The Old Globe

Just saw the Last Match at the Globe. It was an interesting plot and would have actually been entertaining if it were not for the constant amount of F words and other 4 letter expletives. The characters are not even close to reality with the kind of «strong language» between a husband and wife. Would not want to be in a relationship with this play write. The web site warns of «strong language». what they don’t tell you is it is overpowering. I would skip this one.

David Ives’ genius is on full display in the delightful farce that is «The Metromaniacs». The dialogue is clever in its rhyme and is delivered with precision by this cast. Each character has his moment, or moments, to shine and shine they do! The maid, the master of the house, the poet, the ingénue, the servant and the handsome but daft suitor all established their characters early and kept the audience laughing all the way. There is also a sweetness and reverence for plays and for the theatre. And for love! The packed house gave the cast a much deserved standing ovation.

With all due respect to the Old Globe, «Metromaniacs» is without doubt the worst production I’ve ever experienced here. As a subscriber for over five years, I do not ever recall gladly walking out at intermission, as I did tonight, along with many others.
The theater was far less than ¾ full, and the audience reacted to some of the ‘humorous’ lines with polite titters. That is, the few that were not in shock due to the utter inanity of the dialogue.
By far, the funniest line was delivered by a character who thought a Metromaniac was someone who loves subways. Nothing else even came close, and often the cast would wait for the laughter to subside, when none was actually initiated.
I hesitate to call the dialogue and staging worthy of a mediocre high school production, because I do not wish to insult either drama teachers or high school students. I think the set was especially cheesy on purpose. At least I hope it was.
With time, I will forget about this unfunny waste of time and money, and look forward with renewed hope to the next Old Globe production.

The BF got us tickets to the Metromaniacs for Christmas! First of all, this is a MUST SEE SHOW. It’s absolutely hilarious. With a complicated Shakespearean plot line, I was nervous I’d have a hard time following along with the show but it was incredible! It had us cracking up the entire time and the script was witty and well executed!
The Old Globe itself is a beautiful theater! The entire space is clean and elegant. It was such a joy to attend this production! We came on a Saturday night and the place was packed! We sat in row A so we had a great view of the stage, but the theater is small enough that any seat would be great!
This experience definitely made me interested in seeing more productions at the Old Globe.

Top quality shows, great theaters, I just wish it was closer to home. Broadway… or better then Broadway… caliber performances. A reason to go to San Diego all by itself.

Only reason I give 2 stars is because the Grinch was pretty good, as were all the other characters EXCEPT Cindy Lou Who. It was so distracting– a Hispanic dark skinned, dark haired, dark eyed Cindy!!! Cute little girl, put her as another Who, but NOT CINDY!!!
This is the equivalent of putting a light skinned, blonde-​haired, blue-​eyed boy in the part of BUCKWHEAT for a Little Rascals play. Give me a break. I feel COMPLETELY ripped off. What bad luck we bought tickets for a show with the «pink team» Cindy. What a dud! The producers of this show need to get a clue and STOP BEING SO POLITICALLY CORRECT. Enough is enough. I will not be attending again, after 12 years. What a shame.

Awesome plays! My fiancé and I have season tickets here and we will never let them go. If you’re new to the theater world, definitely try a Shakespeare play during the summer (it’s outside!) or The Grinch in the winter.

The seats are very comfy, and the play was absolutely phenomenal!!! The Grinch «knocked it out of the park»! I thoroughly enjoyed the play, and would highly recommend it to all my loved ones and friends!!!

Love love love The Old Globe. In Your Arms was our most recent visit and it was phenomenal. We just became season ticket holders and are incredibly excited about the performances to come.
The staff, the quality of productions, and the management and maintenance of the theater, are all amazing every time we visit. When you call, their sales staff is friendly and helpful.
This is a place that I will continue to patronize for many years.

Came here today for the «In Your Arms» dance musical. Loved it! But my rating is on the theater itself.
The staff was so friendly and helpful! They were everywhere for any kind of question you may have. The theater is deep in Balboa so parking was packed and far but a nice walk. The setting is gorgeous, as is the rest of the park. Building had character. We had great seats but it looked like my seat in the house was good spot. We sat in the front row in the middle section of the balcony. There was no intermission today so I didn’t get to explore the rest of the theater. Didn’t even go to the restroom. The seats were so comfortable, the stage had great effects, great acoustics and good temperature. I look forward to coming here again.

Came here for a show, 4 musicians? Something to that effect. It was a cute show. It’s nice that there’s a coffee shop right outside, but the fact that they make you throw it all away before re-​entering is pretty annoying. There was also a TON of security, which is a little off-​putting. But, the production was enjoyable and there are few other options for that sort of culture in San Diego. The seats are not the most comfortable and don’t much space for tall people. I recommend spending some time in the park beforehand. It’s a little bit of a walk to the Globe and definitely worth taking your time.

Saw FULL GALLUP on Friday & it’s phenomenal! A one woman show done by Mercedes Ryel. Very entertaining and captivating. Lovely the way she brought Diana Vreeland to life and gave an insight to an icon’s self realization and worth.
Would love to see it again!

My girlfriend and I have come to this gem of a place for countless dates. It’s a shame that not many people our age take advantage of this theatrical landmark for it entertaining plays, some of which have gone on to Broadway. If not for the plays, then at least come for the awe-​inspiring architecture that has stood since 1935. Parking is not too difficult since there are two lots located on the north and south sides of Balboa Park. I’ve never had to drive around for more than 10 minutes looking for a spot. Although if you’re coming for a play that starts at 8pm, I would suggest arriving no later than 7:15pm to find parking and pick up your tickets at willcall. The employees and ushers here are very friendly and courteous. The cul de sac consists of three venues: Old Globe Theatre, Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, and Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. The latter being an outdoor venue so make sure you bring a sweater because some of the plays don’t end until 10pm.
For all of you young folks, such as myself– they have discounted tickets under a program called «$ 20 under 30». Basically, you have to show your ID to prove you’re under 30 years old and you get to buy selected seats from pre-​selected shows for just $ 20 a ticket. They’re not offered for all shows, but mostly the ones that aren’t selling out. I would suggest buying the tickets in advance and not just showing up at willcall hoping that there are tickets available.
Overall, every visit to The Old Globe has been very pleasant and I expect to be back for many future plays. These days, everyone goes to the movies, but sometimes it’s relaxing to just watch a play and appreciate the creativity that the production has gone at length to convey. If you’re visiting San Diego for a few days, this should be on your bucket list!
P. S. I’ve saved my 100^th review for this.

Just came home from seeing «In Your Arms», a dance/​musical. Wow, what a great show !! A must see for anybody who likes dancing or music, both were world class.
Remember George Chakiris, ‘Bernardo’ in West Side Story? He tottered out for one of the last numbers, and even danced a little. Well preserved, I would say.
Seriously, the dancing was spectacular, with almost every genre represented. The staging and lighting were superb, as was the incredible orchestra.
Go see this one.

We were in Balboa Park on Thursday, and we saw the old globe theater. We decided to go and see if they have anything available for that night for Shakespeare. And they did! We saw Comedy of Errors, and it was amazing!
It was performed at the other outdoor theater, not this particular theater but we loved it and look forward to seeing another play here!
The good thing was that day they had student pricing so we paid 50% less then the ticket price :)

Annnnnd, if you’re looking for the most amazing setting EVER to see a play in, this is it! You’re completely surrounded by beautiful architecture and greenery.
I went to see Kiss Me, Kate, which is a play on Shakespear’s Taming of the Shrue. The people and venue were all amazing!

Wow is all I can say… if you haven’t seen a show here you’re missing out! I recently came here and saw Kiss Me, Kate and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen!!!
I ordered tickets online and showed up around 7:40pm for an 8:00pm show. Parked at the entrance of Balboa Park, near El Prado and 6^th (plenty of parking), and walked about 5 mins to the theatre. After picking up our tickets at will call, we walked in to the theatre. It’s a small, very intimate (and beautiful) venue. The seats are so in your face, you feel so close to the show… it’s like HD TV, but HD theatre viewing! You can see the performers sweating, that’s how close and intimate you are. The quality of casting, the talent, the entire production was outstanding. I couldn’t be more impressed! It was a great theatre experience and I highly recommend it!!!

I am absolutely in LOVE with the Old Globe! Went to another play last night and it was wonderful as always. And to top it off, it is always a nice scroll through Balboa Park, it was extra lovely last night with the crisp air and lights siiigh summer nights.
Been to 7 shows now, and my boyfriend and I loved them all. Especially now, since it feels like most movies have lost it ability to depict the human condition. Havent seen a movie I liked in awhile.
I have never been into plays (ie it was hard for mw to understand othello for the first 20 mins or so) until I attended my first play at the Old Globe. But it is such a magical experience every time.
They have an amazing $ 20 under 30 deal! (Tickets are only $ 20 if you are under 30 years old).
Support art :)

Excellent setting with a gift shop and bar/​snack area. very friendly staff. The Arms and the Man was an awesome comedy. Must visit for any Shakespeare fan.

Very quaint. It feels more like a theater than the Civic Theater, and any other theater I’ve been to in San Diego. They don’t allow food inside, which is great! I remember this was the policy for all live-​theaters. But, more and more, food are finding their way inside. Very distracting and, I don’t want to sound snobby (but, I’m sure I’ll fail), not classy at all.
Thank you, Old Globe, for maintaining the old world theater experience!

The Old Globe is a lovely venue within Balboa Park.
The theatre is small, but the tight space makes for a more intimate and engaging viewing experience for performances. Tickets are at reasonable prices. They have a $ 30 ticket program for select shows to those under 30 years of age, which is a nice draw for younger crowds interested in theatre. I’ve managed to get the cheaper obstructed view seating, which still isn’t a bad area to sit in because of how close you are to the stage! There really isn’t a bad seat in the house in my opinion. I’ve been to a couple of productions and sincerely enjoyed them. Entry is a breeze and the ushers will get you to your seats in no time.
As for preparation, be sure to get there early/​on time, as they will not seat latecomers until intermission, if there even is an intermission (sometimes there isn’t). Parking is free around the park, but there is nothing directly beside it so you’ll have to walk a bit. If you know your way around the park, it’s near the Museum of Man. They have a bar and food stand on a patio just outside the theatre. Tons of people will be hanging out there before as well as after the show, when all the buzz of the night occurs.

Olé Kill JOY wet blanket himself… you know that green Son of a Bitch we all love… THE GRINCH
Well, his pessimistic ass graced my life the other night with his stick in the mud Christmas lack of cheer… Another wonderful family tradition…
Love the Who-​ville Christmas tree outside… DO make sure to take the olé family mug before or after the play in front of it…
Clearly polished and proficient thespians… all the way down to the cute little ham-​bone Cindy Lou-​Who herself… cute as a cupcake with the voice of an angel…
Do go see The Grinch… or you will be condemning yourself for the rest of the year along with all the damn liquor and Christmas cookies you consumed over the Holidays… for that Holiday Ten… so. put the fucking Cocktail down and go see The Grinch…
WHOOooooooooooooooooooo

The Old Globe is by far my favorite place for live theater in San Diego. Unlike the La Jolla Playhouse (where quality is all over the place), the Old Globe is consistently excellent. I don’t necessarily like every production, but I always feel like I’ve seen an excellent performance, even if it wasn’t to my particular tastes.
There are three main theaters (indoor and outdoor proscenium, indoor arena) and some private areas that are usually used as classrooms, but occasionally as performances spaces as well. Since the Globe in a staging ground for productions headed to Broadway, a lot of high-​quality musicals come through. Since so many serious theater groups sneer at musicals, I really appreciate this.
If you’re on a tight budget there are still ways to attend performances. Some productions have blocks of seats for $ 29 each (look at the sides near the front on the main stage) and there are discount tickets for people under 30. Outside of the regular season there are also great events like readings of new plays and the new Globe for All program where admission is free or cheap ($ 10 – 15). Season subscribers get priority for special events, but if you sign up for the mailing list anyone can get last-​minute admission. And just like everything else the Old Globe does, the free readings are fabulous.