Out of Town: San Diego

What’s happening the next few weeks:

* The Old Globe Theatre could have a new tradition on its hands with its highly publicized musical adaptation of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Dr. Seuss’ classic children’s book now has music by Mel Marvin and book and lyrics from Timothy Mason. Hurry. Only single tickets remain for the pre-Christmas performances. Old Globe Theatre, Simon Edison Centre for the Performing Arts, San Diego, Tues.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 7 p.m.; Wed.-Thur., 11 a.m.; Sat.-Sun., 2 p.m. Also this Friday, Dec. 23-24, 30-31, 2 p.m.; Dec. 24, 31, evening shows at 5 p.m. Dark today, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Ends Jan. 3. $34-$39; age 17 and under, $17-$19.50. (619) 239-2255.

* The San Diego Museum of Art is holding a complementary exhibition of original drawings from “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, along with costume sketches and set models for the Old Globe production. Also, “M.C. Escher: A Centennial Tribute,” a survey of 84 drawings, woodcuts, lithographs and illustrated books drawn from the National Gallery of Art’s collection. Both exhibitions end Jan 3. San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, (619) 232-7931. Tue.-Sat., 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

* The Museum of Photographic Arts is exhibiting the first major touring show of works by Cuban photographer Abelardo Morell. “Abelardo Morell and the Camera Eye” includes three series produced over the last 10 years, including an ambitious project using the optical effects of a camera obscura, a darkened room with one pinhole to the outside world that functions as an aperture. Ends Jan. 31. Museum of Photographic Arts, at Casa de Balboa, 1649 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, (619) 238-7559. Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $4. Children 12 and under free.

* “Stomp,” the all-rhythmic musical show that makes oil drums and cigarette lighters into instruments, plays at the San Diego Civic Theatre Jan. 5-10. Reviewing a 1997 performance at UCLA, The Times’ dance critic Lewis Segal wrote that the show “looks on urban blight as the ultimate creative opportunity and reminds us that art can be made anywhere out of anything.” San Diego Civic Theatre, at the intersection of 3rd and B streets in downtown San Diego. $17-$65. (619) 570-1100.