The San Diego Civic Theatre is one of the premiere venues for catching a Broadway play, musical, opera, dance or ballet, concert, comedian and host of other live performance events.
Our founder Todd always lets the team know about the performances he catches there each year as it’s well laid out with a variety of seating options, all allowing for great viewing of the stage.
As we were looking through the newly released 2025 season calendar of events, we were liking the variety with everything from opera and dance to the comedy of Nikki Glaser and Wanda Sykes.
Looking up at the San Diego Civic Theater
A Central Downtown San Diego Location
The location of the theater at 1100 Third Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 in Downtown San Diego’s Core-Columbia neighborhood makes it very centrally located whether you’re headed in from neighborhoods to the north like La Jolla or Del Mar or perhaps Chula Vista in the south. Built in 1965 as a sister theatre to the nearby historic Balboa Theatre built in 1924 as a vaudeville & cinema and refurbished in 2008, the Civic Theatre has a packed calendar of events set for 2025!
And that is what I want to focus on in this article so you and your family can plan ahead and enjoy a performance or two in 2025 at this incredible San Diego theatre!
My 2025 Season Highlights
Let’s have a look at the opera, comedy and Broadway series events on the 2025 calendar.
San Diego Civic Theater Marque
Opera
I’ll be honest and say that I’m not much of an opera girl. But if you are a fan of opera, Richard Strauss’s ‘Salome’ based on Oscar Wilde’s play would be a great choice!
It’s the story of Princess Salome who became obsessed with John the Baptist when he was a prisoner. The story sung in German with English and Spanish subtitles is dark and sure to be very dramatic.
You might also enjoy ‘La Traviata’ which will be here in late April. Set in Paris in the 1800’s. Verdi’s masterpiece follows the story of a young couple in love through their trials and tribulations. Sung in Italian, the performance will feature English and Spanish subtitles.
Comedy
The comedy lineup is exciting with Nikki Glasser being the one I’m most looking forward to seeing. I first saw her on a Netflix special a few years back and she’s since hosted the 82nd Annual Golden Globes. Her humor is quick and adult and makes me laugh every time.
Louis C.K. is coming to the Civic Theatre in December for one night only and he is another very famous comedian I would love to see perform live.
Broadway Series
For my taste, this is where the San Diego Civic Theatre’s Season Calendar really shines! While all of the Broadway shows ahead in 2025 are of interest, two of the shows have been on my list to see for a while. So for me, it’s going to be a big year of performances!
I’m most looking forward to 11 time Tony Award winning ‘Hamilton’, which will be in town from May 6th – May 18th. The musical is the story of Alexander Hamilton as he fights to shape the new nation. For me it’s about the way the story is told with rap, hip-hop, jazz and more that makes this one so innovative to say the least.
Next up would be ‘The Book of Mormon’ here from June 10th – June 15th. The winner of nine Tony Awards, the story of two missionaries is told through comedy which sounds like just what I like.
Enjoy Gaslamp Quarter
For visitors to the San Diego Civic Theatre, a helpful tip could be to arrive early to enjoy the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter nearby. This historic district is filled with trendy restaurants, cafes, and shops, making it a great place to grab a bite to eat or explore before the show.