by Frank Sabatini Jr.

With the exception of falling leaves and plunging temperatures, San Diego’s autumns aren’t much different from other major cities across America as curtains rise for new, must-see stage productions. Theater in San Diego walks a lively road these days, attracting both fresh and established talent to a sundry mix of venues that might seat you among thousands or merely a few dozen fellow patrons. Our love affair with the live stage is steadfast and duly reflects this year’s playbill of hot picks.

The Women
September 13 through October 26The Old Globe Theatre
Resident artistic director Darko Tresnjak directs an elaborate revival of Clare Boothe Luce’s stylish comedy classic that peers into the pampered lives and power struggles of a group of wealthy Manhattan socialites. The satiric show originally opened on Broadway in 1935, and after more than 650 performances it was adapted for the screen in 1939 by MGM. Call for ticket prices.

The Third Story
September 16 through October 19, La Jolla Playhouse’s Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre
An out-of-work screenwriter from Hollywood’s Golden Age solicits her son to collaborate on a movie script. Their combined imaginations result in a zany mishmash of far-out characters designed to give audiences a humorous sense of life’s foibles and victories. Playwright Charles Busch stars in the production, playing three of the female characters. $29 to $62.

Back Back Back
September 19 thorough October 26, Old Globe Arena at James S. Copley Auditorium A dramatic look into the world of professional baseball unravels as three men battle out their careers and legacies from behind the scenes. The aspiring players discover a world too competitive to rely solely on raw talent, resulting in an explosive and riveting story, hailing from acclaimed writer Itamar Moses. Call for ticket prices.

The Drowsy Chaperone
September 23-28, San Diego Civic Theatre
This fairly new musical comedy has been showered with Tony Awards since opening on Broadway a couple of years ago. The storyline begins when a die-hard theater fan plays his favorite cast album of a 1928 musical about an early Broadway starlet looking to find her true love. The musical suddenly springs to life in the fan’s living room, ushering in troupes of chorus girls and tap-dancing guys in vintage costumes, all giving way to a pair of comedic lovers. $18 to $79.

Candide
September 26, 27 & 28 and October 2, 4 & 5, Birch North Park Theatre
Based on the satirical novella of the same name by French philosopher Voltaire, and originally debuting on Broadway, this Lyric Opera production celebrates a courtship between Candide and Cunegonde as they sing out their differing opinions on marriage. The couple becomes separated when war breaks out in their country of Westphalia, only to meet up again in Paris before sailing off to the New World with a band of pilgrims. $30 to $50.

Tobacco Road
September 30 through October 26, La Jolla Playhouse’s Mandell Weiss Forum
First dramatized for the stage in 1934, Tobacco Road ran on Broadway for more than seven years, shocking audiences with its abrasive humor and lewd overtones. The story, set in Georgia, depicts a family of impoverished tenant farmers estranged by industrialization. In a desperate endgame that is darkly humorous, the family members’ lives are forever changed, resulting in a final act of love that outshines the miseries of their lives. $29 to $62.

Water & Power
October 21 through November 16, The Lyceum
The San Diego Repertory Theatre welcomes the return of Culture Clash, a nationally acclaimed Latino theater troupe that gives us a fictional look into Southern California’s future politics upheld by latinos and whites. The main characters are twin males named Water and Power who juggle scandal and honor after rising to positions of political authority. $18 to $53.

Defending the Caveman
November 11-16,
Balboa Theatre
Writer Rob Becker frames the differences between men and women, and through clever comedy sprinkled with adult content, he bridges the gap. The show ranks as the longest running solo play in Broadway history, having already won the hearts of theatergoers in more than 30 countries. $15 to $72.

The Color Purple
December 2-7, San Diego Civic Theatre
With an original score encompassing jazz, gospel and blues, The Color Purple ranks as one of the most soul-rousing musicals, focusing on the plight of a woman named Celie, who triumphs over tremendous odds to find joy in life and beauty in herself. Presented by Oprah Winfrey, the show is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, written by Alice Walker. $18 to $79.

Balboa Theatre
868 Fourth Ave.
619-570-1100

Birch North Park Theatre
2891 University Ave.
619-239-8836

James S. Copley Auditorium
1450 El Prado
Balboa Park
619-234-5623

La Jolla Playhouse
2910 La Jolla
Village Drive
619-550-1010

Old Globe Theatre
1363 Old Globe Way
Balboa Park
619-234-5623

San Diego Civic Theatre
1100 Third Ave.
619-570-1100

The Lyceum
79 Horton Plaza
619-544-1000

San Diego’s version of Off-Broadway

The San Diego theater scene would not be complete without its own version of “off-Broadway” productions, held in unassuming venues all around town. Smaller budgets and unknown casts don’t necessarily ward off critical acclaim, as many such shows gain lasting respectability. And the performances often come at bargain prices.

No Exit -- An existentialist play originally published in French by Jean-Paul Sartre, in which a few characters probe each other’s sins and desires in a windowless, locked room. September 11 through October 5, at Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd., 619-220-0097.

Hello Dolly! – Aspiring stage performers from San Diego’s theater community belt out this classic production featuring songs from the original musical. October 3,4,5,10,11 and 12. Presented by the Christian Community Theater at the East County Performing Arts Center, 210 E. Main St., El Cajon, 619-588-0206.

Hair Dresser on Fire – A witty romantic comedy that brings together a struggling artist and a handsome, young lawyer. October 26 through November 26 at Compass Theatre, 3704 Sixth Ave., 619-688-9210.

Thicket – Staged in the rounc, this innovative work by Jordan Fuchs features a “sonic environment” involving headphones for each audience member. November 7 and 8, at Sushi Performance and Visual Arts, 320 11th Ave., 619-235-8466.