Old Globe Theater Tours

Built in 1935 and modeled after Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, the Old Globe Theatre is one of San Diego’s top performing arts venues. It has produced more than 20 productions that have gone to Broadway and off-Broadway, and earned multiple Tony Awards. Enjoy classic and contemporary works, plus the annual Shakespeare Festival.

The theater, set in lovely Balboa Park, hosts 15 productions each year across three stages, amounting to nearly 600 performances annually. You can purchase tickets online at the Old Globe website or in person at the box office (closed on Mondays). If you’re interested in just admiring the theater from the outside, some Balboa Park walking tours include a stop for photos. For an insider look, 90-minute behind-the-scenes tours are offered on select dates; contact the theater directly for details.

 

The Old Globe Theater is located on Old Globe Way, just north of El Prado in Balboa Park, between the San Diego Museum of Art and San Diego Museum of Man. The main city buses that run through the park are Route 7, Route 120, and Rapid 215.

Most events are held in the evenings. The Shakespeare Festival takes place at the Old Globe’s outdoor stage—Lowell Davies Festival Theatre—every summer. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is another popular annual event. The box office is open from 12pm until the day’s final performance time, or 6pm on nonperformance days, Tuesday through Sunday.

 

The Old Globe is far from the only place for performing arts in Balboa Park. Another favorite venue is the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, a 5- to 10-minute walk south of the Old Globe. Free organ concerts are held outdoors every Sunday afternoon, as well as Monday evenings in the summer.