thursday, aug. 30
The Mystery Plays
Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, Alfred Hitchcock and The Twilight Zone, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa’s The Mystery Plays is comprised of two intertwined, spine-tingling one-acts. In the first – The Filmmaker’s Mystery – a young horror film director survives a train disaster only to be haunted by a passenger he met briefly while on board. The second entry – Ghost Children – finds an attorney descending on her hometown to face off with the man who brutally murdered her parents and sister. Borrowing stylistically from the realms of horror, psychological thriller, graphic novel and even the medieval ‘mystery play,’ Aguirre-Sacasa’s distinctively singular work wrestles with the profound mysteries of death, the afterlife, religion, faith, and forgiveness in a uniquely American way.
Ion/Blkbox Theatre, 3704 Sixth Ave. in San Diego, 8 p.m., general admission $33, 619-600-5020, iontheatre.com
friday, aug. 31
Perfume De Gardenia
Perfume De Gardenia is a play written by Francisco Oyanguren and has been seen by more than one million people. It tells the story of Gardenia Peralta, a talented young woman who is repressed by her evil Aunt Sonia Robles.
This work is produced by Mexican Omar Suarez and has a star cast of movie and television stars, as well as being set by the International Single Santanera Sonora. The complete production of Scent of Gardenia is visually stunning with more than 60 artists on stage and a two-story stage accompanied by LED screens.
Valley View Casino Center, 3500 Sports Arena Blvd. in San Diego, 8:30 p.m., tickets from $59, 619-224-4171, valleyviewcasinocenter.com
saturday, sept. 1
SoCAL Music Festival
Three of the biggest and best-known entertainment companies, McFarlane Promotions, Inc., RMD Group and Eventvibe.com have joined forces to stage the ultimate party this Labor Day weekend! Sept. 1 will mark the launch of the inaugural SoCAL Music Festival, bringing the Southern California lifestyle to the streets of San Diego’s East Village. This all-day festival will include four music stages featuring DJ’s and live bands as well as interactive art exhibits displayed throughout the streets.
Downtown East Village, Ninth Avenue and Park Blvd. in San Diego, 2 p.m. – midnight, tickets $40, 619-233-5008, socalfestival.com
sunday, sept. 2
1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular!
It’s San Diego Symphony’s Summer Pops spectacular, whata-way-to-go, season finale: Tchaikovsky’s thunderous 1812 Overture complete with booming cannons and brilliant fireworks. The festivities also feature a bright young cellist, Julian Schwarz, performing Tchaikovsky’s beautiful Rococo Variations.
Embarcadero Marina Park South, 206 Marina Park Way in San Diego, 7:30 p.m., tickets from $18, 619-235-0804, sandiegosymphony.org
monday, sept. 3
Explor-o-rama – Get Your Hands On Science
The Fleet’s newest main gallery exhibition combines some all-time favorites with never-seen-before interactive exhibits from San Francisco’s Exploratorium. This collection features opportunities to explore mechanics, motion, math, hearing, electricity and many other interconnected areas of science – sometimes all at the same time!
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado in Balboa Park, 10 a.m.- 7 p.m., adult admission $11.75, 619-238-1233, rhfleet.org
tuesday, sept. 4
Slash
British American musician and songwriter, Slash, is best known as the former lead guitarist of hard rock band Guns N’ Roses. Named by Time as runner-up on their list of “The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players” in 2009 Slash has released two solo albums, Slash (2010), featuring an all-star roster of guest musicians, and Apocalyptic Love (2012), recorded with his band.
House of Blues San Diego, 1055 Fifth Ave. in San Diego, 7 p.m., tickets from $46, 619-299-2583, houseofblues.com
wednesday, sept. 5
Belinda Carlisle featuring Men Without Hats
Best known as lead singer for the band the Go-Go’s, California native Belinda Carlisle began her musical career as a drummer for the punk band the Germs before co-founding the Go-Go’s in the early ’80s. The band scored a number of hits before breaking up in 1985, prompting Carlisle to embark on a successful solo career, which she continued throughout the ’90s and 2000s.
4th & B, 345 B Street in San Diego, 8 p.m., tickets from $25, 619-231-4343, 4thandbevents.com v
