This review was originally published in the Long Beach Post , a nonprofit news organization, on February 19, 2026. From left: Monika Peña (Aldonza), Richard Bermudez (Don Quixote) and Reggie De Leon (Sancho Panza) in Musical Theatre West's "Man of La Mancha." Photo by Sujan Creative. Miguel de Cervantes’ 1605 novel “Don Quixote” tells the story of a nobleman who becomes a knight errant, traveling the land doing chivalrous deeds with his more realistic sidekick Sancho Panza —

From left: Norbert Leo Butz (Paul Child) and Christina Kirk (Julia Child) in "The Recipe" at La Jolla Playhouse (Photo by Rich Soublet II) A commissioned work by Tony-nominated playwright Claudia Shear, La Jolla Playhouse’s world premiere of “The Recipe” tells the story of how rebellious Pasadena native Julia McWilliams became masterful French cook Julia Child, based on Bob Spitz’s 2012 book “Dearie.” Beginning with her time at Smith College, the two-act play covers Julia’s s

Ann Noble (Richard) in "Richard III" at A Noise Within (Photo by Craig Schwartz) A Noise Within theatre company has a knack for making old plays seem new. William Shakespeare’s historical tragedy “Richard III” is no exception, not least due to casting Ann Noble in the title role. Her performance as the ruthlessly manipulative would-be king is riveting, heightening our emotional investment in this gruesome tale of royalty behaving badly. Directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos with a