Press Releases

Oceanside Theatre Company and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside Offer Free After-School Youth Outreach Theatre Program for Ages 9-19

Auditions for Disney’s Little Mermaid begin August 29 with full stage production at the Brooks Nov. 10-19

The Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) are offering a free theatre program for youth ages 9-19 from August 29 through November 19 at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oceanside and the Brooks Theater. Introducing participants to the magic of the theater arts through the production of Disney’s Little Mermaid, the program will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:45 – 6 p.m. 

Kevin “Blax” Burroughs Appointed Associate Artistic Director of Oceanside Theatre Company

Burroughs to begin work on developing the 2024 Season

Oceanside Theatre Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin ‘Blax’ Burroughs as the new Associate Artistic Director of Oceanside Theatre Company.  In this role, Burroughs will work alongside OTC Artistic Director Ted Leib to support the artistic vision of the organization and programming of the mainstage subscription season, as well as auxiliary programming and other special projects.

Brooks Theater Gallery Presents Largest Exhibit to Date with 68 Pieces from 34 Artists

Animal World Exhibit Runs Through Sept. 13,  Artist Open House Friday, August 4 

Oceanside Theatre Company’s Brooks Theater Gallery presents  Animal World now through September 13. The gallery’s largest exhibit to date, Animal World features 68 pieces by 34 local artists exploring the wild to the domestic. Curated by OTC Board Member Carol Naegele, the works capture the cuteness of critters on canvas from man’s best friend to the winged beauties of the forest to the serenity of the sea dwellers. “The art was so incredible that I just couldn’t say no,” said Naegele. “It will be an amazing exhibition.”

Laugh and Learn with Improv at the Brooks North County’s New Home for Improv

Oceanside Theatre Company is launching Improv at the Brooks to bring improvised comedy to North County

Oceanside Theatre Company is excited to announce the launch of Improv at the Brooks, a multi-faceted program of improv classes, workshops and performances. The aim is to build an improv community that fosters creativity, confidence, and well-being by making Oceanside Theatre Company at the historic Brooks Theater North County’s new home for improv.

Oceanside Theatre Company Presents Youth Performance 13, The Musical July 14-16

A Grown Up Musical About Growing Up

Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) is thrilled to announce its upcoming youth performance of 13, The Musical, showcasing the talents of actors ages 9 to 15. This vibrant coming-of-age comedy-drama serves as the culminating experience for the OTC Youth Summer Camp, where participants have been immersed in the world of theatre, exploring various aspects of performance, design, and tech.

Billie! Backstage with Lady Day Returns to Oceanside Theatre Company’s Brooks Theater for One Weekend Only on July 28-30

Synthia L. Hardy brings the story of Billie Holiday to life in vibrant show

Intimate. Intense. Visceral. Playwright, actress, and singer Synthia L. Hardy returns to the Brooks Theater for one weekend only in Billie! Backstage with Lady Day on July 28-30, 2023. Her award-winning one-woman show about Billie Holiday, one of the greatest jazz and blues performers of all time, received glowing reviews in its 2022 San Diego Premiere. 

Oceanside Theatre Company to Honor Kathy Brombacher with Inaugural Lifetime Theatre Achievement Award

Award to be presented at OTC’s “Sunshine Soiree by the Sea” Sept. 16

Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) is thrilled to announce that Kathy Brombacher, a renowned theater and cultural arts leader, has been selected as the recipient of its inaugural Lifetime Theatre Achievement Award. This honorable award has been created by OTC to recognize exceptional excellence in the field of theatre throughout Southern California. Brombacher, Emeritus Artistic Director/Founder of Moonlight Stage Productions and a respected Freelance Director/Theatre Educator, will be presented with this distinguished honor at OTC’s “Sunshine Soiree by the Sea”  Saturday, September 16, where her lifelong impact on the theatre community will be celebrated.

Oceanside Theatre Company Presents Welcome to Sleepy Hollow by North County’s Heather Megill on October 6-29

(Oceanside, CA) Trills, thrills, and romance! Oceanside Theatre Company presents Welcome to Sleepy Hollow, a hauntingly romantic musical written by Oceanside playwright Heather Megill and directed by Kandace Crystal on October 6-29, 2023 at the Brooks Theater. This thrillingly updated version of the classic tale with the headless horseman features a contemporary musical theater score with a steampunk aesthetic.

Oceanside Theatre Company Gives Back with Military Matinee for Good People on Sunday, May 14

Veterans and active members of the military can sign up for two free tickets to OTC’s Military Matinee performance of Good People on Sunday, May 14 at 2 pm at the Brooks Theater in downtown Oceanside using the code “OTCBlueStar” through OceansideTheatre.org.  An emotional, heartfelt drama broken up by poignant moments of laugh-aloud humor, Good People by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire is the story of a reunion between old friends from South Boston, one who has just been fired from yet another job and another who has found success as a doctor. The Military Matinee program is Oceanside Theatre Company’s way of acknowledging the contributions of the armed forces to Oceanside’s community and thanking those who serve.

Oceanside Theatre Company Presents Art, Comedy, Mother’s Day Sips and New Classes in May 2023

(Oceanside) May 3, 2023 – Ever dedicated to being a hub for the arts in San Diego’s North County Oceanside Theatre Company has an exciting line up of events this month! We’re also excited to announce the addition of morning yoga and senior dance classes. 

Artist Open House: “The Art of Friendship” – Friday, May 5, 5-8 pm

Brooks Theater Gallery presents “The Art of Friendship,” an art exhibit featuring works from 18 artists in honor of OTC’s production of Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire. The free artist open house on May 5 from 5-8 pm will feature an artist demonstration, live music, light refreshments and mini-tours of the theater. Visitors will take trips through the costume and prop room, the tech loft, the main stage, the makeup room, the studio, and the shop, while discussing some of the history and mystery of the Brooks Theater.

Oceanside Theatre Company Presents Homecoming with San Diego Poet Laureate Jason Magabo Perez April 27

An evening of poetry and storytelling in honor of National Poetry Month

San Diego Poet Laureate Jason Magabo Perez comes home to Oceanside on Thursday, April 27 at 7 PM to share his work in the city where he grew up. In honor of National Poetry Month, Magabo Perez combines storytelling and poetry to connect to his community and audiences. He will be joined by up to three other local poets and end the program with a question and answer session moderated by OTC Board Member and local activist Jimmy Figueroa. A graduate of El Camino High School and proud alumnus of Oceanside public schools, Magabo Perez is currently an Associate Professor and Director of Ethnic Studies at CSU San Marcos. Much of his work stems from his experience growing up in Oceanside as a Filipino-American and child of immigrants. His readings at Oceanside Theatre Company draw from his two hybrid collections of poetry and prose: Phenomenology of Superhero and This is for the mostless. Tickets can be purchased through OceansideTheatre.org or by calling the box office at 760-433-8900. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for general admission.

Sandy Campbell Makes Her Directorial Debut in Oceanside Theatre Company’s Good People May 12-28, 2023  at the Brooks Theater in Downtown Oceanside

Tony-nominated play by David Lindsay-Abaire is a heartfelt dramedy

Long-time San Diego actress, Sandy Campbell is taking on a new challenge with her directorial debut of Oceanside Theatre Company’s Good People by David Lindsay-Abaire, an emotional, heartfelt drama broken up by poignant moments of laugh-aloud humor. Having most recently worked as assistant director on The Children at the Moxie Theater, Campbell has won multiple San Diego Critics Circle awards for her acting and has worked at most of the theaters in town including the Old Globe, Moonlight, San Diego Rep, and La Jolla Playhouse. Her husband Danny Campbell joins her in this new endeavor as Associate Director.

Oceanside Theatre Company Springs into Fun with a Full Calendar of Events in April

From portraiture at the gallery to a homecoming show for San Diego’s poet laureate, Oceanside Theatre Company offers a vast array of arts events at the historic Brooks Theater. Get ready to laugh your way into April Fools’ Day with the hilarious Rob Haze! “Face 2 Face: Portraits and Self-Portraits” will be on exhibit March 29 – May 1 and feature 39 pieces by 24 different artists. Mad Strange returns for an all female lineup with a DJ, four musical acts and several vendors in the theater lobby. Richard Lederer returns to OTC for a night of Shakespeare. Nominated for ”Best Rock Artist” at the San Diego Music Awards, Daring Greatly blends multiple genres including soul, rock, and Americana into a vibrant master class performance rich with incredible vocal harmonies and passion. San Diego Poet Laureate Jason Magabo Perez comes home to Oceanside on Thursday, April 27 at 7 PM to share his work in the city where he grew up. Shane Hall partners with Blake Dean from the band Mrs. Henry to perform an intimate acoustic tribute to the sounds of the 90s.

Small Theatres Join Forces to Improve Their Odds of Success

It’s not easy being a small theatre company. Putting on quality professional theatre is expensive. Putting on a musical, which requires extensive rehearsal, choreography and personnel, is even more costly.  That’s why two local professional theatre companies, Oceanside Theatre Company and Scripps Ranch Theatre, have teamed up to bring North County a bigger, better production than either could separately. Lucky Stiff is a frolicking musical romcom full of hilarious hijinx in which English shoe salesman Harry Witherspoon agrees to take his dead uncle’s corpse on vacation to Monte Carlo in hopes of winning his inheritance – which it turns out was  embezzled from his uncle’s girlfriend’s husband. The musical farce, written by the Tony-award-winning writing team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and directed by Moonlight Theatre founder Kathy Brombacher, offers audiences a wonderful sense of escapism. It also requires actors to sing, dance, change the sets, and play multiple characters with a variety of accents. A production of this complexity takes extensive rehearsal time – and time is money. Much of a theatre’s budget goes to staffing.

Oceanside Theatre Company Opens 2023 with Musical Farce, Lucky Stiff 

An absurd musical full of misfits and miscreants trailing along after a dead man on holiday, Lucky Stiff, written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, is “Weekend at Bernie’s” meets “You’ve Got Mail!” A co-production of Oceanside Theatre Company and Scripps Ranch Theatre, Lucky Stiff tells the story of Harry, an English shoe salesman who receives the unexpected news that he has inherited a fortune from his late Uncle Anthony, on the condition that he takes his uncle’s dead body on a special trip to Monte Carlo. If Harry refuses to fulfill all of his uncle’s last wishes exactly, the inheritance will go to the Universal Dog Home of Brooklyn. It doesn’t help matters that Rita, Tony’s lover with whom he embezzled $6 million behind her husband’s back, and her brother Vinnie, who she blamed for the crime, have their own schemes to get at the money. Based on the novel The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo by Michael Butterworth, Lucky Stiff is a life-affirming comedy served up with a dash of danger featuring romance, disguises, farcical chases, and an omnipresent corpse. 

Generational Black Pioneers: Oceanside Theatre Company and Oceanside Historical Society Honor Local Black Entrepreneurs on February 11, 2023

“Generational Black Pioneers – Featuring Oceanside Entrepreneurs” recreates poignant moments throughout the 140 years of this seaside military town’s  history through non-fictional narratives and theatrical dramatization based on the lives of the community’s black leaders. Presented by Oceanside Theatre Company and Oceanside Historical Society, the event takes place on February 11 at 7:30 pm at the Brooks Theatre, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside. Tickets are $15 and available at www.oceansidetheatre.org, or by calling the box office at (760) 433-8900.

Cheryl Ehlers “Mirrors in My Mind” – Artist Open House at the Brooks Theater Gallery on February 3

Brooks Theater Gallery presents a free Artist Open House for its new one-woman art exhibit of Cheryl Ehlers’ “Mirrors in My Mind” on February 3 from 6-8 pm at the Brooks Theatre Gallery in Oceanside. “Mirrors in My Mind” is a reflection of Ehlers’ artistic journey – what she has seen or what has had an impact on her, such as the need to protect the ocean by showing its beauty. The exhibit exemplifies the thoughtful aspects of her art, while incorporating strong colors for strong emotions. This event will offer a chance to watch Ehlers work on a new piece, listen to live music by students and teachers from Giacoletti Music, and take a behind-the-scenes mini-tour of the theater. Light refreshments and a cash bar will be available. Come mingle, mix and enjoy amazing art and live music!

Oceanside Theatre Company & Six String Society Add Matinee Performance of The 27 Club Due to Popular Demand

Oceanside Theatre Company and Six String Society add matinee performance of The 27 Club, a rock concert honoring the musical legends from The 27 Club on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 4 pm at the Brooks Theatre, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside CA 92054. Tickets are $25 for General Admission, $35 for Preferred Seating and $100 for VIP Meet & Greet, available at OceansideTheatre.org and 760-433-8900. Imagine some of the biggest legends in music history performing together in concert – Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Amy Winehouse, among others. The Six String Society’s 27 Club illuminates the lives and music of this infamous group of musicians, in which all the members died tragically at the age of 27. For one day only, these stars are brought to life by talented local musicians.

Oceanside Theatre Company Announces 2023 Subscription Season

A musical farce full of miscreants. A heartwarming dramedy exploring hard choices. Trills, thrills, and romance. A hilarious holiday experience. Oceanside Theatre Company’s 2023 season offers a chance to smile and laugh over life’s absurdities, hardships, horrors, and traditions with a splash of comedy in every show.  Tickets range from $20 for Preview Nights to $45 for Opening Night with Season Subscription and Group Rates available. They can be purchased through OceansideTheatre.org or by calling the Box Office at 760-433-8900.

Oceanside Theatre Company & Six String Society Present  Swedish Queen of Swing Gunhild Carling on January 13, 2023

Sweden’s Queen of Swing, Gunhild Carling, sings, dances, and plays over 10 instruments including trombone, trumpet, recorder, bagpipe, harmonica, drums, and piano sometimes all in one song! Born to a family of musicians in 1975, Carling’s home life was filled with a variety of artistic endeavors including acting, circus tricks, dance, music, Vaudeville, and novelty. Carling became infatuated with jazz music and instruments at a young age and is now one of the world’s truly great jazz performers.

Oceanside Theatre Company Set to Grow in 2023

As Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) looks forward to a new year of growth, the resident company of the Historic Brooks Theater adds six new members to its board of directors, the largest influx of board leadership in the 12-year history of the organization. A multi-talented group of individuals, including educators, public accountants, program managers, and community advocates, the new additions to the board of directors are a step towards OTC’s commitment to expanding and diversifying its governing body spearheaded by its first Interim Managing Director Alex Goodman who was hired in April 2022.

Oceanside Theatre Company and Six String Society Announce 2023 Oceanside Music Series: Live! at the Brooks

Oceanside Theatre Company (OTC) and Six String Society present “Live! at the Brooks,” featuring an eclectic series of nine concerts that will take place throughout 2023 at the historic Brooks Theater in downtown Oceanside. With local and national acts, ranging from blues to jazz, from soul to gospel, and from rock to hip hop, this enthralling musical collaboration promises to surprise and delight a variety of audiences.

Oceanside Theatre Company & Megill & Co Present Not Your Normal Nutcracker Featuring Dance for Every Body December 16-18 and More December Events to Fill the Holidays

Megill & Company’s Not Your Normal Nutcracker flips the script on the classic holiday favorite in this gender fluid, body positive performance set to musical selections from Tchaikovsky. Choreographed and starring Oceanside native Beth Megill as a 40-something Clara, who dreams of being a star, this whimsical modern jazz theater production brings to life an imaginary world filled with life-sized rodents, a melting snow kingdom, and a land of sweets comes to life. Audiences will not see dancers like these in your traditional Nutcracker performance. The Snow Queen is 7 1/2 months pregnant — one of two dancers expecting in the new year. The Nutcracker Prince is portrayed by a woman. One gender non-conforming dancer portrays both male and female roles. Best of all, there are tutus for almost everyone, since the men in the cast wear tutus and dresses along with the women in the corps de ballet.

Black Rootedness, A Poetry Reading

Transcontinental Poetry Event Builds Community Across Cultures

An exploration of the themes of Mother Land, Home, The Middle Passage, The New World, Collective Memory, Love, and The Journey Home, Black Rootedness, A Poetry Reading builds community across continents through verse. Inspired by the anthology Black Rootedness: 54 Poets from Africa to America, edited by Karla Brundage of the West Oakland to West Africa project, this poetry reading features writers from California to Kenya. Join Karla Brundage and Oceanside’s Rameses Setekh of Sown in Truth Orations as they host on Saturday, December 10 at the Oceanside Theatre Company at the Brooks, 217 N. Coast Hwy, Oceanside. Gather early for complimentary coffee by Coffee Beards and Bowties and to purchase treats from local black-owned Bliss Tea and Treats at 10 am followed by the poetry reading at 11 am. Tickets: $10 in advance, $15 door. OceansideTheatre.org.

Oceanside Theatre Company, Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside to Present Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr.

Sixty-three students ages 8 to 18 will perform in Disney’s Beauty & the Beast, Jr. program as part of the annual Youth Outreach program underwritten by the Oceanside Theatre Company and the Boys and Girls Club of Oceanside. This free program introduces participants to the magic of the theater arts during a 3-month long after-school program. Culminating in eight performances – six for the general public and two school performances –  this tale as old as time comes to life on November 11-20, 2022 at the Brooks Theater in the heart of the Oceanside Cultural District.

The Bus Ride; Home:
The Buses Are Here, Our Heroes Ain’t On ‘Em, Stories from Children of Revolution 

The Bus Ride; Home: The Buses Are Here, Our Heroes Ain’t on Em is an art exhibition fundraiser showing at the Sunshine Brooks Theater. All proceeds will go towards the opening of the Creative Sols Ark, a community and cultural center in Oceanside, California with a mission of offering a safe space for systemically underprivileged individuals to gain positive opportunities in education, activism, and community building.

Oceanside Theatre Company Presents San Diego Premiere of Billie! Backstage with Lady Day September 23 – October 2 at the Brooks Theater

The two-act play, written by Synthia L. Hardy and directed by Bryan Rasmussen, which premiered at The Whitefire Theater in 2010 and has enjoyed annual encore performances in Los Angeles, combines storytelling and song to capture the essence of Billie Holiday’s music and life. In the first act, Holiday prepares for her show while answering the questions of two unseen reporters. Hardy as Holiday entwines her biography and explanations of the inspiration for and history of her music with performances of her popular numbers. In the second act, Hardy embodies Lady Day, (a nickname given to Holiday by musician Lester Young), in a concert of her hits that includes “’Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do” and “Willow, Weep for Me.”

Musical Visionary David Arkenstone and an All-Female String Quartet to Perform Magical Candlelit Concert at The Brooks 

As part of its Music Series, Oceanside Theatre Company will host musical storyteller, contemporary composer, and instrumentalist David Arkenstone and friends for a candlelit concert at the historic Brooks Theater in downtown Oceanside on Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. He’ll be accompanied by a percussionist and an all-female string quartet. Available online at OceansideTheatre.org or by calling the box office at 760-433-8900, tickets are $25 general admission, $20 for students, seniors, and active military with ID, and $45 for VIP seating in first two rows which includes a lanyard and laminate, a free CD, and a signed photograph. 

Linguist Richard Lederer Illuminates Language Essentials in Presentation and Book Signing Benefiting Oceanside Theatre Company

(Oceanside, CA) – San Diego Union-Tribune language columnist and author of more than 60 books, Richard Lederer will give a lecture and sign books at the historic Brooks Theater in downtown Oceanside on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. In his comedic take on the ever-evolving English language, Lederer, known as Dr. Grammar Guy, illuminates essential grammar and usage for avoiding potentially awkward miscommunications. Laugh and learn about terminal prepositions, split infinitives, the utility of the serial comma, and “they” as a third-person singular pronoun. If you’ve ever had to ask if someone was talking about their non-binary child or multiple children – you will relate!