San Diego Playgoers, a Nederlander company, now has a new name—Broadway/San Diego—and a new season, a 25th anniversary. A record-breaking thirteen touring shows have been booked into the Civic Plaza in downtown San Diego, including Fiddler on the Roof, Cinderella, Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Civil War, Saturday Night Fever, Savion Glover in Foot Notes, Jesus Christ Superstar, Contact, Rob Becker's Defending the Caveman, Swing, The Who's Tommy, Les Miserables and Riverdance—The Show.

Among the stars appearing in these musicals are Theodore Bikel, Eartha Kitt, Gladys Knight, Rob Becker and Larry Gatlin. Seven different subscription packages are available, allowing for savings of up to 28 percent off single ticket prices and savings of up to 54 percent on many series for seniors and students.

The season will kick off March 6-11 with Fiddler, starring Bikel as the humble milkman Tevye. Kitt stars in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, May 29-June 3. R&B star Knight headlines Smokey Joe's Cafe, which will check into the Civic Plaza June 12-17, followed by The Civil War, June 26-July 1, starring Grammy Award winner Gatlin in the Frank Wildhorn musical. Saturday Night Fever is next in a two-week run spanning July 24-Aug. 5.

Foot Notes is tapdancer Glover's new show, which co-stars a team of tap legends. Sept. 4-9. Contact, winner of the 2000 Tony Award for Best New Musical, will run Oct. 2-7, with a return visit of Les Miserables booked for Oct. 23- 28.

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar will strut its stuff Nov. 6-11, followed by Caveman (Nov. 27-Dec. 2), Swing (Dec. 4-9), Tommy (Jan. 6-2002) and Riverdance--The Show (Feb. 26-March 3).Civic Theatre is located at Third & B Streets. For subscriptions call (619) 615-4178; for information call (619) 231- 8995 or visit www.broadwaysd.com

— By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent