The Old Globe

"Give us the big picture: What’s the vibe of the place, what’s it like? Modeled after the Shakespeare-era Old Globe in London , San Diego's version keeps a similar classical vibe. It's tucked in the center of Balboa Park , with a large walkway leading the crowd to three separate theaters within the theater, including a 620-seat outdoor venue. What kinds of events can we see here? While the Old Globe puts on modern musicals and plays—Steve Martin has brought a couple of his own pieces here—it's best known for the Bard, a Shakespeare festival held outside every summer. Across the board, the theater hosts 15 productions and nearly 600 performances. What's it like inside the theaters? The three venues all have different vibes. The largest is the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage (580 seats), used for bigger productions, while the round, 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre offers the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the actors, who will often work the room. By far the most enticing venue is the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, a 620-seater (though it feels more intimate) under the stars. Airplanes do fly over the theater, but the acoustics generally keep outside noise to a minimum. Who usually comes here? It's typically an older crowd at The Globe, though they're trying to reach younger audiences with an Under 30 program, which offers discounted tickets to folks ages 18-29. But there's one time of year that brings out children in droves: the annual production of "Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" Anything in particular that makes the Old Globe special? Part of the reason the lineup is so good is because Barry Edelstein is behind it. The artistic director previously worked at The Public Theater in New York, producing Al Pacino in "The Merchant of Venice," before landing in San Diego. If we’re going to be in town, what—and who—do you think this is best for? The Old Globe puts on fun, worth-your-money shows no matter the format, and with a location in Balboa Park—near great restaurants in Hillcrest and Bankers Hill—it makes for an easy dinner-and-a-show night for a date or with the family." - Archana Ram