The best things to do this week in San Diego: April 27 to May 1
Here are some of the best things to do this week in San Diego, from Monday, April 27 to May 1.
Check back Wednesday for our guide to things to do this weekend.
Monday
Final day of San Diego Book Crawl: The San Diego Book Crawl runs through Monday at 15 area bookstores. Crawlers who spend $10 or more at any shop will receive a stamp on their passport while suppl. Prizes (while supplies last) will be awarded at different levels based on the number of stamps accumulated throughout the three-day event. Store hours vary by location. Free to participate, but participants who spend at least $10 at participating shops are eligible for prizes. sdbookcrawl.com/home, instagram.com/sdbookcrawl/
“La Resurrezione” & Songs of Faith: Cinballera Entertainment’s April Salon is a concert featuring Handel’s first Italian oratorio, along with spirituals, oratorio, hyms and opera. 7 p.m. Monday. Villa Montezuma Museum, 1925 K St., San Diego. $25. cinballera.org
“Mano a Monologue”: Write Out Loud presents David Fenner performs this autobiographical solo play about the biggest “misses” in his life. 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Dottie Studio Theater, Cygnet Theatre at the Joan, 2880 Roosevelt Road, San Diego. $30. writeoutloud.ticketspice.com/mano-a-monologue
Tuesday
Free Music 101 series: The La Jolla Music Society continues its free Music 101 Lecture Series, featuring Michael Gerdes, director of orchestras at San Diego State University and a longtime guest lecturer for the company. This month's lecture is on Purple Rain: Color as the Joy of Listening. 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday. RSVPs are encouraged. The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Ave., San Diego. theconrad.org
Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky and his Artaserse Ensemble: San Diego Early Music Society closes its season with this program of cantatas and concertos by Scarlatti, Galuppi, Porpora and Vivaldi. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. St. James By-The-Sea, 743 Prospect St., La Jolla. $30-$60. 619-291-8246, sdems.org
“Alien Girls”: The Old Globe presents the world premiere of Amy Berryman’s sci-fi-enhanced story of the up-and-down friendship between two female friends over several decades. 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through May 10. Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $41 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
“Fences”: The Old Globe presents August Wilson’s 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a 1950s working-class Black man whose hopes and dreams have been limited by racism, missed opportunities and his own mistakes. 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays. Through May 3. Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, Balboa Park, San Diego. $40 and up. 619-234-5623, theoldglobe.org
Wednesday
Moonlight opens 45th season: Moonlight Stage Productions opens its 45th anniversary season with the San Diego regional premiere production of "The Cher Show," with performances at 8 p.m. April 29 through May 16. 1250 Vale Terrace Drive. Gates open for picnicking and dining at 6:30 p.m. moonlightstage.com.
Thursday
Trinity Theatre New Works Festival: Trinity hosts its fourth annual production of new plays by 10 emerging playwrights. Each will receive a staged reading performed by local actors broken up over four days, from Thursday through May 3. The plays include John Busser’s “Helping Hand,” James Selledy’s “De La Casa,” Robert Weibezhal’s “Out of the Woods,” Ashley Siflinger’s “Date Play,” Sara Ilyse Jacobson’s “Shadows Dark and Deep,” William Keenan’s “Spin Cycle,” Steven Oberman’s “Moon Rock,” Maxine Levaren’s “Double Shot” and Connie Terwilliger’s “Nothing But the Truth.” Full schedule and play details available online. 1640 Camino Del Rio N, Suite 129, San Diego. 619-500-4985, trinityttc.org/fourth-annual-new-works-festival
“The Play That Goes Wrong”: Lamb’s Players Theatre presents the San Diego professional premiere of this London-born stage comedy about a troupe of theater actors struggling to get through a performance while the everything collapses around them. 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through June 7. 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado. $48-$98. 619-437-6000, lambsplayers.org
Friday
Leslie Jones: Stand-up comedian Leslie Jones is a voice actor behind popular animated movies "A Sloth Story," "The Angry Birds Movie 2" and "Sing." She's also been an Emmy-nominated TV star as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live." Her current comedy tour is titled, "Did You Forget? She's Leslie F-ing Jones!" 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Mic Drop Comedy, 8878 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego. $49. micdropcomedysandiego.com
Star Wars concert: Days before Star Wars Day, May the Fourth Be With You, The Rady Shell is hosting a special concert of "Star Wars: A New Hope." The San Diego Symphony Orchestra will perform John Williams' Oscar-winning score as the film is shown. The public will have two opportunities to watch this galactic show. 7:30 p.m. Friday. 6:30 p.m. Sunday. 222 Marina Park Way, San Diego. $68-$173. theshell.org
Riverdance: This 30th anniversary tour revives the show’s famed original choreography, with new dance numbers, new costumes and performers including four-time World Champion Irish dancer Keeva Corry and Australia's competitive Irish dancers and brothers Will and Kieran Bryant. 7:30 Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1110 Third Ave., downtown. $56-$147. broadwaysd.com
Wildflower Show: The Julian Woman's Club will put on its annual Wildflower Show. The show features wildflowers from seven regions in and around Julian. The clubhouse will be adorned with artwork by local students, and there will be hand-crafted items for sale, including a quilt to be raffled off. Proceeds go to the club's scholarship fund and community projects. 1 to 4 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Town Hall, 2129 Main St. Admission is free. Visit julianwomansclub.org.
Taco Fest and music: SoCal Taco Fest is back in Mission Bay teaming up with SeaWorld San Diego's Viva La Música. Viva La Música runs Fridays through Saturdays, May 1 through May 17, with live performances from top Latin artists. May 2-3. seaworld.com/san-diego/events/viva-la-musica/viva-la-musica-concerts.
“Within the Context of Time: May-ling Martinez and Coralys Carter”: Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presnts this two-person exhibit exploring memory, time and family history. Artists’ reception, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday. Opens Saturday and runs through July 25. 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. ljathenaeum.org/upcoming-exhibitions
“Blue Marigold”: TuYo Theatre presents Mabelle Reynoso’s magical realism-inspired play about a teenager who travels to the Mexican Land of the Dead to find answers about her late father. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday; Bayfront Charter High School, 830 Bay Blvd., Chula Vista. $10-$15. tuyotheatre.org/blue-marygold
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This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 12:02 PM.