Put a Little Drama in your Life
KPBS AIRDATE: July 19, 1991 The title alone is enough to raise the hackles -- and temperatures -- of modern women. But in many ways, "The Taming of the Shrew" is too farcical to be seen as seriously anti-feminist. It's lusty, witty and well-crafted, and it's currently being done as a delightful romp by Octad-One Productions. Read More →
KPBS AIRDATE: February 19, 1992 Berlin , 1950. A man sits in a darkened room, alone with his nightmares and his fantasies. He has numbers on his arm, puppets all over the place and a very vivid imagination. He refuses to believe the war is over. He hasn't ventured out of his bleak Read More →
Aired on KSDS-FM on 2/23/18 RUN DATES: 2/10/18 - 3/11/18 VENUE: The Old Globe If you’re looking for something to brighten a gloomy day, “Uncle Vanya” might not be your play of choice. On the other hand, the relentless unhappiness of the characters might make you value your own life, and change things while you can. That’s never an option for Chekhov’s creations; they wallow in their misery, but they are, for the most part, resigned to it. The Old Globe Read More →
Aired on KSDS-FM on 59/1/17 RUN DATES: 8/11/17 - 9/24/17 VENUE: Lamb's Players Theatre “The Explorer’s Club” is an equal opportunity offender. Nell Benjamin’s 2013 comedy skewers everything in its 19th century path: the stuffy, upper-crust, brandy-and-cigar clique of Victorian England’s exclusive men’s clubs; monomaniacally obsessive scientists; the braggadocio of explorers; snooty patrician women; headstrong female scientists; and indigenous peoples and cultures. It’s open season, and the glorious set confirms that with all manner of bird and beast, stuffed and Read More →
Aired on KSDS-FM on 4/6/18 RUN DATES: 3/15/18 - 4/15/18 VENUE: Diversionary Theatre The title of Philip Dawkins’ play, “The Happiest Place on Earth,” gives a false impression. But then, so does Disneyland, which features prominently. The 90-minute solo piece is basically a depressive’s disquisition on the illusion of happiness – as it plays out in three generations of the playwright’s family, which takes refuge in The Magic Kingdom. One particular Christmas trip stands out. There’s an old adage about writing Read More →
3/5/11 PAT LAUNER From LJ Country Day to SD Opera (with a long layover in Germany) Patch.com La Jolla Stephanie Weiss spent most of her childhood in San Diego, attending La Jolla Country Day School from 5th grade through high school. An avid student of piano from age 5, she played Read More →
“San Diego is a hotbed of theater. Every year, I see 200-250 productions. This is fertile ground for new work. In addition to the prodigious local talent, theatermakers from around the country come here to premiere their latest creations. San Diego sends more shows to Broadway than nearly any other city in the U.S.”
-Pat Launer