It's the weekend! Celebrate with George Lopez, Chula Vista Ballet and more

Nov. 21, 2019

7 AM

Top events this weekend include Astana Ballet, The Santaland Diaries, Krystyna Hutchinson, The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, Rhett & Link.

11.20-21: Astana Ballet

Welcome dancers from The Republic of Kazakhstan on their first-ever tour of the West Coast. Astana Ballet presents a night of classic and modern repertoire, plus an expressive Kazakh folk dance. (Nina Garin) Spreckels Theatre and California Center for the Arts, astanaballet.com/en

Starting 11.21: The Santaland Diaries

You know it’s hard out here for an elf, and David Sedaris’ bristly comedy —based on his own experiences as Santa’s little helper at a department store —tells you just how. (Runs through Dec. 22)

Diversionary Theatre, University Heights, diversionary.org

11.21-22: Chula Vista Ballet

Principal dancer Misa Kuranaga of San Francisco Ballet is a special guest performing as the Sugar Plum Fairy in this production of the holiday classic.

Joan B. Kroc Theatre, Rolando, tututix.com

11.21-23: Krystyna Hutchinson

Known for: Her comedy duo Sorry About Last Night, co-host of Guys We F**ed: The Anti Slut-Shaming Podcast

The American Comedy Co., americancomedyco.com

Starting 11.22: The Eight: Reindeer Monologues

Turn the yuletide dial to its darkest setting for this adults-only satire that chronicles jealousy, malfeasance, booze abuse and much worse among Santa and his crew. (Runs through Dec . 14)

Point Loma Playhouse, Point Loma, pointlomaplayhouse.com

11.22: George Lopez

Known for: Honest comedy about the Latinx experience, various sitcoms

Balboa Theatre, sandiegotheatres.org

A photo of George Lopez at The 2018 Playboy Jazz Festival in Hollywood

11.22-24: Sam Tripoli

Known for: The Joe Rogan Experience, Punch Drunk podcasts

The Comedy Store, thecomedystore.com

Starting 11.23: Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG San Diego Christmas Show

Here’s something rare at the holidays: An all-new season-themed show —and one with a local spin to boot, in this comic mash-up derived from the Dickens favorite. (Runs through Dec. 24)

Old Globe’s White Theatre, Balboa Park, theoldglobe.org

11.23: Rhett & Link

Known for: Weird food taste tests, Good Mythical Morning

“If you put coconut La Croix under a microscope, it’s just the soul of a coconut complaining that it should’ve been suntan lotion.” — Rhett & Link on Twitter

Harrah’s Resort SoCal, harrahssocal.com

Things To Do Events

Michael Benninger

James Hebert

James Hebert is The San Diego Union-Tribune’s theater critic, and has covered the San Diego arts scene for more than two decades. He earned his master’s degree at Columbia University in New York and worked as a magazine editor in Boston before joining the U-T. Hebert’s awards include a national arts-writing prize from the Society for Features Journalism (for a profile of the choreographer Twyla Tharp), and some two dozen local and regional journalism honors; his work also has been republished in two college writing textbooks. In 2009, Hebert served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama.

Marcia Manna

Marcia Manna covers arts, entertainment and community news for the Union-Tribune.