Sing Along With 'Boys of Summer' at Off Broadway Live

Off Broadway Live, the only intimate theater venue of its kind in East County, opened earlier this year and you can catch their first show, "Boys of Summer," for another two weeks during it's extended run.

VENUE

The former Blockbuster location has been amazingly renovated and transformed into a live Cabaret style theater. The theater is the creation of the artistic duo Bob Schulze and Steve Rolf, local playwrights and performers. Santee has been lacking this kind of entertainment.

The large stage is off-set by dozens of round tables with candles and four chairs, a great place to bring a date for a drink and a show! Now the evening theater serves local coffee from Coffee Corner and a variety of snacks and candy for purchase. They hope to get their liquor license and plan to sell wine and beer and perhaps more food.  Coming soon they will be offering "Chicken Fried Gospel" with brunch on Sunday, southern style. 

SHOW

The sign outside of the theater said "romantic summer baseball comedy" which I found intriguing and was further surprised when I learned it was an original two-man show with song and dance. It turned out to be one of the most entertaining live performances I have been to.

They sang dozens of songs, all of which were popular hits I knew most of the words to and was encouraged to sing along. The energy coming from both actors really brought the two man show to life, without a moment of down time.

The story is funny and heartfelt and the actors are quite talented. The story starts with two sports casters who have a history of rivalry.  They are assigned to work together and become friends. Throughout the show their stories unravel as they reveal their lives through love and baseball. As their rivalry shifts to friendship they begin to depend on one another.

My favorite musical number was "Your Song" by Elton John, which one of the characters sang to his wife on their first date.  Other memorable songs included "Joy to the Worldm" which had me singing along, "Jeremiah was a bull frog!" and "Mustang Sally." They performed many songs throughout the evening that were so fun to sing and dance along to.

The actors' wives were taking tickets and greeting guest. During some of the love songs the men pointed to their wives, so sweet!

Expect many more original and creative performances from this duo in the heart of Town Center Santee.

"Boys of Summer" will be showing until May 19, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee May 19 at 3 p.m. Tickets are priced at $24 ($22 for senior, military and large groups).

Other upcoming shows: Local comedy Hypnotist Chuck Miller is doing one more show on May 14 for only $10 if you reserve your seat. Chicken Fried Gospel,  "Sunday Brunch with a southern Gospel kick," will play each Sunday in June at 1 p.m. "The Dance," a romantic, musical comedy will open in July.

Off Broadway Live, 9490 Cuyamaca Street

Phone (tix): 619-988-LIVE (5483)