La Jolla Playhouse

The Theater and Arts Foundation of San Diego County dba La Jolla Playhouse (the Playhouse) is a place where artists and audiences come together to create whats new and next in American Theatre. From Tony Award-winning plays and musicals, to imaginative programs for young audiences, to interactive experiences outside our theatre walls, the Playhouse brings people together to inspire discussion and open pathways to new ways of thinking. A visit to the Playhouse is an invitation to harness the transformative power of theatre to explore the here and now and together, expand our worlds compassion, understanding, and hope.Founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Mel Ferrer, the Playhouse was revived in 1983, and is currently led by 2017 Tony Award-winning Artistic Director Christopher Ashley and Managing Director Debby Buchholz. Playhouse artists and audiences have taken part in the development of new plays and musicals, includingmounting 114 world premieres, commissioning 67 new works, and sending 33 productions to Broadway garnering a total of 38 Tony Awards, including the 1993 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre.In 2021, a task force was formed comprising of Trustees and staff to review the Playhouses mission statement and make revisions to ensure that the mission statement reflects the diversity of art, artists and the artistic vision that has evolved through the 16-year artistic directorship tenure of Christopher Ashley. The revised mission statement was approved by the Board during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021.La Jolla Playhouses mission is to advance theatre as an art form, telling stories that inspire empathy and create a dialogue toward a more just future. With our intrepid spirit and eclectic, artist-driven approach we will continue to cultivate a local, national and global following with an insatiable appetite for audacious work.We provide unfettered creative opportunities for a community of artists of all backgrounds and abilities. We are committed to being a permanent safe harbor for unsafe and surprising work, offering a glimpse of the new and the next in American theatre.Our mission and goals are realized through: Reaching 100,000+ patrons annually, the Playhouses subscription season is comprised of six productions each year, including world premieres and new works, as well as reimagined classics. Our plays reflect a diverse range of voices, theatrical styles, and subject matter, and involve artists and production staff reflective of San Diegos multicultural communities. Without Walls (WOW) is the Playhouses acclaimed immersive and site-inspired theatre program designed to break barriers by moving beyond the boundaries of a traditional four-walled theatre space. The Playhouse regularly commissions and presents site-specific works, as well as its popular annual WOW Festival. New Play Development is fulfilled by supporting the creation of new work and developing artists and companies through such programs as Page To Stage (a full production that allows input from the audience throughout the run during nightly talkbacks), DNA New Work Series (providing artists with rehearsal time, space, and resources, and holding readings and workshops open to the public), a robust commissioning program, the Artist-in-Residence Program (a multi-month residency where artists can develop new projects), and the Theatre-in-Residence Program (a multi-year residency for San Diego-area companies without a permanent home).The Playhouse is dedicated to educational enrichment through the arts, reaching 35,000 people annually through Education & Outreach programs and partnering with San Diego schools/cultural organizations. The Playhouse commissions a new play for students each year and tours it to local schools; places theatre artists into schools for in-school residencies and afterschool programs; invites students to engage in on-site professional theatre experiences; provides training and other educational resources for teachers adhering to standards-based curricula; and provides access opportunities for patrons of all ages. We offer engaging and rigorous summer programming for students in 3rd-12th grade, including technical theatre training and a Conservatory for High School Students. Additionally, the Playhouse invites adult lifelong learners through our Spotlight On program to collaborate in classes in acting, improvisation, musical theatre, and technical theatre.