Another one bites the dust

The Theatre, Inc., helmed by Doug Lay (center), staged Orestes earlier this year.
- Photo by Paul Savage

It always comes down to money these days, and local theater (with so few of its major companies pulling any kind of profit) knows this all too well. Now comes word of another San Diego group’s disbandment amid fiscal constraints: The Theatre, Inc., which opened shop in 2007 at 899 C St., Downtown, as a producer of Greek classics, has quietly closed its doors. That’s a far cry from the first days, when the troupe singlehandedly reconditioned its ramshackle space and went on to bring us such gems as The Phoenician Women and The Frogs. This is the seventh such local closing since 2006 and leaves Downtown San Diego with no theater smaller than a 220-seat capacity. That’s important because limitation necessitates creativity—and as The Theatre’s venue seated around 50, it was ideal for just such exploration. Artistic director Douglas Lay and producer Melissa Hamilton were not available for comment. Meanwhile, I, for one, am very sorry to see the place go and wonder when the city, with its marginal attention to local theater’s health, will take the hint.

OPENING

Jekyll and Hyde: The genteel Henry Jekyll whips up a potion that turns him into the cantankerous Edward Hyde, and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. Produced by Ion Theatre Company, it opens in previews Oct. 20 at BLK BOX @ 6th & Penn in Hillcrest. $21- $25. iontheatre.com

A Grand Night for Singing: This Rodgers and Hammerstein revue gives a modern spin to classic musicals like Oklahoma!, The King and I and South Pacific. Opens Oct. 21 at the Experimental Theatre on the SDSU campus. $14-$16. theatre.sdsu.edu

The Spitfire Grill: A feisty parolee follows her dreams to a small town in Wisconsin and finds a place for herself working at Hannah’s grill, which she raffles off. Opens Oct. 22 at The Poway Performing Arts Company in Poway. $15- $17. powpac.org

Bram Stoker’s Dracula: The Big Guy finds himself in a frantic search for the human blood that means the difference between life and death. Opens Oct. 22 at The Coronado Playhouse, 1835 Strand Way in Coronado. $18-$25. coronadoplayhouse.com

Related to:The Theatre Inc.downtown

Beauty and the Beast: Belle, whose father is imprisoned by the Beast (really an enchanted prince), offers herself instead and finds the prince inside the Beast. Produced by Broadway/San Diego, it opens Oct. 26 at the Civic Theatre Downtown. $26.50-$99.50. broadwaysd.com

Quoth the Raven: This is a staged reading of mystery stories written by Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, Ray Bradbury and others. Produced by Write Out Loud, it runs through Oct. 26 at the Carlsbad City Library. $15. writeoutloudsd.com

NOW PLAYING

Death Takes a Holiday: Death takes three days off from his usual business to see what it’s like to be mortal. Through Oct. 24 at Patio Playhouse in Escondido. $7-$15. patioplayhouse.com

North Park Playwright Festival: Dozens of writers from San Diego and all over the world peddle their wares at this annual event. Through Oct. 24 at The North Park Vaudeville and Candy Shoppe in North Park. $14. northpark vaudeville.org

* Into the Woods: A group of fabled Brothers Grimm characters find that life isn’t necessarily all that happy in their “happily ever after” phase Through Oct . 31 at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad. $20-$43. newvillagearts.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

Yellow Face: An Asian-American playwright gets involved in a flap over the casting of Miss Saigon and writes a play about the experience. Produced by the Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company, it runs through Oct. 31 at The Tenth Avenue Theatre, Downtown. $15-$27. moolelo.net

Brighton Beach Memoirs: Fifteen-year-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

Gee’s Bend: Three generations of Alabama women create quilts that double as magnificent works of art. Through Nov. 7 at North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987-D Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach. $30-$41. ncrep.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. See our review in this week’s CityBeat. $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

Shotgun Wedding Anniversary: What happens after 25 years in a less-than-blissful marriage? For Basil and Petals, it can mean murder. Through Dec. 24 at Mystery Cafe, inside the Imperial House restaurant in Bankers Hill. $59.50, including dinner. mysterycafe.net

Another one bites the dust

The Theatre Inc. quietly closes its doors

Related content