Theater

The Reduced Shakespeare Company turns the long and serious into the short and funny. In their most popular play, "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)" the three-man comedy troupe turns all of Shakespeare's 37 plays into a two-hour romp. We'll talk with troupe member Austin Tichenor.

Actor, artist, and art collector Dennis Hopper died on Saturday. Hopper grew up in San Diego, acted at The Old Globe and the La Jolla Playhouse, and exhibited his artwork at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

The Broadway production of "Memphis," which originated at the La Jolla Playhouse before transferring to New York, has garnered eight Tony Award nominations, including best director for Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. We'll talk with Ashley about the nominations and the announcement that the Playhouse will stage the world premiere of a musical based on the film "Little Miss Sunshine."

The Play's the Thing for Students

Get Thee to Balboa Park!

Craig Noel, the founding artistic director of the Old Globe theater and often called the father of San Diego theater died at his San Diego home over the weekend. He was 94. We talk with Pam Kragen, North County Times arts editor and president of the San Diego Theater Critics Circle.

Craig Noel, the founding director of the Old Globe theater in Balboa Park and an influential figure in American regional and national theater, died Saturday night at the age of 94.

In 1858, two extraordinary men shared a podium to debate issues like slavery, states rights, the Mexican War and banking. Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln debated for the senate seat and those lively conversations are dramatized in the play "The Rivarly," opening at Lambs Players

Charles McNulty, the longtime theater critic for the LA Times thinks Southern California theaters, including The Old Globe and the La Jolla Playhouse, are leaning too commercial and not producing enough innovative contemporary drama. Do you agree?

Theater and food have our attention this weekend. We'll get recommendations from North County Times' Pam Kragen and Riviera Magazine's Troy Johnson.