broadway | cassiopeia-guthrie

Wicked Brings Whimsy and Escape to San Diego Audiences

by Cassiopeia Guthrie, Feb. 12, 2025 In November 2024, buried in literature review for my doctorate, I desperately wanted to be whisked away and found escapism in Jon Chu's stunningly beautiful "Wicked" on the big screen. I was utterly charmed by Cynthia Erivo's tender 'The Wizard and I,' brushed tears from the corners of my eyes as Galinda and Elphaba found one another the Ozdust Ballroom, and gasped audibly when Chenowith and Menzel appeared during 'One Short Day.' Fast for

CCAE Theatricals opens Jersey Boys in Escondido

by Cassiopeia Guthrie, Sept. 15, 2024 Nostalgia and energy are the name of the game in CCAE Theatricals' newest production, Jersey Boys, which enjoyed its Escondido opening this weekend. The Tony Award-winning production, with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, music by Bob Gaudio, and lyrics by Bob Crewe, follows the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons from their most shining highlights to the lowest lows. This retelling is directed by T.J. Dawson and stars th

Interview: Attendees invited to 'The Prom' at San Diego City College's Saville Theatre

by Cassiopeia Guthrie, April 19, 2024 Prom nights are popping up around town in the coming weeks for local high schools, but it is San Diego City College’s production of the Broadway musical The Prom that will turn heads for the next two weekends. With book and lyrics by Chad Beguelin, book by Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar, and original concept by Jack Viertel, the musical runs in the Saville Theatre through April 27. This is the San Diego premiere for The Prom, which wo

‘Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812’ Soar into Cygnet

by Cassiopeia Guthrie, April 14, 2024 Rousing romance, deception, and drama. Cygnet’s newest production, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 has arrived, barreling down on OId Town with all three. Read the review at San Diego Story.

Disney's Aladdin Transports Audiences to a Whole New (Yet Still the Same) World

by Cassiopeia Guthrie, April 7, 2024 "Come for the hummus and stay for the floor show," proclaims Genie, played by vivacious Marcus M. Martin. It's emblematic of what to expect - and what to consider - for audience members of Disney Aladdin, currently playing at Broadway San Diego's Civic Theatre through April 7. The musical, with music by Alen Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and Chad Beguelin, and Book by Chad Beguillin, is a mostly-faithful retelling of Disney's

'MJ The Musical' Remembers the Bright Moments in Michael Jackson’s Rise to Fame

By Cassiopeia Guthrie, March 9, 2024 The MJ The Musical tour is moonwalking through town at Broadway San Diego’s Civic Theatre this week. And, though the legacy of the artist himself is somewhat controversial, the production, set in 1992, captures instead the charisma and resilience of the beleaguered pop artist. Written by Lynn Nottage and directed/choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, the musical takes place a couple of days prior to the launch of Michael Jackson’s Dangero

Review: Idina Menzel’s World Premiere of “Redwood”

by Cassiopeia Guthrie, February 26, 2024 Can you ever outrun grief? La Jolla Playhouse’s newest world premiere musical, Redwood, follows Jesse, a self-proclaimed perfectionist who fills her days and nights with work in the wake of the loss of her son, Spencer. It quickly becomes clear that she and her wife, Mel, have very different means of coping: where Mel needs to process the grief, Jesse veers away from it—and, eventually, into the driver’s seat of a car, fleeing across t