San Diego Arts 2017: San Diego Story Writers Reflect on the Year
December 31, 2017
The articles being published today reflect the viewpoints of several of our writers on the San Diego Arts scene at the end of 2017. You’ll find each piece as a separate publication on the San Diego Story site. We’re posting them alphabetically by the author’s last name, and there is a link at the bottom of each posting so you can go directly to the next one. Here’s a preview of what you’ll find in the essays:
- David Dixon describes his best-liked theatre productions of 2017, from Intrepid Theatre Company, Diversionary Theatre, Moxie Theatre, North Coast Repertory Theatre, and The Old Globe.
- Bill Eadie calls 2017 an “average” year for theatre but names several hidden gems that he encountered, mostly from smaller companies.
- Kris Eitland celebrates San Diego Story’s writing about the dance scene, as well as commenting on musicals she covered at venues such as Broadway/San Diego and Moonlight Stage Productions.
- Ken Herman assesses the year in classical music performance, from symphonic work to chamber music, to the city’s vibrant choral scene.
- Welton Jones reflects on the 2017 creative output of the city’s two large theatre companies, The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse.
- Martin Jones Westlin finds theatre joys to celebrate, productions that disappointed, and sadness in an example of sexually harassing behavior in local theatre.
SanDiegoStory.com Staff (from right) David Dixon, Bill Eadie, Kris Eitland (front), Welton Jones, Ken Herman, Mark Burgess (back). Missing are Martin Jones Westlin, Janice Steinberg, Kraig Cavanaugh, and Yochanan Sebastian Winston
As for the site itself, we have a lot to celebrate. We came away from the 2017 San Diego Press Club awards with eleven citations, nine for our writers (six published by San Diego Story, three written for other outlets), and two for the site, including our third consecutive year as the first place entry in the Entertainment Website category.
Here are the prize-winning pieces, with links:
Ken Herman, San Diego Opera’s Street Smart and Vocally Compelling “Carmen” Adaptation by Peter Brook.
Kris Eitland, Travelogues from three dance artists about trips to Bali, Russia, and Cuba
Kris Eitland, City Ballet takes on challenging works in Balanchine and Beyond
Kris Eitland, ‘Kinky Boots’ Still Kicking with Glitter and Kindness
Kraig Cavanaugh, Tradition Duels the Avant-Garde: American Art from a Northwest Collection
Kris Eitland, City Ballet Spins Perfect Storm with Seasons & Carmen
Kris Eitland, Shouting Boo! for ‘A Snow White Christmas’
Bill Eadie, Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Immodestly, we think that since we began publishing in July 2012 we’ve become the indispensable San Diego site for arts reviews. We hope that you’ll agree and that you’ll read us regularly, subscribe to our weekly email review wrap-up, and tell your friends about us. And, if you are so moved, we’d appreciate your donations to help defray the expenses of bringing you comprehensive, critical, coverage of San Diego’s professional arts.
In addition to reviewing theatre for San Diego Story, Bill also reviews for TalkinBroadway.com. He is a member of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle and the American Theatre Critics Association. Bill is an emeritus professor in the School of Journalism and Media Studies at San Diego State University.