Michael Parrott – San Diego Story

Good ‘Nutcracker’ Nothing to Be Scared Of

By Martin Jones Westlin | December 4, 2014 |

A fallen hero’s sword is an object of grief for the man’s mother — but little could she have known that the weapon was one key to no less than preserving Christmas for the world. If you want more, you’ll just have to go see New Village Arts’ turn at ‘The Nutcracker’ and watch the Rats get theirs.

Look Elsewhere for the Climax in Diversionary’s Very Poor ‘Thrill Me’

By Martin Jones Westlin | May 11, 2014 |

It’s the little things — like a person’s penchant for the law, a person’s sexual persuasion, even a person’s middle name — that make big characters. With Diversionary Theatre’s ‘Thrill Me,’ not only aren’t there any characters; there’s barely a play.

Circle’s earnest “2.0” has the community, and military life, in its sights

By Martin Jones Westlin | February 4, 2014 |

Maybe Circle Circle dot dot needs to get more specific in its references to the city it seeks to portray and reflect. Even so, its “San Diego, I Love You, 2.0” features two very good performances in this story about military life and a couple’s sacrifice within it. The scrappy company understands that theater is a terribly public act, and its site-specific approach isn’t lost on an art form that’s been embracing community-based performance forever.