San Diego Area: Carlsbad, Coronado, Escondido, La Jolla, La Mesa, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego, Santee, Solana Beach, Vista
Mainly Mozart Music Festival (MMF) & Chamber Music Spotlight (CMS) - Carlsbad, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe
February-June
Location: 10620 John Jay Hopkins Drive, La Jolla (Auditorium at Scripps Research Institute); 15150 San Dieguito Road, Rancho Santa Fe (Fairbanks Ranch Country Club); Carlsbad: various
Why Go There? Variety of concerts, venues celebrate Mozart: Mainly Mozart Festival (MMF) orchestra; youth orchestra; free mini-concert Chamber Music Spotlight (CMS) series
Access: Drive + public transportation
More Information: Mainly Mozart + Spotlight Chamber Music
Coronado Playhouse - Coronado
Thursday-Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees
Location: 1835 Strand Way: Coronado Community Center
Why Go There? Longest-running community theatre San Diego County; six main stage musicals, comedies per season; cabaret nights, special events.100-seat, cabaret-style theater overlooks Glorietta Bay; full service bar, snacks. Student, active military, senior (62+) discounts. Provides annual city-funded 'classic series' free summer show July-August.
Access: Free street parking, nearby lot, or public transportation
More Information: Coronado Playhouse
Coronado Promenade Concerts - Coronado
May - September evenings
Location: 7th/Orange Avenue: Spreckels Park
Why Go There? 15+ free outdoor summer season concerts, variety of music genre, sponsored by local businesses (donations welcomed)
Access: Free street parking, nearby lot, or public transportation
More Information: Coronado Concert
Lamb's Players Theatre - Coronado, San Diego
February-November
Tuesday-Saturday evenings, weekend matinees (see website)
Location: 444 Fourth Avenue: Horton Grand Theatre, San Diego (Gaslight District); 1142 Orange Avenue: Lamb's Player Theatre: historic Spreckels Building, Coronado
Why Go There? Artist directed ensemble offers five play season, in 350 seat Coronado theater; holiday festival in December. San Diego shows more intimate 250 seat theater, emphasis on musicals, longer running shows; military, seniors (66+), student discount.
Access: Horton Grand Theatre: Parking garages/lots or public transportation; Lamb's Player Theatre: street parking (free after 6pm, all day Sunday)
More Information: Lamb’s Players
Welk Theatre - Escondido
Year-round, Thursday-Sunday evenings, matinees
Location: 8860 Lawrence Welk Drive
Why Go There? High quality shows: Broadway-style musicals, musical performances, comedy, illusionists. Evening performances offer buffet dinner option. Venue includes museum with memorabilia highlighting Lawrence Welk's life.
Access: Drive
More Information: Welk Resorts
Athenaeum Music and Arts Library - La Jolla
Year-round
Location: 1008 Wall Street
Why Go There? Year-round schedule of concerts (classical, jazz, acoustic, new music); summer festival, free mini-concerts; music lectures, "flicks on the bricks" summer movie series; special events (see arts listing for art related)
More Information: Athenaeum + Mini Concerts
La Jolla Music Society - La Jolla
October-May, July-August Summerfest concerts
Location: 7600 Fay Avenue (Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center)
Why Go There? Annual music series features stellar soloists, ensemble performers of classical, chamber, jazz; rising young stars Discovery series; outreach community performances; pre-concert talks; summerfest concerts; dance series, special events; winter and summer fundraiser galas; full-time student rush discount (if available one hour prior to performance)
More Information: LJMS
La Jolla Playhouse - La Jolla
May - November (extensions, other performances into December)
Location: 2910 La Jolla Village Drive
Why Go There? Professional theater offers classics, new plays, musicals. Stellar credentials: 70 world premieres, 40 commissions, 38 American or West Coast premieres, 300 major honors, 35 Tony Awards for productions transferred to Broadway; 1993 Tony Award Outstanding Regional Theatre. Four venues, seats 400+; restaurant, bar. Rush (if available one hour before performance): half price seniors (62+), active military, full-time students, 30 and under; UCSD student discounts.
Access: Pay lot parking (free on weekends) + public transportation
More Information: La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Symphony and Chorus (LJS&C) - La Jolla
Location: 9500 Gilman Drive (UCSD's Mandeville Auditorium)
Why Go There? Six traditional/contemporary concert weekends yearly; special concerts other venues. Affiliated with University of California San Diego (UCSD), comprised of volunteer musicians, community members, UCSD students, staff, faculty, professional musicians; free family-friendly dress rehearsal Friday evenings.
Access: Campus parking (free on weekends) + public transportation
More Information: La Jolla Symphony + Free Rehearsals
San Diego Ballet - La Jolla, San Diego
Location: Various venues including Lyceum, Copley Symphony Hall
Why Go There? 25 year+ company offers repertoire of classical, contemporary works, original pieces; collaborations with San Diego Symphony, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, other dance organizations; annual fundraiser gala (March).
Access: Drive + public transportation
More Information: San Diego Ballet
San Diego International Jewish Film Festival - La Jolla, San Diego
February
Location: Various (see website)
Why Go There? 11 day 30+ year festival offers documentaries, fiction features, short films, post-film conversations with directors; special events, five venues. Themes portray Jewish experience from current to historic global perspectives.
More Information: San Diego International Film Festival
UC San Diego Muir Musical - La Jolla
April weekends
Location: 9500 Gilman Drive: Mandeville Auditorium
Why Go There? Annual student full-scale musical production features 75+ actors, musicians, set designer; budget friendly.
Access: Campus parking (free weekends) + public transportation
More Information: Muir Musical
Lamplighters Community Theatre - La Mesa
Friday-Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees
Location: 5915 Severin Drive at Amaya (La Mesa Village Shopping Center)
Why Go There? Five shows per season, special events; longstanding community theater tradition, 65+ years
Access: Drive, free parking
More Information: Facebook
Pac Poway's Community Theater - Poway
July-June
Friday-Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees
Location: 13250 Poway Road (Lively Center)
Why Go There? North county community theater company offers six seasonal shows, cozy venue; special events; limited lobby snacks; military, senior, student discount
Access: Free parking lot
More Information: Pac Poway’s Community Theater
Rancho Bernardo Chorale - Poway (2020 update: final concerts June, 2020)
June evenings, matinees (see website)
Location: 15498 Espola Road: Poway Center for the Performing Arts (PCPA)
Why Go There? 150 member, 40+ year community chorale offers twice yearly lavishly costumed musical productions. Repertoire includes Broadway hits, patriotic, comedic, contemporary music; raises scholarship funds for talented San Diego high school students; children, military, senior (55+) discount.
Access: Free parking lot
More Information: Rancho Bernardo Chorale
California Ballet - San Diego
See website for schedule
Location: 1100 Third Avenue/B Street (San Diego Civic Theater)
Why Go There? Celebrating 50+ years of ballet, professional dance company performs traditional holiday Nutcracker ballet, other works
Access: Street meters + pay garage parking
More Information: California Ballet
Diversionary Theatre - San Diego
Thursday-Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees
Location: 4545 Park Boulevard (University Heights)
Why Go There? Vibrant LGBT theater; several seasonal shows, cabaret nights. Offers Backstage Thursdays, Monday 'industry nights'.
Access: Street Parking + SD MTA Bus#11
More Information: Diversionary
Lyceum Theaters Complex - San Diego
Year-round
Location: 79 Horton Plaza
Why Go There? Two state-of-the-art theaters, intimate “Underground Stage"; lobby with full concessions stand; host venue for San Diego Rep, a professional theater company offering world premieres, contemporary plays, re-imagined classics; hosts 300+ events annually, including San Diego Ballet performances.
More Information: Lyceum Events + SD Repertory Theatre + Facebook
The Old Globe Theater - San Diego
Seasonal
Location: 1363 Old Globe Way (Balboa Park)
Why Go There? Professional theater company produces 15 plays, musicals summer, winter seasons; world premieres, contemporary, classics, three separate theaters. Originally built 1935, Donald and Darlene Shiley Old Globe seats 600 in fully enclosed theater, rebuilt 2009. Smaller 250 seat theater-in-the-round, Sheryl and Harvey White theater, and Lowell Davies Festival outdoor theater (seats 615), round out complex. Special events, fundraisers throughout year. Limited highly discounted theater tickets available first-come first-served basis. Other discounts: active duty military, seniors(65), students (valid I.D).
Access: Closest parking lots (Alcazar Lot, Organ Pavilion Lot, Village Place lot) + tram
More Information: The Old Globe
San Diego Opera - San Diego
Saturday-Sunday evenings, matinees
Location: 750 B Street (Jacobs Music Center Copley Symphony Hall); 1100 Third Avenue (San Diego Civic Theater)
Why Go There? Several productions each season, 51+ years; cash-only rush seats, if available, two hours prior to curtain, until 30 minutes before, or sold out, whichever comes first; special events, outreach activities include opera-inspired food pairing evenings, opera talks
Access: Garage parking (pay) + public transportation
More Information: SD Opera
San Diego Symphony Concerts - San Diego
Friday-Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees (see website)
Location: 750 B Street (Jacobs Music Center Copley Symphony Hall)
Why Go There? Performing for 100+ years (oldest California symphony to do so) offers 140 concerts per year: chamber music (see separate lisitng), classical masters series, summer pops at The Shell (Embarcadero Marina Park south), special events, gala fundraiser, wine dinners, film series; free outreach short concerts; beverages, snacks available; senior (60+), active military $3 discount for most seats at Copley Symphony Hall, Embarcadero Marina Park South, Scripps Research Institute Auditorium (TSRI). Student rush $10 seats one hour before performances.
Access: Garage parking (pay) + public transportation
More Information: San Diego Symphony
San Diego Symphony Chamber Music Series - San Diego
Monday-Tuesday evenings (see website)
Location: 10620 John Jay Hopkins Drive (Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) Auditorium) 7600 Fay Ave, La Jolla (Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center)
Why Go There? Symphony musicians collaborate with guest performers to present classic chamber repertoire in high quality intimate hall setting. Senior (60+), active military $3 discount for most seats. Student rush $10 seats one hour before performances.
Access: Free parking
More Information: San Diego Symphony
North Coast Repertory Theatre - Solana Beach
September - August
Wednesday-Sunday evenings, some matinees (see schedule)
Location: 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite D (Lomas Santa Fe Plaza Shopping Center)
Why Go There? 30+ years offering classic, contemporary productions, many special events each season; 194 seats; active military, senior(65+), student discount
Access: Drive, Shopping Center parking
More Information: North Coast Rep
Additional Resources
Patio Playhouse - Escondido
Long-standing community theater
Poway Center for Performing Arts - Poway
Schedule
City Ballet - San Diego
Classic, contemporary ballets, holiday Nutcracker performed in the historic Spreckels Theatre
Intrepid Theatre - San Diego
Award winning small theater company season
Moxie Theatre - San Diego
Women run theater offers women themed plays; 6663 El Cajon Boulevard Suite N (Aztec Shopping Center near SD State University)
New Fortune Theatre - San Diego
company offers "great plays, rarely done"
Second Sunday Community Concerts - San Diego
Free Community Concerts, variety of music genre, second Sunday 3:00pm-4:00pm, Mission Trails Church, 4880 Zion Avenue
Arts Tix - San Diego
Theater, arts organization tickets discounted, full price
Associated Community Theaters - San Diego County
Calendar
Off Broadway Live - Santee (east San Diego county)
Dinner theater, musicals, holiday shows; senior discounts
Summergrass - Vista
Annual three day bluegrass festival, Antique Gas & Steam Museum (August)