The Lamb’s Players Theater opened their 2023 season in January with “R-E-S-P-E-C-T,” a celebration of divas and singers from the 1960s.
A staple of Coronado, The Lamb’s Players Theater is running its 29th season after opening in 1994 on Orange Avenue, with a total of four plays comprising this season.
Standing three blocks away from the famous Hotel Del Coronado, The Lamb’s Players Theater resides in the heart of Coronado in the old 1917 Spreckels Building. The stage is set up as a traditional European style amphitheater and seats approximately 250 people. Tickets range from $24 to $92 with discounts for seniors, veterans, active duty military and youths from five to 12 years old.
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T” opened on Jan. 24th, and is spearheaded by Kerry Meads and Vanda Eggington, longtime collaborators, playwrights, and directors at the theater, having previously worked and produced the plays, “Boomers” and “American Rhythm,” which also are about the 1960s.
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T” is a musical journey through the ’60s, immersing the audience in the stories and songs of popular female singers of the era. This is the world premiere of this play and it will run until March 12.
Following the ’60s throwback will be “Outside Mullingar” by John Patrick Shanley, a play about two, young, neighboring farmers who navigate romantic feelings for one another amidst their setting or rural Irish farmland.
In the production, Rosemary is in love with her farmer neighbor, Anthony, a shy young man who relishes farming and yearns to do something other than inherit his father’s farm. Taking place on the other side of the Atlantic, the play stars Coronado locals Deborah and Robert Smyth, as well as Brian Mackey and Rachael VanWormer.
“Outside Mullingar” will be running from April 22 until June 4.
Shifting from rural Ireland to rural Georgia, the Player’s Theater’s next show will be “Cotton Patch Gospel,” a retelling of the life of Jesus, based on the Book of Matthew, set in rural Georgia. Sometimes performed as a one-man show, this musical uses bluegrass music to recount the story of Mary and Joe Davidson, who must move to a new town to avoid income taxes. Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born in a trailer, a young Jesus grows up in the South before collecting his apostles and traveling to Atlanta to spread his holy word and face his fate.
“Cotton Patch Gospel” will be running from June 17 until Aug. 13.
Finally, Lamb’s Players Theater will close out the season with the world premiere of “Jane,” an adaptation of the classic Charlotte Bronte novel, “Jane Eyre.” The play was written by David McFadzean, a prolific Hollywood producer known for producing hit films such as “Bernie” (2011) and “What Women Want” (2000), as well as co-creating the Tim Allen sitcom, “Home Improvement” (1991).
The story follows Jane Eyre, a young woman growing up in England in the late 18th century, who’s first-person perspective and analysis of the British Empire under King George III, provides a strong and lasting social commentary on her time and place. “Jane” will be running from Sept. 30 until Nov. 12.
Performances run Wednesday through Sunday, with evening performances at 7 p.m. through Saturday and 2p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. On Friday evening shows, with the purchase of one regular adult ticket, comes one free complimentary ticket for either youth, young adult, or active military ticket.
Inside Scoop: If you can’t find parking on Orange Avenue, you can park at the Coronado Plaza parking garage and purchase a four-hour parking voucher at Lamb’s Theater for only $10, rather than the usual $20 fee.
