Mother Nature Was Late, But She’s Finally Here.

By Bob Morey

It’s fashionable to be late in California (except for the Performing Arts), and Mother Nature is no different. Spring has finally arrived after being delayed six-plus weeks after Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow back on February 2nd. Mother Nature gave us more rain than we knew what to do with this year, but that seems to be behind us now. That means our days are getting longer with clear, dry evenings. This makes it the perfect time to start thinking about getting your tickets for all the summer outdoor events that will soon be upon us.

But before the summer season kicks in, we have plenty to see right now. We have World Premieres opening all over our town, and here is what’s playing for you this month:

The Old Globe has a well-earned national reputation for staging World Premieres, many of which have gone onto Broadway and won many awards over the years. This month The Old Globe brings us another World Premiere with Exotic Deadly: Or the MSG Play, Premiering on April 8 at the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Written by Keiko Green and Directed by Jesca Prudencio, Exotic Deadly is set in 1999, Ami is an awkward Asian American high schooler whose world comes crashing down with a terrible discovery: her family is responsible for manufacturing MSG, the mysterious ingredient that’s getting all the kids hooked! Meanwhile, a fantastic new girl arrives from Japan, and she’s not playing by the rules. Ami vows to redeem her family name and save the world from MSG. This whimsical, time-traveling adventure is a riotous and hilarious romp through wild teenage crushes, family legacies, and the magical properties of instant ramen!

Still winning the gold at The Old Globe is ‘The XIXTH’ (The 19th). Inspired by actual events from the historic 19th Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968. Two Black American sprinters, the fastest men on Earth, raise their fists in protest. Directed by Carl Cofield (Seize the King, The Bacchae), this suspenseful World Premiere play by Kemp Powers (Pixar’s Soul, One Night in Miami) chronicles the intersection of sports and activism and shows the life-changing repercussions of being a champion who chooses to speak out. The XIXTH hits the finish line on the 23rd

Size doesn’t matter when it comes to staging World Premiers, and The North Coast Rep also has a long history of offering World Premiers and will do so again this month with Murder On The Links with a teetime scheduled for April 19th. Written and Directed by acclaimed playwright Steven Dietz, from one of Agatha Christie’s most intricate whodunits. Dietz brings the famed Belgian detective Hercule Poirot to life in a story that goes something like this; There Something’s afoul on the private golf course at Merlinville-Sur-Mer – namely, the body of Hercule Poirot’s newest client. Of course, there is the host of usual – and – unusual suspects. A cast of six versatile actors embodies a myriad of characters as they navigate the twists and turns of this lively and fun new adaptation. You won’t want to miss a thrilling moment of this comic mystery.

The San Diego Opera will haunt the Balboa Theatre for three nights starting on April 11th – 14th with the World Premier of Ghosts. Ghosts is an evening of three one-act, horror-inspired operas by Composer Nicolas

Reveles. Comprised of the works Eden, Dormir, and House. Eden, which features a libretto by director John De Los Santos, explores the boundaries of madness and obsession and is a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe Dormir, with libretto by Michael Vegas Mussman, is an imaginative exploration of what might happen when Old World spiritual practices meet the Christian belief system when portals open and unknown, powerful entities appear. House, with a libretto by the composer, explores the idea that trauma haunts many of us and that trauma remains in our bodies like ghosts.

Across the bay, The Lamb’s Players has their own unique formula for showcasing talent in productions that are so popular that the only thing they can do is hold it over and over and over (It seemed like Mixtape ran forever at the Horton Grand Theatre). This time, The Lamb’s Players have conjured up pure magic with Respect - The Amazing Women Of The 60’S. Respect features some of the region’s best singers in a celebration of the music of Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Dionne Warwick, Janis Joplin, the Supremes & many, many more! Respect is a delightful evening filled with songs of love and laughter that audiences can’t get enough of and is currently being held over for the 5th time until June 4th

Broadway SD has a pair of shows hitting the boards over the next month at The Civic Center starting on April 11th with the Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show. This is a Riverdance, as you’ve never seen it before! It is a powerful and stirring reinvention of this beloved favorite that has been celebrated the world over for its Grammy Award-winning score and the thrilling energy and passion of its Irish and international dance. Riverdance started as an innovative seven-minute dance piece that stunned the crowd at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. After that, it was developed into a full-length stage show that has been electrifying audiences worldwide for the past twenty-five years nonstop. Riverdance composer Bill Whelan has rerecorded his mesmerizing soundtrack. At the same time, producer Moya Doherty and director John McColgan have entirely reimagined the groundbreaking show with innovative and spectacular lighting, projection, stage, and costume designs. Immerse yourself in the extraordinary power and grace of its music and dance–beloved by fans of all ages. Fall in love with the magic of Riverdance from April 11th through the 13th Next up on May 9th, with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone, is 1776 The Musical, based on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence; this telling story of the efforts of John Adams to persuade his colleagues to vote for American Independence and to sign the document. The show premiered on Broadway in 1969 and won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Direction, and Lead Actor. In 1972, it was adapted into a film and revived on Broadway in 1997, and again in 2022 with a glorious multiracial cast of female, transgender, and nonbinary actors who portray the fiery founders of this country, putting our history in the hands of the humans who were left out the first time around—and the result is an epic show of passion, debate, and roof-raising musical fireworks. Suddenly, this musical masterpiece’s songs, humor, and passion soar as never before. “Experience a 1776 worth celebrating!” Says Variety, “It pulsates with energy and snaps with attitude.” You may never think about our country — who we are and why — the same way again. 1776 sings its way across the Civic from May 9th through the 14th

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Over in Old Town, The Cygnet Theatre has the howling revolving-door comedy with Noel Coward’s Present Laughter. Present Laughter is a lighthearted farce that celebrates playwright Noël Coward’s legendary wit and larger-than-life persona. Based on Coward himself, actor Garry Essendine is the star of the London theatrical scene at the height of his fame and adored by legions of admirers–perhaps a little too much. Fans regularly throw themselves at Garry’s feet, drawn in by his charm and charisma, throwing his household into chaos. In the week before Garry is set to embark on an African tour, he is forced to juggle a besotted young woman with stars in her eyes, an unhinged young playwright obsessed with being in Garry’s presence, his best friend’s wife who is determined to seduce him, his manager, his producer, his secretary, his estranged ex-wife, and an impending mid-life crisis. Present Laughter will keep you in stitches until April 29th

While temporarily displaced from their home stage as the Spreckels Theatre is undergoing a massive refurbishment, The City Ballet of San Diego won’t be kept in the dark waiting to dance again. With so many stages around town, it is the California Center for the Arts in Escondido that fate smiled on this month as the City Ballet will perform Romeo & Juliet on May 6th and 7th Resident Choreographer Elizabeth Wistrich has created a lavish production based on Shakespeare’s epic tale of Romeo and Juliet. In the ballet, two teenagers from warring families meet, fall in love, and rush headlong toward their destiny. The magnificent scenery and costumes evoke Renaissance Italy, and Sergei Profofiev’s lush score, with John Nettles conducting the City Ballet Orchestra, brings this classic love story thrillingly to life. This is Ballet Storytelling at its best.

The San Diego Symphony offers up an exciting month under the stars at The Rady Shell with a pair of weekends that sees the Symphony playing their Jacobs Masterworks Program, including Debussy, Malhar, and Rachmaninoff. Followed by a weekend of John Williams. Oh, hold me back! On April 21st and 22nd, We’ll revel in two excellent pieces by the French composer Claude Debussy. The first, Prelude to “Afternoon of a Faun,” made his international reputation for its unashamed sensuality and dreamy delicacy. The second, Fantaisie for Piano and Orchestra, is remarkable for its lushness, unlike anything else the composer wrote. And who better than the fantastic pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet to be at the keyboard? Then Rafael Payare will be on the podium for Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, which abounds in gorgeously colorful melodies that range from child-like innocence to deep explorations of the human soul. For those of you not overly savvy about the Symphony, this is one of those few breathtaking nights that will leave you as a Symphony fan for life!

Now that you have caught your breath, on May 5th and 6th, The Symphony settles for an evening with guest Conductor Robert Spano and Pianist Garrick Ohlsson. 1st up is Brian Raphael Nabors: Onward. Nabors is an emerging figure on the music scene as a composer of emotionally enriching music that tells exciting narratives with its vibrant themes and colorful harmonic language. Nabors says, “Onward is an homage to the triumphs and growth we experience along the epic journey of life. The piece is a 10-minute soundscape to celebrate the dreams and aspirations that motivate us to become our best selves. The consistent use of perpetual motion throughout the orchestra’s texture is meant to capture the spirit of constantly traveling onward, either philosophically or literally. I aspired to create a musical journey depicting the moments of discovery, innovation, and change that continually push us and our world into the future.” Onward was commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - Maestro Robert Spano, Music Director, and first performed by them in November 2019.

Onward will be followed by Witold Lutosławski’s Concerto for Orchestra. One of the most imposing figures of the twentieth century’s Polish musical renaissance, Lutosławski left a relatively sparse catalog but made many important musical statements. The Concerto for Orchestra, however, marks an imposing statement by this modern master, and many consider it to be his crowning achievement. The Symphony closes the night out with Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30. Piano Concerto No, 3 originated with the Russian-born composer’s first visit to the United States, which he would eventually adopt as his homeland. In accepting an invitation to undertake a concert tour in this country, Rachmaninoff agreed to compose a new piano concerto that he would perform with American orchestras. The Rach 3 is a very demanding piece to perform. The difficulty many pianists encounter with the Rach 3 comes down to a simple factor: anatomy. Rachmaninoff had very large spaces between his fingers and huge hands, So the writing very much reflects his own body.

The Symphony prides itself on offering performances the whole family can enjoy. On May 13th and 14th, pack the kids for a night under the stars with Star Wars: A New Hope. The one that started the saga that continues to still emerges today. There is no need to recount the story here, but I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that Conductor Conner Gray Covington and our Symphony will bring John Williams’s galactic soundtrack of this timeless story to life. This might be the perfect night to get your kids to sit still at the performing arts without asking them to, and they might learn to appreciate the Symphony and what they have to offer.

You have been gifted with World Premiers, Comedies, Mysteries, Musicals, Opera, Ballet, and the Symphony to choose from this month. It’s a full slate of World Class Performing Art for a World Class City, and you have no idea how lucky you have it. So, Break-A-Leg, and for all you ballet fans, Merde! Now, go see a show.