One of the most enjoyable events of the year, Write Out Loud, presents its annual “Voices of Ireland” at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 13 at Lamb’s Player’s Theatre. This year’s edition features San Diego’s “favorite Brit,” Ron Choularton, who will read Lord Dunsary’s “The Widow Flynn’s Apple Tree.” Other actor/readers are Walter Ritter, Rachael van Wormer, and Veronica Murphy. Tenor soloist is Kurt Norby, who will sing “Danny Boy” and “Sally’s Garden.” The Celtic Echoes ensemble plays beginning at 7 p.m. and champion Irish dancers complete the evening’s plentiful entertainment. Tickets cost $40 with $10 discounts for season subscribers of Lamb’s Players or Write Out Loud. Discounts for military and seniors at www.lambsplayers.org or by phone at 619-437-6000.
Winter season at UCSD kicks off with David Rabe’s “Streamers”
If the Kim Rubinstein’s undergraduate production of “Streamers” (it closed March 4) in UCSD’s Winter Season was any indication, your entertainment dollar is in good hands. Design elements always top and the graduate actors, part of the MFA program for actors, designers and directors, are tops. Through March 11 in the Potiker Theatre one may see Kyle Donnelly’s production of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew(d).” Opening March 10 in the Shank Theatre is Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” (through March 18). Playing in the Arthur Wagner Theatre March 15 to 17 is “Anansi, the Story King,” adapted and directed by Nadine George-Graves. Tickets cost $10 to $20. For more information, visit www.theatre.ucsd.edu or 858-534-4574.
Meanwhile, here in San Diego, we are expecting Peter Brook’s 90-minute distillation of Bizet, “The Tragedy of Carmen,” which plays three performances at the Balboa Theatre at 7 p.m. on March 10 and 11, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 12. It’s part of the San Diego Opera’s new Shiley?tour series. Don’t miss this opera. It is an incendiary nugget with lots of sex appeal! www.sdopera.com Playwright Gets Oscar for Film Adaptation
Once the dust settled at the 2017 Academy Awards ceremony Sunday, Feb. 26, we learned that “Moonlight” was indeed the winner for Best Picture. Furthermore, playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney was among the “Moonlight” winners, garnering a statuette for Best Writing Adapted for his story from his own play “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.” McCraney has celebrated prominently in the area five years ago, with the production of two plays, “In the Red and Brown Water” at UCSD and “The Brothers Size” at the Old Globe Theatre. McCraney counted among his mentors/idols the late great August Wilson, whose film “Fences” was also in contention for this year’s best picture. I’m sure that wherever he is, Wilson is smiling.
Famed Drag Legend to Raise Funds for New Plays
Theater fans won’t want to miss this one: Renowned drag performer and playwright Charles Busch (Playhouse’s ‘The Third Story’ and Broadway’s ‘The Tale of the Alchemist’s Wife’) provides a delicious cabaret event to raise money for La Jolla Playhouse’s New Play Development Programs. Titled “The Lady at the Mic,” the cabaret was written and is performed by Busch, who is accompanied by Tom Judson. The event will occur at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 24 at The Abbey, 2825 Fifth Ave. Tickets are $100 for the pre-show reception at 7 p.m. followed by the performance. Tickets that include a post-performance meet and greet with Busch are $150. Additionally, there will be an after-after party at Martinis Above Fourth (located at 3940 Fourth Ave.). For information and tickets: www.lajollaplayhouse.org or call 858-550-1010.
