Curtain calls: October performing arts performances

Performances coming to San Diego in October include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Wicked and the 20th Annual Trolley Dances.

10.2-7: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

The hit Broadway musical about the life of the groundbreaking pop singer-songwriter returns to town on tour, with such indelible King compositions as You’ve Got a Friend and I Feel the Earth Move.

Broadway/San Diego, San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown, 619/858/760.570.1100, broadwaysd.com

10.3-28: Hir

The playwright, performance artist and MacArthur fellow Taylor Mac’s black comedy centers on Isaac, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan who returns to find massive upheaval on the home front.

Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town, 619.337.1525, cygnettheatre.com

10.5-7: 20^th Annual Trolley Dances

The mobile, ever-unpredictable dance event rolls back into town for its 20^th annual collection of performance pieces set at stops along the San Diego Trolley. (That’s one way to transport an audience.)

San Diego Dance Theatre, Various locations around San Diego, 619.225.1803, sandiegodancetheater.org

10.5-11.18: Persuasion

Lamb’s stages the California premiere of this new musical take on Jane Austen’s final work — a story of romance and second chances in early 19th-century England.

Lamb’s Players Theatre, 1142 Orange Ave., Coronado, 619.437.6000, lambsplayers.org

10.5: Rob Lowe: Stories I Only Tell My Friends, Live!

The ’80s Brat Pack heartthrob turned West Wing and Parks and Recreation star hits town in a one-man show that looks at memorable chapters from his life and career — including a certain moment with Snow White at the Oscars.

Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter, 619/760/858.570.1100, broadwaysd.com

10.11-11.4: Actually

This college-set piece by the prolific and highly regarded Anna Ziegler, whose The Wanderers had its world premiere at the Old Globe earlier this year, touches on topics highly relevant to the #MeToo movement.

San Diego Repertory Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown, 619.544.1000, sdrep.org

10.14-11.11: Fade

The women-centered Moxie puts up the local premiere of this piece by the rising Latinx playwright Tanya Saracho about the surprises that ensue when a TV writer forms a bond with a Hollywood custodian.

Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Rolando District, 858.598.7620, moxietheatre.com

10.17-11.17: Holmes and Watson

Jeffrey Hatcher’s play — not to be confused with the upcoming film comedy starring Will Ferrell — centers on puzzling events involving the illustrious (and possibly deceased) Sherlock Holmes himself.

North Coast Rep, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, 858.481.1055, northcoastrep.org

10.20-28: The Marriage of Figaro

The opera launches its 2018-19 season with Mozart’s enduring comic opera about romantic intrigue and madcap misbehavior on the eve of a wedding. Nicholas Brownlee portrays the lovably scheming title character.

San Diego Opera, San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown, 619.533.7000, sdopera.org

10.31-11.25: Wicked

You don’t have to be knocked in the noggin by a falling farmhouse to notice that Wicked remains a pretty big deal. The Broadway hit, a musical sequel to the Wizard of Oz saga, returns on tour for a nearly month-long run.

Broadway/San Diego, San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown, 619/858/760.570.1100, broadwaysd.com