Public service
The California Young Playwrights Contest and the rest of this week's theater listings
You might not be exactly dazzled by the current fare at the Old Town Theatre, but that’s because all the playwrights are under age 19. And sometimes, that doesn’t even matter—authors like Annie Weisman Macomber have hit it big here, going on to some very decent careers indeed. The 2009 Playwrights Project is in full swing, replete with locally written winning scripts from the California Young Playwrights Contest. Two full productions and two staged readings are on tap each night, byproducts of the Project’s theater-based literacy efforts in San Diego County schools. The older kids sometimes spend months on their revisions, and their preparation for the big bad world is all the better for it. Now in its 24th year, the Project runs through Jan. 25 at The Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St. Tickets are $20 and available at 619-239-8222 or www.playwrightsproject.org.
Opening
Love Song: Beane, a blissfully happy oddball, has a mysterious new love—and his sister Joan can’t figure it out. Now in previews, it opens Jan. 24 at Cygnet Theatre’s Rolando venue, 6663 El Cajon Blvd. in the College Area. $22. 619-337-1525, www.cygnettheatre.com.
Now playing
After-Play: Four longtime friends meet up after a Broadway show, discovering that time and distance have changed them more than they thought. Through Feb. 7 at OnStage Playhouse, 291 Third Ave. in Chula Vista. $13-$15. 619-422-7787, www.onstageplayhouse.org.
American Buffalo: Three punks talk a good game as they plot to rob a man of his coin collection, but their stupidity prevents the plan from leaving the drawing board. Through Feb. 15 at Compass Theatre, 3704 Sixth Ave. in Hillcrest. $20-$23. 619-688-9210, wwwcompasstheatre.com.
* As Much as You Can: A bunch of weird stuff happens when a black gay man brings home his white lover. Through Jan. 25 at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd. in University Heights. $29-$33. 619-220-0097, www.diversionary.org.
Doubt: Moral uncertainty is meticulously examined as a Roman Catholic nun suspects a priest has been messing with an altar boy. Produced by the San Diego Repertory Theatre, the show runs through Feb. 8 at The Lyceum Space, 79 Horton Plaza Downtown. Call for prices. 619-544-1000, www.sdrep.org.
* Six Degrees of Separation: We’re not genealogically separated by as much as you might think. Through Feb. 15 at The Old Globe Theatre mainstage, 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. $29-$66. 619-23-GLOBE, www.oldglobe.org.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love and Other Modern Dilemmas: This trio of one-act plays features two couples and the intersecting tensions between them. Produced by Laterthanever Productions, the show runs through Feb. 1 at The Tenth Avenue Theatre, 930 10th Ave., Downtown. $25. 619-235-9353, www.laterthanever.org.
