Balboa Theatre Seating chart

Balboa Theatre, located in San Diego California, is among some of the most famous historic theaters in the US that was also added to the National Register for Historic Places in the late nineties. Built in the early twenties, the theater today hosts performing arts shows and concerts. It has recently hosted performances by Earth, Wind and Fire who are on their Now, Then and Forever Tour; Live Nation’s comedy act Russell Brand on his Messiah Complex Tour; Will Ferrell’s The Comedy Explosion: the Night for Comedy & Big Games Cats; the interactive stage show The Price is Right; and a live performance by American vocal group Under the Street, among other shows. Since the theatre holds a variety of thrilling shows by such high-profile acts, it comes as no surprise to see Balboa Theatre tickets be such a sought-after item for theater-goers.

This performing arts venue was built in 1924, and was initially supposed to be a grand twenties movie palace with sixteen hundred seats. It was designed by William H. Wheeler working for Wurster Construction Co.  It was then converted to and used for housing during the Second World War when the US Navy took residence there. Following the war, it continued its function as the town’s movie theater but it faced tough times ahead. By 1959 it was passed for demolition prior to which it was purchased and transformed into an action house for movies. By 1972, it was finally recognized as downtown San Diego’s historic site but around the same time its doors were shut so that the place remained unused for several years. By 1985, San Diego City bought this extraordinary theatre and decided to restore it to its former glory. After more years of waiting, restoration of the architectural gem was begun in 2005, and after three years the theatre was finally re-opened as the place for concerts and live theater.

Following some extensive renovation and restoration, in 2009 Balboa Theatre redid its Wonder Morton organ from 1929. The organ had previously been moved all the way to Pennsylvania but was brought back and given back to the theatre with a plan of a five years long restoration. It was in fact, the second organ of the theater since the original one was moved to the Fox Theatre in 1929, and now stands in the Copley Symphony Hall.

Forthcoming shows at the theatre include the satirical ‘Spank! Fifty Shades Parody, The Screwtape Letter, ABBA Mania, Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra: The Wynton Marsalis, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and performances by Ann Hampton Callaway, Ramsey Lewis, Siro-A, Joshua Bell, Patti LuPone, The Irish Rovers, Isreal Houghton, Switchfoot, Audra McDonald, Alton Brown Live, Jack Johnson, Chris Cornell, and Russell Brand. Balboa Theatre tickets promise a theater night delight and should not be missed, so make sure to grab them in time.