ON STAGE THIS MONTH

THE RADY SHELL AT JACOBS PARK

San Diego Symphony’s new outdoor summer home along San Diego Bay in the heart of the downtown is being hailed as an architectural wonder. The second season at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park will run June through the end of September. From classical concerts to Broadway, jazz, R&B, film and rock, the diverse programming will highlight the city’s worldclass orchestra, showcase some of the world’s top musical talents, and further establish the venue as a vital music destination for the region. “Opening our long-awaited venue last summer — The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park — was an indescribable moment, and it marked a new chapter for the San Diego Symphony, community and region,” said Martha Gilmer, San Diego Symphony CEO. “As we approach the 2022 Conrad Prebys Summer Season, we are ecstatic to be able to bring together Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony with magnificent guest artists across many musical genres, from Joyce Yang to Common, as well as Boyz II Men and Jennifer Hudson. The 2022 summer season will have more concerts than in any previous year. We can’t wait to welcome our public back to our amazing venue this June — a special place where there is truly something for everyone.” The outdoor season will kick off Friday, June 24 with Rafael Payare conducting the orchestra in a West Coast premiere piano concerto by VenezuelanAmerican composer Reinaldo Moya featuring Grammynominated pianist Joyce Yang as well as Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. The weekend will continue Saturday, June 25 with R&B icons Boyz II Men alongside the San Diego Symphony, conducted by Christopher Dragon. It will conclude on Sunday, June 26 with Straight, No Chaser: The

Music of Thelonious Monk

featuring Gilbert Castellanos. “Making music at our new, iconic outdoor home is profoundly joyous and powerful,” said Rafael Payare, the symphony’s music director. “This year marks the venue’s first full season of programming, and we have some incredible works in store — from longstanding traditions of the

Tchaikovsky 1812 Spectacular

and Beethoven by the Bay to performances with wonderful artists like Jennifer Hudson, as well as Flying Lotus and Hiatus Kaiyote. The momentum continues for our city and orchestra; the possibilities are endless!”

theshell.org

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL

Clearglass Productions will present a 2022 Hollywood Fringe Festival production of Cock by Mike Bartlett. Under the direction of Taubert Nadalini. There will only be eight performances at the

Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Davidson/

Valentini Theatre. First performed at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 2011, Cock is the tale of a gay man torn after meeting and falling in love with a woman. Visceral and funny, the play tackles thorny issues rarely seen onstage. Its honest and straightforward exploration of bisexuality suggests that gay or not, people fall in love with those who can give us happiness.

Monday, June 6 through Saturday, June 26 hollywoodfringe.org/projects/7408

TO T, OR NOT TO T? A COMEDIC TRANS JOURNEY THROUGH (T)ESTOSTERONE AND MASCULINITY

Written and performed by acclaimed queer/transgender Tamil-Sri Lankan American actor/writer/comedian Dolor, To T, or Not To T? is an unapologetically bold and hilarious personal autobiographical one-person play. Featuring direction and dramaturgy by Adelina Anthony, the show follows D’Lo’s transformational journey of taking “T” starting from his childhood in Lancaster, California, towards the embodiment of beautiful masculinity. Along the way, the show explores the ways his relationship with his immigrant father, his love for hip hop and feminism, and his chosen family shaped his decisions as both an artist and a human. Commissioned as a workshop production by Dixon Place in New York City in 2017, To T, or Not To T? was initially produced at the Los Angeles LGBT Center.

Saturday, June 25 through Sunday, July 10 at Kirk Douglas

Theatre centertheatregroup.org

JULY 4 SPECTACULAR: THE MUSIC OF QUEEN

This concert promises to rock you! Celebrate the immortal music of one of the most popular, ambitious and beloved classic rock bands ever and salute the Fourth in this one-of-a-kind tribute under the stars. The sonic power of the Pacific Symphony will join forces with a full band to perform Queen classic songs in a combination of passion and power. Joined by a high-energy band and vocalists Windborne, the orchestra performs hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” “Killer Queen,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites the Dust.” The memorable evening will conclude with a sizzling fireworks show. Monday, July 4 at FivePoint Amphitheatre

pacificsymphony.org

INTERSTATE WORLD PREMIERE

East West Players, the nation’s longest-running Asian American theatre and the largest producer of Asian American theatrical works, will host the world premiere of this pop-rock poetry musical. INTERSTATE follows Dash, a transgender spoken word performer who becomes internet-famous along with his best friend Adrian, a lesbian singersongwriter.

“East West Players is incredibly excited to bring the rolling world premiere of INTERSTATE to Los Angeles,” said Snehal Desai, producing artistic director. “It is a groundbreaking new musical. Poignant, smart and very funny, INTERSTATE invites an intersectional conversation in the Asian American community around sexuality, gender and identity. It is also a story about the love between parents and children, friends, romantic partners and the way those bonds are tested for the long haul. It’s an unforgettable road trip, and we are so proud to open this June in tandem with Pride month.”

INTERSTATE is a touching story about how two transgender people at different stages of their journey navigate love, family, masculinity, and finding a community in the era of social media. It tells two stories that eventually intersect. Fueled by the allure of fame and a desire to connect with their community, Dash and Adrian embark on a road trip across America for their first national tour. Their fiercely political and deeply personal music touches Henry, a transgender teenage boy living in small-town Middle America. He finds solace in their art as he struggles with his own identity and family. After blogging about the band and documenting his own gender journey, Henry decides to set out on a quest to meet his heroes in person, hoping to find answers to his own struggles. Thursday, June 2 through Sunday, June 26 at David Henry Hwang

Theater eastwestplayers.org

A CROWD-PLEASING, MUSIC-FILLED, LAUGHOUT-LOUD COMEDY

A good ol’ boy in the Florida Panhandle in desperate need of work finds unexpected success — as a lip-syncing drag queen.

International City Theatre

will present The Legend of Georgia McBride, a crowdpleasing, music-filled, laugh-out-loud comedy by Matthew Lopez. Directed by Jamie Torcellini, The Legend of Georgia McBride stars Taubert Nadalini (This Is Us on NBC, Sterling on HBO) as Casey, who is struggling to make ends meet as an Elvis impersonator at Cleo’s Lounge. Now his wife tells him that she’s pregnant. Not a good time to get fired. But Cleo’s is not doing well, and owner Eddie has replaced Casey’s act with a B-level drag show. Soon Miss Tracey and Rexy are shaking things up at the club. And teaching Casey a whole lot about show business in the process.

“This show is the perfect antidote to the anxiety and stress we’ve all been feeling,” ICT artistic director caryn desai said. “It’s flat out hilarious, with fantastic costumes and fabulous dance numbers. But it’s also quite touching. Audiences are going to love it.” Friday, June 10 through Sunday, June 26 at Long Beach

Performing Arts Center internationalcitytheatre.org