New Village Arts’ ‘Fun Home’ an Emotional Ride

Bruce teaches Alison to draw.

Those unfamiliar with Fun Home may arrive expecting a lighthearted 60s period piece, thanks to the production materials and the title… they’d be wrong. The show, which traverses a series of times and places throughout one woman’s life, is a visceral one, packing an emotional punch on the New Village Arts stage.

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‘MAMMA MIA!’ Dances Through San Diego in Energetic 25th Anniversary Tour

Donna and her backup singers croon in white.

Fans of ABBA, rejoice: Mamma Mia! is celebrating the second stop of its nationwide tour here in sunny San Diego. The musical, which features music and lyrics by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Stig Anderson and a book by Catherine Johnson, has an enthusiastic following, which was evident in the sequins and cheers accompanying the production’s local performances.

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Disillusionment Meets Literary Allusion in ‘The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical’

Hunter transcribes The Great Gatsby.

Contraceptives, literate children, funding for the arts, radical mercy, and weed. The demands of The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical are specific and intentional, told through the life story and experiences (real or fabricated) of the infamous titular Gonzo journalist himself. The production, a world premiere with music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and book by Joe Iconis and Gregory S. Moss, catches the wild ride that is Thompson’s career and pairs it with a vibrant rock score. The musical runs at La Jolla Playhouse through October 8.

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