Good morning, and welcome to the U-T Arts & Culture Newsletter.
I’m David L. Coddon, and here’s your guide to all things essential in San Diego’s arts and culture this week.
Could there be better timing for a Jon Stewart show than right now, with among other things a presidential campaign year heating up and a recent historic felony conviction in New York?
Like many people I’ve turned to Comedy Central for political commentary over the years and to “The Daily Show” in particular. These days, Stewart, who hosted it full time for 16 years, now only sits behind the desk on Mondays, but that makes it appointment television.
On Saturday, “An Evening with Jon Stewart” comes to the Pechanga Theater at Pechanga Resort Casino. It’s the latest stop on a Stewart tour that began in March. Expect a lot of hot takes and unbridled insights.
If that’s not enough laughter for you, the inimitable Wanda Sykes brings her standup act to Sycuan Casino Resort’s Heritage Event Center in El Cajon on Sunday night. Sykes’ career on television (“Black-ish,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine”) and movies (“Evan Almighty,” “Monster-in-Law”) speaks for itself. She’s memorable — and hilarious — in just about everything she does, that clunky Oscars co-hosting gig a couple of years ago aside.
For me I still laugh at old “Curb Your Enthusiasm” episodes where Sykes banters with and always gets the best of Larry David, all of it improvised.
Theater
(Courtesy of Allison Tester)
It’s been more than nine months since the passing of singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Suffice to say Parrotheads, his longtime legion of fans, haven’t been the same since.
But if you’re among those fans, the party doesn’t have to stop. In fact, it’s heating up as we speak in Vista where Moonlight Stage Productions is presenting through June 22 the jukebox musical “Escape to Margaritaville.” Starring onstage as Buffett’s carefree alter-ego, the island bartender Tully, will be Andrew Polec (pictured), who has played Old Globe’s Grinch who stole Christmas for the past three holiday seasons.
“Escape to Margaritaville” made its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse seven years ago on a night when Buffett came onstage at the conclusion to perform for the audience. To be blunt, that was the highlight of the evening. As a work of theater, “Escape …” is pedestrian, at best.
What it does have, Parrotheads, are loads of your beloved Buffett tunes including “Come Monday,” “It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere” and naturally “Margaritaville,” plus a few songs he wrote just for the show. Bring your own shaker of salt.
Visual art
To quote Rod Stewart from way back when, every picture tells a story. That’s certainly the case with a powerful exhibition of images captured by former Union-Tribune and Los Angeles Times photojournalist Don Bartletti. It’s titled “Looking Back at Today: 45 Years on the U.S./Mexico Border.”
The photos in both color and black and white are on display through June 15 at the Photographer’s Eye Gallery in Escondido. Admission is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, or by appointment.
More visual art
A woman shops in the boutique at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla.
Both sides of the border will be represented this weekend when the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (pictured) hosts a two-day EXPO Design Market at the MCASD in La Jolla. It’s a showcase of design, art, music, fashion and publishing in partnership with Good Faith Gallery and Mortis Studio.
It’s a free event happening from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There will be an EXPO After Dark celebration beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday. That’s a ticketed event: $60 for museum members, $65 for everybody else.
Opera concert
Opera buffs in town may remember a highlight of the otherwise traumatic year that was 2020. That’s when San Diego Opera staged drive-in performances of Puccini’s “La bohème” in the parking lot of Pechanga Arena in the Midway District.
Starring as Rodolfo was tenor Joshua Guerrero. Appearing as Musetta was soprano Andrea Carroll (pictured).
Now Guerrero and Carroll are performing together in San Diego Opera’s final event of the season, a joint recital at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night at the Balboa Theatre.
“Joshua Guerrero and Andrea Carroll in Concert” will feature the two performing famous operatic duets. Also, preview of their performance in SDO’s filmed version of Daniel Catan’s “La hija de Rappaccini” Rappaccini’s Daughter) is part of the program.
U-T arts stories you may have missed this week
(Daniel Knighton / FilmMagic)
- Rady Shell’s 2024 summer concert season boasts four Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and rising stars alike
- Reflections on Street Scene: San Diego’s original music fest was vital precursor to Coachella, Wonderfront, CRSSD, KAABOO and more
- Ringo Starr, with new San Diego and L.A. concerts set, talks candidly: ‘I’m giving away all the secrets here!’ he says
- Review: Old Globe’s ‘Fat Ham’ a hilarious and surprise-filled look at Black masculinity
- The Dish: Cellar Hand leads list of five new restaurant openings this month
- Review: ‘The Robots’ an opera with a fine libretto in search of a better score
- Art of the City: Young San Diego emerging artist is finding that queer history is his story
- Review: ‘TL;DR’ a fun, free-wheeling and comic musical about queer iconography
- Once-sleepy Vista is gradually becoming a foodie destination
- National tour of ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ musical makes first visit to San Diego
- Doug Ingle, voice of San Diego-bred band Iron Butterfly, dead at 78
- Review: Even on a small stage, North Coast Rep’s ‘Camelot’ really sings
- Raise a glass: These jazz, country and yacht rock stars are coming to Temecula Valley wineries
UCTV
University of California Television invites you to enjoy this special selection of programs from throughout the University of California. Descriptions courtesy of and text written by UCTV staff:
In the program, Jessica Castillo-Tapia, a graduating senior at UC Santa Barbara, shares her personal journey and advocacy work to highlight California’s ongoing housing crisis. Raised in a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles, Castillo-Tapia faced significant challenges, including violence, which made school her sanctuary. Despite securing campus housing during her first quarter at UCSB, financial constraints forced her to drop out. However, she returned and began advocating for students facing housing instability. Following her discussion, a diverse panel of experts examines the high costs of constructing low and moderate-income housing and the complexities of relocating people to shelters amidst community opposition, offering a comprehensive view of the state’s critical homelessness challenge.
“Discussion of the Film ‘Stonebreakers’”
Filmmakers Valerio Ciriaci and Isaak Liptzin join UC Santa Barbara moderator Stephanie Malia Hom to discuss their compelling documentary “Stonebreakers.” The film delves into the power of monuments as catalysts for political action and historical dialogue. Ciriaci and Liptzin share the project’s origins and their experiences documenting protests and political movements against police brutality and systemic racism. They offer insights into the documentary’s exploration of the delicate balance between history and memory, shedding light on how monuments can evoke powerful responses and drive societal change. This discussion provides a thought-provoking look at the intersection of art, activism, and historical narrative.
“Schubert: Piano Trio in E-flat Major, D. 929”
Experience the enchanting performance of Schubert’s Piano Trio in E-flat Major, D. 929, at La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest 2023. This masterpiece, composed in 1827, is celebrated for its lyrical beauty and emotional depth, showcasing Schubert’s remarkable ability to blend classical form with romantic expressiveness. Pianist Inon Barnatan, violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley and cellist Alisa Weilerstein bring this iconic work to life with their exceptional artistry and dynamic interplay. The performance highlights the intricate exchanges and rich harmonies that make this piece a cornerstone of the chamber music repertoire, offering audiences a profound and memorable musical experience.
And finally, top weekend events
“Nocturnal Nostalgia” by Lisa Bryson featured in Oceanside Museum of Art’s “More Disruption: Representational Art in Flux,” running June 8 through Sept. 18.
(Oceanside Museum of Art)
The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: June 7-9.
Coddon is a freelance writer.