Theater Classics and MORE This Summer

SASHA VELOUR: A DRAG SPECTACULAR – By definition, all drag queens are stage performers of one sort or another, but Sasha Velour, winner of Ru Pauls’ Drage Race Season Nine, stands out from the crowd.  She has traveled the world with her one-woman full-evening shows based on themes such as the history and development of drag performing.  Her show Smoke and Mirrors opened in Canberra, Australia, in 2019 and continued around the world until Covid. The European tour resumed in February 2022, playing in often sold-out theaters in 36 cities in 17 countries, reaching from Ireland to Poland.  Now Velour has teamed up with playwright Moises Kaufman, creator of The Laramie Project, Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde and many other gay-centric pieces, to create a one-woman show premiering this month at the prestigious La Jolla Playhouse, the nurturing ground of such Broadway hits as this year’s Tony Winner The Outsiders. Inspired by the origin story of Sasha Velour, the show is a modern coming-of-age tale, an homage to an extraordinary family, and a fantastic celebration of magical realism honoring a life lived without compromise. Should be well worth a trip to La Jolla! LaJollaPlayhouse.org 8/13 – 9/8. 

PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS – Summer is a super time to be entertained outdoors and Laguna Beach’s classic Pageant of the Masters is a great opportunity to visit one of California’s great beach cities and to take part in a world-famous piece of entertainment. Celebrating their 91st anniversary, it is arguably one of the most unique productions in the entire world. This 90-minute performance brings famous works of art to life on the stage. Audiences are amazed by tableaux vivants (“living pictures”), incredibly faithful re-creations of classical and contemporary works of art, with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces. Up to 500 local volunteers work as models, hair and makeup technicians, stagehands, and ushers, all sharing a rich sense of community.  Starting some 90 years ago with 8 performances, they now present 56 evening shows per summer, starting at 8:30 p.m. nightly.  foapom.com through 8/30.

WICKED:  I am unwilling to believe that any self-respecting musical theatre queen hasn’t already seen Wicked… probably multiple times!  So, this is just a quick tip that it’s coming back to town, touring California during the next few months. The “real” story of the witches of Oz is one of the richest musicals ever produced, combining great songs, costumes, and sets with a thought-provoking script. I’ve probably seen it a half-dozen times, but I’m lining up my tickets to see it again. San Francisco Orpheum 8/28 – 10/13; Hollywood Pantages 12/4 – 2/2; and San Diego Civic 2/5 – 3/2.

OUTDOOR THEATRE:  Over the past couple of months I’ve mentioned several outdoor venues such as the wonderful Hollywood Bowl (HollywoodBowl.com ).  If you haven’t been, you should. If you have been, you’re probably ready to go back.  They have a little brother called the Ford Amphitheatre (TheFord.com ), virtually across the 101 Freeway from the Bowl.  It is a much smaller amphitheater which plays to more niche groups but take a look. Another must-see is San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre (TheOldGlobe.org ), presenting excellent Shakespeare under the stars.  And one more outdoor venue which I promise myself I will visit every summer (but haven’t so far) is Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum (Theatricum.com) which presents Shakespeare plays in repertory from now until late October.  This year’s productions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Winter’s Tale, Wendy’s Peter Pan, and Tartuffe: Born Again.  They are presented in Topanga State Park and take full advantage of the beautiful garden setting. I’m visiting this year. Hope I see you there too!