By Kristen Nevarez Schweizer
April 22, 2025
Tucked away in the heart of Solana Beach, North Coast Repertory Theatre is a jewel box of a venue that has delivered four decades of theatrical experiences. NCR Artistic Director David Ellenstein (who is also the artistic director of Laguna Playhouse) knows exactly who NCR is—and, more importantly, who it serves. Loyalty to the local audience is proven in the balance of time-tested classics with the thrill of new ideas. The result? A year of high-caliber storytelling that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
North Coast Rep will kick off the season is the world premiere of Beside Myself (Sept. 10–Oct. 5, 2025), a surreal comedy from Paul Slade Smith, whose previous works have made national waves. Directed by Ellenstein himself, this sharp and witty play explores identity and modern anxiety with a twist—what happens when a revolutionary medical procedure results in two versions of one woman battling for control? It’s a wild, poignant ride that promises the kind of smart comedy North Coast Rep audiences have come to love.
Their San Diego premiere of Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground (Oct. 22–Nov. 16, 2025) will feature Tony Award winner John Rubinstein. This gripping one-man show, set in Gettysburg, offers an intimate look at a towering figure in American history. Critics have complimented the blend of historical gravitas and personal vulnerability.
The holiday season brings back the popular musical comedy 2 Pianos 4 Hands (Dec. 11–31, 2025), which has delighted audiences across North America. Richard Todd Adams and Max Roll lead the show, playing everything from Bach to Billy Joel while sharing the universal trials of childhood music lessons. Both hilarious and heartfelt, this production is a perfect holiday treat.
Three more world premieres follow in 2026, beginning with Louisa Gillis (Jan. 14–Feb. 8), a psychological family drama by Joanna McClelland Glass. Then comes a high-energy adaptation of The Maltese Falcon (Mar. 4–29), where five actors transform into a city full of characters in a dazzling display of noir and slapstick. Spring brings Beau Jest (Apr. 22–May 17), a warm and witty Jewish-American rom-com about tradition, family, and finding love in unexpected places.
Summer lights up with a new staging of The Most Happy Fella (June 3–28), a delightful musical set in Napa Valley, followed by Molière’s riotous Scapin (July 22–Aug. 16), reimagined with modern flair and lightning-fast physical comedy. North Coast Rep has always excelled in its French farce choices, and Scapin will likely continue their hot streak.
With a space that brings audiences just feet from the action and a lineup that delivers both comfort and challenge, it’s the kind of theater that makes you feel like you’re watching Broadway—without ever leaving the coast.
