Balboa Theatre Archives

Good Writing: An Evening with Anne Lamott & Neal Allen

Beloved author Anne Lamott has a new book out in March 2026 co-written with her husband, Neal Allen. Based on rules of writing Neal has collected over the years, it’s also a sideways glimpse into how Anne and Neal collaborate on writing, editing, and living together. Together, they bring humor, warmth, and wisdom to audiences seeking relief from political fear, help with roadblocks to creativity, and methods for taming life’s everyday gremlins.

Join bestselling author Anne Lamott and writer-spiritual coach Neal Allen for an inspiring and entertaining evening that will change the way you think about language. Based on their new book In Good Writing, this dynamic onstage presentation offers 36 powerful techniques for transforming worthy sentences into unforgettable ones.

Through lively conversation, humor, and a touch of creative tension, Anne and Neal will walk audiences through essential rules that can instantly elevate any piece of writing—be it a novel, blog post, essay, speech, or screenplay. With Neal’s sharply honed insights from a career in journalism and business, and Anne’s unmistakable wit and wisdom from Bird by Bird and her many bestsellers, the two explore both the fundamentals and nuances of great prose.

Expect a spirited exchange as they dive into tips like “Use strong verbs,” “Twist clichés,” “Draw on all five senses,” and “Give your sentence a finale”—all while sharing real-life examples, practical advice, and the occasional debate. Along the way, they’ll also touch on the realities of the writing life: facing down unfinished drafts, working with editors, and knowing when to bend the rules.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this live event is a must-see for anyone who wants to write more vividly, more persuasively—and with more joy.

Neal Allen is a writer, spiritual coach, and speaker. He is the author of Better Days: Tame Your Inner Critic (Namaste, 2023), and Shapes of Truth: Discover God Inside You, as well as the upcoming Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences with Anne.

Dog Man The Musical

“A howling good time. This show is perfect for everyone.”–Newsday

A Hilarious, Heartfelt Family Adventure!

Based on the worldwide bestselling hit series by Dav Pilkey, Dog Man: The Musical is a hilarious and heartwarming production following the chronicles of Dog Man, who with the head of a dog and the body of a policeman, loves to fight crime and chew on the furniture. But while trying his best to be a good boy, can he save the city from Flippy the cyborg fish and his army of Beasty Buildings? Can he catch Petey, the world’s most evil cat, who has cloned himself to exact revenge on the doggy do-gooder? And will George and Harold finish their show before lunchtime?? Find out in this epic musical adventure featuring the hilarity and heart of beloved characters from Dav Pilkey, the creator of Captain Underpants and Cat Kid Comic Club. Featuring an exciting book and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila, music by Brad Alexander, and original direction and choreography by Jen Wineman.

Dog Man The Musical

“A howling good time. This show is perfect for everyone.”—Newsday

A Hilarious, Heartfelt Family Adventure!

Trinity Irish Dance Company

Under the lead of Mark Howard, founding artistic director/choreographer—and recent inductee into the 2023 Irish American Hall of Fame—Trinity Irish Dance Company (TIDC) makes its debut at ArtPower just in time to welcome St. Patrick’s Day! TIDC has significantly changed the direction and scope of Irish dance, re-introducing the art form as the phenomenon it is today. This uniquely Irish-American company was the birthplace of progressive Irish dance, an innovative movement genre which “ushered in a new era for Irish step dance” (Chicago Tribune), opening new avenues of artistic freedom that led directly to commercial productions such as “Riverdance.”

Ira Glass: Seven Things I’ve Learned

“It’s hard to make something that’s interesting. It’s really, really hard. It’s like a law of nature, a law of aerodynamics, that anything that’s written or anything that’s created wants to be medio-cre. The natural state of all writing is mediocrity… So what it takes to make anything more than mediocre is such an act of will…”―Ira Glass

Ira Glass is the creator, producer & host of This American Life, the iconic weekly public radio program with millions of listeners around the world. Using audio clips, music, and video, Ira Glass delivers a unique talk; sharing lessons from his life and career in storytelling: What in-spires him to create? What drives his passion? How have failures and successes informed his decisions? During his presentation, Ira Glass will mix stories live onstage and help his audience better follow the creative process of one of our foremost storytellers.

An Evening with Fran Lebowitz

“Fran Lebowitz’s trademark is the sneer; she disapproves of virtually everything except sleep, cigarette smoking, and good furniture. Her essays and topical interviews on subjects ranging from the difficulty of finding an acceptable apartment to the art of freeloading at weekend houses have come to be regarded as classics of literary humor and social observation.”—The Paris Review

Author, Journalist & Social Observer

In a cultural landscape filled with endless pundits and talking heads, Fran Lebowitz stands out as one of our most insightful social commentators.

Her essays and interviews offer her acerbic views on current events and the media – as well as pet peeves including tourists, baggage-claim areas, after-shave lotion, adults who roller skate, children who speak French, or anyone who is unduly tan. The New York Times Book Review calls Lebowitz an “important humorist in the classic tradition.” Purveyor of urban cool, Lebowitz is a cultural satirist whom many call the heir to Dorothy Parker.

Lebowitz on frankness: “Spilling your guts is exactly as charming as it sounds.”

Lebowitz on herself: “Success didn’t spoil me, I’ve always been insufferable.”

This is Lebowitz off the cuff. Her writing—pointed, taut and economical—is equally forthright, irascible, and unapologetically opinionated.

Lebowitz was named to Vanity Fair’s International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 2008. She remains a style icon. Lebowitz lives in New York City, as she does not believe that she would be allowed to live anywhere else.

An Evening with David Sedaris

Master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers addressing the human condition, best-selling author David Sedaris returns once again with his acerbic humor, social commentary, and outlandish stories. Slashing through cultural euphemisms and political correctness, he will delight the audience with twists of humor and intelligence as he shares both published stories and works-in-progress.

Come early or stick around post-performance for Sedaris’s legendary book-signing sessions.

COMFORT: An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi

Hosted by San Diego-based Celebrity Chef/Entrepreneur Claudette Zepeda

Spend a delicious evening with Yotam Ottolenghi as he talks about his new book, COMFORT, in this fun and participatory event. Live on stage, Yotam will take the audience through COMFORT, (from eggs, to noodles, to roast chicken, to a wide array of cultural and culinary themes) in conversation with his local host, and will invite the audience to participate in a second half as he prepares one of his dishes. Just as food brings people together, this event combines the culinary innovation of Ottolenghi with suggestions and questions from the audience (that’s you!) to create a one-off live experience. Yotam will undoubtedly share some childhood stories, his passion for layered dishes with bold flavors and colorful ingredients, and his influences from across the world.

About

Yotam Ottolenghi is a celebrated chef and bestselling cookbook author. He is the restauranteur and chef-patron of six London-based Ottolenghi delis, as well as the NOPI and ROVI restaurants. He is the author of ten bestselling and multi-award-winning cookbooks. Yotam has been a weekly columnist for the Guardian (UK) for over sixteen years and is a regular contributor to the New York Times. His commitment to the championing of vegetables, as well as ingredients once seen as ‘exotic’, has led to what some call ‘The Ottolenghi effect’. This is shorthand for the creation of a meal which is full of color, flavor, bounty, and surprise.

In Fall 2024 Yotam Ottolenghi will publish his latest cookbook, COMFORT (published by Ebury in the UK and by Ten Speed Press in the US and Canada). Ottolenghi COMFORT is a celebration of food and home; of the connections we make and pass on as we cook, from place to place and from generation to generation.

Learn more about his tour >

An Evening with Sir Patrick Stewart

Join beloved actor Sir Patrick Stewart for an evening of inspiring conversation in celebration of his long-awaited memoir, Making It So. From his acclaimed stage triumphs to legendary onscreen work in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, Stewart has captivated audiences around the world and across multiple generations. Now, he presents Making It So, a revealing portrait of an artist whose astonishing life – from his humble beginnings in Yorkshire, England to the heights of Hollywood and worldwide acclaim—proves a story as exuberant, definitive, and enduring as the author himself.

The intimate conversation will be facilitated by Barry Edelstein, The Old Globe’s Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director, and is presented by ArtPower at UC San Diego in partnership with Warwick’s Bookstore and the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination.

Books will be available for purchased online or at the venue through Warwicks.

*The first five hundred tickets purchased through the ArtPower website – artpower.ucsd.edu – will include a copy of Making It So by Sir Patrick Stewart.

An Evening with David Sedaris

Come early or stick around post-performance for Sedaris’s legendary book-signing sessions.