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Best San Diego Musicals Running in 2024 & Coming in 2025

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Published on: Nov 5, 2023
Last Updated on: May 11, 2024
By: Kathryn Willingham
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Photograph: Dianne Purcell

Best San Diego Musicals Running in 2024 & 2025

San Diego is home to many professional and local theaters, with some of the best actors in the country gracing their stages. Theaters like The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse are known for their world premieres of shows that have often made the move to Broadway and beyond, touring North America and internationally. Almost Famous, Meteor Shower, Bright Star by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder all started at The Old Globe while Come From Away, SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical, Memphis, and Jersey Boys started at La Jolla Playhouse, along with the musical adaptation of the novel The Outsiders which is coming to Broadway stages in March of 2024.

Touring Broadway shows on the West Coast play at the San Diego Civic Theatre while companies like the Cygnet Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, San Diego Musical Theatre, San Diego Junior Theatre, and more offer great musicals, plays, and other live performances for audiences of all ages.

Here are the best San Diego musicals you can see right now, and what’s coming to San Diego theatres soon! And for special discounts and exclusive offers, check out ArtsTix, which sells tickets to theater, dance, comedy, live music, and other performing arts shows, tours and attractions.

Musicals Currently Running in San Diego

Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Musical

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, the Musical: Middle school, ugh. It’s the worst. Greg is determined not to be at the bottom of the popularity chart. He’ll leave that to his weird neighbor, Fregley. Or maybe Greg’s best friend, Rowley Jefferson. But it’s not going to be Greg…no way. Will Greg’s plans lead him to sacrifice his one true friend? Can anyone avoid the dreaded Cheese Touch? Grab a hall pass and don’t be late for an adventure familiar to anyone who actually survived middle school. Based on the beloved book series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid comes to life in this new musical filled with laughter, adventure, and a relatable tale of growing up. BroadwayWorld called it, “simply irresistible…take your favorite little ones, middle schoolers, or just go yourself and experience this exciting new musical.”

Currently running through May 12, 2024, at the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park. 

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 at the Cygnet Theatre

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812

Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812, with book, lyrics, and music by Dave Malloy and direction from Sean Murray, plays at the Cygnet Theatre. Adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, this musical had a celebrated run on Broadway and follows Natasha Rostova when she arrives in Moscow to await the return of her fiancé from the front lines. When she falls under the spell of the roguish Anatole, it is up to Pierre, a family friend in the middle of an existential crisis, to pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation. This award-winning musical expands the possibilities for the genre with its daring score and bold storytelling. The New York Times said, “It is both the most innovative and the best new musical to open on Broadway since ‘Hamilton.’” 

Currently running through May 26, 2024, at the Cygnet Theatre. 

Legally Blonde Musical in San Diego

Legally Blonde

Legally Blonde has a book by Heather Hach and music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin. A fabulously fun award-winning musical based on the adored movie, Elle Woods appears to have it all. Her life is turned upside down when her boyfriend Warner dumps her so he can attend Harvard Law. Determined to get him back, Elle ingeniously charms her way into the prestigious law school. While there, she struggles with peers, professors, and her ex. With the support of some new friends, though, Elle quickly realizes her potential and sets out to prove herself to the world. Varietycalled the musical, “a genuinely likable, splashy crowd-pleaser.”

Currently running through June 2, 2024, at the SDMT Stage. 

TL;DR at the Diversionary Theatre

TL;DR: Thelma Louise; Dyke Remix

TL;DR: Thelma Louise; Dyke Remix was a winner of the 2021 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre Writing and has book and lyrics by EllaRose Chary, music and lyrics by Brandon James Gwinn, and direction from Sherri Eden Barber. This world premiere co-production between the Diversionary Theatre and the Moxie Theatre follows T and L as they drive their 1966 Ford Thunderbird Convertible off the edge of the Grand Canyon. Suspended in midair, the two discover their authentic selves and embark on a queer odyssey that defies conventions and dares to ask: “Why do strong female characters always gotta die?” Aided by a kick-ass Riot Grrrl band, T and L attempt to sort out their new identities, how those identities impact their relationships with each other, and seek out the gay happy ending they’ve always deserved.

Currently running through June 9, 2024, at the Diversionary Theatre’s Mainstage Theatre. 

Upcoming Musicals

The Ballad of Johnny and June at La Jolla Playhouse

The Ballad of Johnny and June

The Ballad of Johnny and June, with a book by Robert Cary and Des McAnuff, who also directs, has its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse. Country music royalty Johnny Cash and June Carter remain to this day one of the most famous couples of the 20th Century. Created with the support of the family and told through the eyes of their son John Carter Cash, this new musical covers it all: their childhoods, their 1956 meeting at the Grand Ole Opry, the storied on-stage proposal in 1968, and the soaring highs and whiplash lows of fame, life on the road, addiction, arrests, controversies, marriage, family, and devotion. This is a whole-hearted and clear-eyed telling of one of the most iconic love stories in music history, complete with a soundtrack of beloved hits — I Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, Hey Porter, Jackson, I’ve Been Everywhere and many more. 

Running in May 28 - July 7, 2024 at La Jolla Playhouse.

Camelot at North Coast Rep

Camelot

Camelot has book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, and this production is directed by Jeffrey B. Moss. Prepare for an evening of enchantment at North Coast Rep with CAMELOT, brilliantly adapted for intimate theatres. Written by Lerner & Loewe, this Tony Award-winning fairy-tale musical resounds with such memorable songs as, “I Loved You Once in Silence,” “If Ever I Would Leave You,” and the title song, “Camelot.” Based on the King Arthur legend, it features the iconic characters King Arthur, Guenevere, Sir Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table. This epic story centers on the quest for democracy, justice, and the tragic struggle between passion, aspiration, and kingdoms. Transport yourself to a world of romance, revelry, and magic.

Running May 29 - June 23, 2024 at the North Coast Repertory Theatre. 

Mrs. Doubtfire Musical on Tour

Mrs. Doubtfire

Mrs. Doubtfire: Everyone’s favorite Scottish nanny is headed to San Diego! Rob McClure will reprise his Tony-nominated Broadway performance on tour alongside co-star (and real wife!) Maggie Lakis in this internationally acclaimed hit musical critics call “a feel-good, family-friendly comedy that delivers” (The Hollywood Reporter). Based on the beloved film and directed by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks, MRS. DOUBTFIRE tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. 

Running June 4 – June 9 at the San Diego Civic Theatre.

Finding Nemo, Jr.

Disney's Finding Nemo Jr.

Disney's Finding Nemo Jr: When Marlin, an anxious and overprotective clownfish, learns that his son, Nemo, has been captured, he must face his fears and set off on an epic adventure across the ocean. Along the way, with the help of lovable characters such as the optimistic Dory, Marlin, and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves. See this vibrant underwater world come to life on stage in a story full of family, friendship, and adventure! BroadwayWorld called it, “a splashy good time for the whole family.”

Running June 28 – July 14, 2024, at the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park. 

tick, tick...BOOM!

Tick, Tick...Boom!

Tick, Tick...Boom!, with book, music, & lyrics by Jonathan Larson and direction from Katie Banville, plays at the Cygnet Theatre this summer. Before he electrified the world with Rent, Jonathan Larson was a young man struggling to make his mark in the theater. While he waits tables and seeks his big break, the pressure to give it all up grows as Jon approaches his 30th birthday. Will he sell out to keep the lights on? Will he lose the love of his life? Will he finally write the soaring song that can change everything? And if he does, will anyone be there to see it? Set in 1990 and scored by the music that redefined a genre, tick, tick… BOOM! cracks open the ticking-time-bomb world of creating theater to celebrate the power of finding your voice and holding on to a dream.

Running July 3 – August 4, 2024, at the Cygnet Theatre. 

13 The Musical in San Diego

13 the Musical

13 The Musical has a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. With an unforgettable rock score from Tony Award-winning composer, Jason Robert Brown, (Parade, The Last Five Years, Bridges of Madison County) 13 is a musical about fitting in – and standing out! Evan Goldman is plucked from his fast-paced, preteen New York City life and plopped into a sleepy Indiana town following his parents’ divorce. Surrounded by an array of simpleminded middle school students, he needs to establish his place in the popularity pecking order. Can he situate himself on a comfortable link of the food chain… or will he dangle at the end with the outcasts?!?

Running July 19 – July 28 at the SDMT Stage. 

Mean Girls Musical: High School Version

Mean Girls: High School Version

Mean Girls: High School Version: Cady Heron may have grown up on an African Savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her new home…suburban Illinois! In the halls of North Shore High School, Cady unwittingly infiltrates the most popular and cutthroat clique knows as “The Plastics.” She rises to the top of the popularity pecking order by taking on the ruthless Regina George and learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. Along the way, Cady learns valuable lessons about authenticity, self-acceptance, and the importance of treating others with kindness. With an array of catchy songs and vibrant choreography, Mean Girls will have audiences of all ages dancing in their seats!

Running July 26 – August 11, 2024, at the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park. 

Peter Pan on Tour

Peter Pan

Peter Pan: This high-flying musical has been thrilling audiences of all ages for close to 70 years and is now being brought back to life in a new adaptation by celebrated playwright Larissa FastHorse, directed by Emmy Award-winner Lonny Price and choreography by Lorin Latarro. The adventure begins when PETER PAN and his mischievous fairy sidekick, Tinker Bell, visit the bedroom of the Darling children late one night. With a sprinkle of pixie dust and a few happy thoughts, the children are taken on a magical journey they will never forget. This extraordinary musical full of excitement and adventure features iconic and timeless songs including “I’m Flying”, “I Gotta Crow”, “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Neverland”. PETER PAN embraces the child in us all so go on a journey from the second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning – your entire family will be Hooked!

Running July 30 – August 4, 2024, at the San Diego Civic Theatre. 

The Rocky Horror Show at Cygnet Theatre

Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show

Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show has music, book, and lyrics by Richard O’Brien, music direction by Patrick Marion, choreography by Luke H. Jacobs, and direction by Sean Murray. Cygnet is remounting one of their audiences’ favorite shows! A satirical tribute to the science fiction and B-list horror movies of the 20th century, the show centers around two naïve lovers, Brad and Janet. Seeking shelter from a thunderstorm in an old castle, they find themselves thrust into the laboratory of the cross-dressing mad scientist Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter and his motley crew. Stripped of inhibitions – and their clothes – Brad and Janet embark on a wild, unforgettable journey of pleasure and self-discovery. Reality, fiction, and camp collide in this mash-up of comics, rock and roll, and late-night horror flicks.

Running September 11 – October 20, 2024 at the Cygnet Theatre.

Sweeney Todd in San Diego

Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street has a book by Hugh Wheeler and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. An infamous tale, Sweeney Todd, an unjustly exiled barber, returns to nineteenth century London, seeking vengeance against the lecherous judge who framed him and ravaged his young wife. The road to revenge leads Todd to Mrs. Lovett, a resourceful proprietress of a failing pie shop, above which, he opens a new barber practice. Mrs. Lovett’s luck sharply shifts when Todd’s thirst for blood inspires the integration of an ingredient into her meat pies that has the people of London lining up… and the carnage has only just begun!

Running September 20 – October 20, 2024, at the SDMT Stage. 

Winter Wonderettes in San Diego

Winter Wonderettes

Winter Wonderettes has a book by Roger Bean and includes some of your favorite holiday songs. This seasonal celebration finds the girls entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls use their talent and creative ingenuity to save the holiday party! Featuring great ’60s versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland,” the result is, of course, marvelous! This energetic and glittering holiday package is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages.

Running November 29 – December 29, 2024, at the SDMT Stage. 

Wicked on Tour

Wicked

Wicked, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle.  Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

Running February 5 – March 2, 2025, at the San Diego Civic Theatre. 

3 Summers of Lincoln at La Jolla Playhouse

3 Summers of Lincoln

3 Summers of Lincoln, with book by Joe DiPietro, lyrics by Daniel J. Watts and Joe DiPietro, music by Crystal Monee Hall, and direction by Christopher Ashley, has its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse. Change the conversation. Change the world. Summer, 1862. The bloody conflict that was supposed to last only 90 days has now been raging for more than a year. President Abraham Lincoln must find a way to end the Civil War. Enter powerful abolitionist Frederick Douglass. If he can meet Lincoln face to face, he can help the president cement a vision of the future that ends slavery along with the war — all while preserving the union. Just three meetings took place between the two men — pivotal conversations between two fierce and equally brilliant leaders that shaped the course of history. This gripping new musical marks the sixth Playhouse collaboration between Joe DiPietro and Christopher Ashley (including the hit shows Babbitt, Diana, and Memphis) and they’re thrilled to be joined by composer Crystal Monee Hall and lyricist Daniel J. Watts. Their epic score blends gospel, R&B, powerhouse anthems and Broadway to tell the inspirational story of one of the most important friendships in our nation’s history, and that of a brutally divided country coming together. 

Running in February and March 2025. 

Nearby San Diego Attractions

San Diego Zoo: The San Diego Zoo is located in Balboa Park and is home to more than 4,000 animals. One of the most famous zoos in the country, it is known for its works in conservation, breeding programs, and educational opportunities. Find out more on the San Diego Zoo website

San Diego Symphony: The San Diego Symphony was founded in 1910. This Tier 1 orchestra performs more than 140 concerts each year. Find out what’s on stage now at the San Diego Symphony website

San Diego Opera: The San Diego Opera is located in downtown San Diego and was founded in 1965. In addition to its many performances, it also offers streaming content and theatre tours as well as educational opportunities. Learn more at the San Diego Opera website

Plays in San Diego

San Diego theater has more than just musicals playing on its stages. If you’re looking to buy tickets to a great play, check out our article on the Best Plays in San Diego to find out what shows and upcoming events are running right now and what’s coming soon!

Kathryn Willingham

Head of Creative Development at Jean Doumanian Productions

Kathryn Willingham has worked in entertainment for over ten years, and recent credits include: Co-producer of SHRINK currently streaming on Peacock, Associate Producer of the independent film UNA, and Creative Executive on multiple theatrical productions including HANGMEN by Martin McDonagh on Broadway, NASSIM by Nassim Soleimanpour Off-broadway and Associate on productions EVERY BRILLIANT THING by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe and THE EFFECT by Lucy Prebble. She was Producer of Todd Almond’s musical travelogue “Wyoming and Parts of Kansas” and Production Coordinator for Karen O and KK Barrett's “Stop the Virgens.”


Education: B.A. in English, Literature & Creative Writing from Rhodes College
Knowledge: Theatrical Production

Published

Oct 27, 2024

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