The Old Globe - San Diego's Enduring Stage
The Old Globe, a well-known place for performances in San Diego, truly offers a special kind of experience for anyone who enjoys live shows. It puts on a wide variety of plays and musicals, all happening right there in its long-standing performance space within Balboa Park. This spot is, you know, a real gem for the area, bringing stories to life on stage for people to come and see.
Beyond just putting on shows, this theatre group actually does a lot to connect with the people who live nearby. They have, as a matter of fact, many different programs focused on arts education and reaching out to the community. These efforts help share the magic of theatre with more folks, making sure that the arts are something everyone can experience and learn from, which is pretty cool, if you ask me.
If you are thinking about catching a show, or perhaps just want to know more about what they do, there is, you know, plenty of information available. You can find out about what plays are coming up, who is in the cast, and the folks behind the scenes who make it all happen. It is also possible to learn how you might support this important cultural spot, making sure it keeps going for years to come.
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Table of Contents
- A Look at The Old Globe - What It Does
- What Kind of Shows Can You See at The Old Globe?
- The Old Globe's 2025 Season - What's on the Horizon?
- Who Are Some of the People Making Magic at The Old Globe?
- How Did The Old Globe Come to Be?
- The Shiley Stage - A Story of Support for The Old Globe
- What Makes The Old Globe Special Among Theatre Places?
- How Does The Old Globe Connect with the Community?
A Look at The Old Globe - What It Does
The Old Globe is, in fact, a professional theatre group located in Balboa Park, right here in San Diego, California. It is a place where, year after year, about fifteen different plays and musicals are put on for people to enjoy. These shows happen during both the warmer summer months and the cooler winter period, making sure there is always something happening for those who love live performance. The performances are spread across three separate stages, all within one large area that is known as the Simon Edison Centre for the Performing Arts, so you know, there's quite a bit going on there.
This organization is, you know, widely recognized as one of the country's leading regional theatre places. It holds the distinction of being California's oldest professional theatre, which is a pretty big deal, and it is also the biggest theatre organization in San Diego. The Old Globe is known for offering a wide mix of shows, from very old, well-known pieces to brand new ones, showing a real dedication to both traditional and more modern storytelling. Every year, it puts on about fifteen different shows and nearly six hundred performances across its three stages in Balboa Park, which is, honestly, a lot of theatre.
What Kind of Shows Can You See at The Old Globe?
When it comes to the types of performances you might see at The Old Globe, there is, you know, a very wide selection. The theatre is known for putting on a mix of both classic works and pieces that are brand new, sometimes even making their first appearance anywhere. For instance, the upcoming 2025 season, which was announced recently, is set to feature a couple of musical comedies that have never been seen before. There are also three plays that will be shown for the very first time, and two shows that will be making their West Coast debut, which is quite exciting.
In addition to these new pieces, the 2025 season at The Old Globe will, as a matter of fact, include some other notable productions. There is a play called "appropriate," and another one known as "one of the good ones." And, of course, because of its history and connection to classic theatre, the season will also feature a couple of comedies by Shakespeare. This mix, you know, ensures that there is something for many different tastes, from those who love a good laugh to those who appreciate stories that have stood the test of time.
The Old Globe's 2025 Season - What's on the Horizon?
The 2025 season at The Old Globe is, in fact, shaping up to be a pretty interesting one, with a lot of new work planned. The lineup includes fresh pieces from writers like Amanda Green, Nell Benjamin, and Laurence O’Keefe, among others. This focus on new material means that visitors to the Old Globe will have the chance to see stories and ideas that are truly original and have not been performed anywhere else before. It is, you know, a way for the theatre to contribute to the ongoing creation of new plays and musicals, which is something many theatre groups aim for.
Some of the specific plays mentioned as part of past or upcoming performances at The Old Globe include, for example, "Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express," which is a well-known mystery. There is also "Fat Ham," a play that has gained a lot of attention. The "Globe for All" program, which takes theatre out to the community, has featured "The Comedy of Errors" and "Henry V." Other plays that have been put on include "The Garden," and a few "Pop Tour" shows like "Hoopla!", "Pick Me Last," and a special collaboration with the National Disability Theatre called "Emily Driver’s Great Race Through Time and Space." This range, you know, really shows the variety of what The Old Globe offers.
Who Are Some of the People Making Magic at The Old Globe?
The shows at The Old Globe are, of course, brought to life by many talented individuals, both on stage and behind the scenes. For instance, in "The Janeiad," which is part of the 2025 season, you can see Nadine Malouf playing Penelope, Michaela Watkins as Jane, and Ryan Vasquez taking on the role of Gabe. This particular play, you know, first opened in October at the Alley Theatre, so it is making its way to San Diego with some experienced performers already attached.
Beyond the actors, there are many other people whose skills are vital to making a production happen at The Old Globe. For example, Stephen Strawbridge is involved with lighting design, making sure the stage looks just right. There is also Myers, who works as a production stage manager, overseeing many of the practical details of putting on a show. The theatre also brings in new talent, like Keiko Green and Lawrence E., whose specific roles are not fully detailed here, but they are clearly part of the creative team, which is, you know, how new ideas come to the stage.
The Old Globe has, you know, a history of working with people who have strong backgrounds in theatre education. Some individuals connected to the theatre have spent time at places like Playwrights Horizons Theater School at NYU or gone through graduate programs at Brown University. This suggests that the people involved in creating and managing the shows at The Old Globe often come with a good deal of formal training and practical experience, which, in a way, helps maintain the quality of their performances.
Looking at the actors who have graced the stages of The Old Globe, you can find names like Nadine Malouf, Matt Doyle, Eddie Martinez, Morgan Hallett, and Zakiya Young. These individuals have appeared in various productions, bringing different characters to life for the audience. The images of these performers, by the way, are often captured by photographers like J.T. and Jim Cox, whose work helps share the visual story of the shows with a wider audience, which is, you know, pretty important for theatre promotion.
How Did The Old Globe Come to Be?
The story of The Old Globe starts quite a while back, in 1935, when the theatre was first built. It was, in fact, created with a very specific inspiration in mind: Shakespeare’s original Old Globe theatre in London. The idea behind building this San Diego version was to put on shorter versions of Shakespeare’s plays. So, you know, it has a direct link to the very roots of English theatre, which gives it a special kind of heritage.
Over the years, The Old Globe has, you know, grown and changed, but its commitment to live performance has remained strong. It is not just a place for shows; it is a professional theatre company that has developed a significant presence. Its location in Balboa Park, a well-known spot in San Diego, also adds to its appeal, making it a visible and accessible part of the city's cultural offerings. It is, in some respects, a landmark for the performing arts in the region.
The Shiley Stage - A Story of Support for The Old Globe
A notable part of The Old Globe’s history involves the naming of one of its stages. In 2006, the main performance area of The Old Globe theatre was given a new name: the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage. This renaming was done, you know, to honor a very significant commitment of twenty million dollars. This money was meant to help the theatre with its building projects and also to build up its long-term financial support. It was, in a way, a huge boost for the theatre's future.
The Shileys, Donald and Darlene, have, as a matter of fact, been long-time friends and supporters of The Old Globe. Their connection to the theatre goes back for more than three decades, showing a deep and lasting dedication to its work. This kind of support from individuals is, you know, really important for arts organizations, helping them to continue putting on shows and engaging with the community for many years. It is, basically, a partnership that has helped the Old Globe thrive.
What Makes The Old Globe Special Among Theatre Places?
What truly sets The Old Globe apart is, you know, its standing as one of the country's most important regional theatre complexes. It is not just any theatre; it is, in fact, California's oldest professional theatre, which gives it a unique place in the state's cultural story. And within San Diego, it is the largest theatre organization, meaning it has a significant role in the local arts scene, offering many opportunities for people to experience live performances.
The theatre’s commitment to showing a wide range of plays and musicals, including both very old, well-loved stories and brand new, contemporary works, is also something that makes The Old Globe special. Every year, it puts on about fifteen different productions, which add up to nearly six hundred performances. These shows happen on its three stages in Balboa Park, two of which are, in fact, located in the Conrad area of the complex. This level of activity and the varied programming really make it a dynamic place for theatre lovers, you know, to visit often.
How Does The Old Globe Connect with the Community?
The Old Globe is not just about putting on shows; it also does a lot to connect with the people living in the area through its education and community programs. These programs are, you know, very popular, and there are more than twenty different ones to pick from. This means that people of all ages and backgrounds can get involved with theatre, whether it is learning about acting, playwriting, or just experiencing stories in a new way.
Some of the specific programs mentioned include the "Pop Tour," which takes performances out to different parts of the community. For example, there have been "Pop Tour" shows like "Hoopla!" and "Pick Me Last." There was also a special "Pop Tour" in collaboration with the National Disability Theatre, featuring "Emily Driver’s Great Race Through Time and Space." These initiatives show, basically, The Old Globe's dedication to making theatre accessible and meaningful for a broader audience, which is, you know, a very important part of its mission.
The education and community work done by The Old Globe is, in a way, just as important as its main stage productions. It helps foster a love for the arts and provides opportunities for learning and participation that might not otherwise be available. This outreach, you know, helps to build a stronger connection between the theatre and the people it serves, ensuring that the magic of storytelling reaches far beyond the walls of its stages.
This article has covered various aspects of The Old Globe, from its role as a professional theatre company in San Diego's Balboa Park, putting on numerous plays and musicals annually across its three stages, to its significant 2025 season featuring new works and classic Shakespeare. It has touched upon the theatre's history, including its modeling after Shakespeare's Globe and the impactful support from the Shiley family, which led to the naming of the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage. The article also highlighted the diverse range of productions, from well-known plays to community outreach performances like the "Pop Tour," and mentioned key individuals involved in bringing these shows to life. Finally, it underscored The Old Globe's extensive education and community programs, which offer over twenty different ways for the public to engage with the arts.
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