San Diego's Dazzling Theater and Dance

With dozens of shows developed here and sent on to Broadway glory, San Diego has earned a national reputation as a premier destination for theater. From the La Jolla Playhouse-birthed musical "Jersey Boys," which won multiple Tony Awards and spent 12 years on Broadway, to the Old Globe Theatre-bred megahit "Into the Woods," this city has long been a crucible for great drama. And San Diego is a fertile artistic incubator for dance as well, with numerous top companies calling the region home.

When it comes to live theater, there are more than 150 stages here where audiences can experience the immense pleasures of live performance. On any given night you can choose between a rollicking musical, a thought-provoking drama, a witty comedy or a bold, challenging new play in an intimate setting. There's something for every visitor in this theater-rich region, including downtown's San Diego Theatres — the Balboa Theatre and Civic Theatre — which host a wide variety of nationally touring musicals and more. 

And San Diego has long had a diverse and rich dance scene. You'll find classical, contemporary, ballet, modern jazz, hip-hop, and much more, as our acclaimed dance companies provide a wide spectrum of movement, choreography and truly innovative performance. San Diego dancers are also eager to step outside the studio and present dance in unusual places, from site-specific performances on the trolley to hip-hop in the streets.

It all adds up to a dazzling variety of vibrant live performance, all here for you to take in — with gasps and laughs, tears and cheers — when you visit San Diego.