It’s their first time

Steve Gunderson and Melissa Fernandes
- Photo by Daren Scott

That means New Village Arts has its hands full with Into the Woods, the group’s first musical, but leave it to NVA to pull it off, even amid its inexperience with the genre. The story, co-written by James Lapine, intertwines the postnursery-rhyme fates of several fabled Brothers Grimm characters—the Baker’s Wife (an excellent Melissa fernandes) is the notable casualty, and pretty much everybody gets at least one lesson in the ways of the mean ol’ world. James Vasquez directs with an even hand, Elan McMahan and Charlie Reuter spearhead some sprightly musical direction and Hannah Rose Kornfeld is absolutely adorable as Little Red Riding Hood. This is one show, however, in which NVA’s physical space gets in the way of itself— the stage isn’t all that deep, and, in this case, that restricts the potential for richer visuals. Through Oct. 31 at New Village Arts, 2787 State St. in Carlsbad. $20-$43. newvillagearts.org

OPENING

Gee’s Bend: Three generations of Alabama women create quilts that double as magnificent works of art. Now in previews, it opens Oct. 16 at North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987-D Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach. $30-$41. ncrep.org

NOW PLAYING

All the Time in the World: A man struggles against powerful forces determined to manipulate his talent for their gain. Oct. 15 and 16 at Escondido Municipal Gallery, 262 E. Grand Ave. in Escondido. Proceeds from the play and a subsequent art auction will benefit the gallery and Escondido Arts Partnership. $9-$12. escondidoarts.org

* Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin: Soaring success and a fall from grace marked the career of the man who changed motion pictures forever. Through Oct. 17 at the Mandell Weiss Theatre in La Jolla. $44-$80. lajollaplayhouse.org

Notes from Underground: Obsess ing

over old wounds, a man quits his civil-service job to live in isolation and madness. Through Oct. 17 at the Potiker Theatre in La Jolla. $31-$66. lajollaplayhouse.org H Romeo and Juliet: Two crazy Italian kids fall in love and pay for it with their lives in the middle of a family feud. Produced by Intrepid Shakespeare Company, it runs through Oct. 17 at The Roundabout Theatre in Encinitas. $15-$25. intrepidshakespeare.com

The Road to Mecca: A young teacher’s epiphany fuels an eccentric widow’s rediscovery of her life and her worth to her community. Produced by San Diego Repertory Theatre, it runs through Oct. 17 at The Lyceum Space, 79 Horton Plaza, Downtown. $28-$47. sdrep.org

Brighton Beach Memoirs: Fifteenyear-old Eugene can’t think about much else except playing for the Yankees—and girls. Through Nov. 7 in repertory with Broadway Bound, its sequel, at the Old Globe Theatre mainstage in Balboa Park. $29-$85. oldglobe.org

* The Norman Conquests: This trilogy of full-length comedies (Table Manners, Round and Round the Garden, Living Together), performed in rotating repertory, focuses on Norman and his oddball in-laws. Produced by Cygnet Theatre Company, the program runs through Nov. 7 at The Old Town Theatre in Old Town. $24-$29. cygnettheatre.org

The Glory Man: Clarence Jordan, author of The Cotton Patch Gospels, founds Habitat for Humanity in the Deep South of the 1950s. Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it runs through Nov. 14 at The Ione and Paul Harter Stage, 1142 Orange Ave. in Coronado. $28-$58. lambsplayers.org

* miXtape: Life was just beginning for Generation X in this musical look at the 1980s. Produced by Lamb’s Players Theatre, it runs through Nov. 21 at The Horton Grand Theatre, Downtown. $28- $58. lambsplayers.org

Welcome to Arroyo’s: Alejandro and his sister Molly discover what might be a secret about their mother that could change the foundation of their lives and, possibly, the history of hip-hop. Through Oct. 31 at The Old Globe Theatre’s Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre in Balboa Park. $29-$67. oldglobe.org