed co-production of Lauren Gunderson’s time-traveling play about a real-life American virologist traveling the world to stop viral pandemics. Streaming on demand through July 11. Tickets are $20 and up at sdrep.org

Kragen writes about San Diego theater for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Email her at pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com.

Pam Kragen

Pam Kragen is the arts and entertainment editor, as well as the chief theater, dining and opera critic, for the San Diego Union-Tribune. She joined the Union-Tribune staff in October 2012 after 27 years at the North County Times, where she served as the Arts & Features Editor, as well as the paper’s longtime arts writer and theater and opera critic. She is the co-founder of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from San Diego State University and completed fellowships in theater criticism at the University of Southern California and opera-classical music criticism at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. And in 2022, she was chosen as one of the fellows in the prestigious National Critics Institute, run by the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in New London, Conn.