World History

You are here: / Events / Historical Threatres / La Jolla Playhouse

La Jolla Playhouse

Sleeping Beauty Wakes at La Jolla Playhouse

Sleeping Beauty Wakes: Performances start July 19, Book by Rachel Sheinkin, Music by Brendan Milburn, Lyrics by Valerie Vigoda, Directed by Rebecca Taichman and Co-production with McCarter Theatre Center. When a father brings his sleeping daughter in to a sleep disorder clinic, staff and patients mysteriously find themselves sharing the same dream. With beguiling characters, hypnotic lyrics, and a rocking score from GrooveLily, this musical about a father, a daughter and an unlikely suitor dives into the magical space between dreaming and waking. For more information, please visit www.lajollaplayhouse.org.

Pelicanb-for-webLa Jolla Playhouse 

Is a not-for-profit, professional theatre-in-residence on the campus of the University of California, San Diego.

Background

La Jolla Playhouse was founded in 1947 by Gregory PeckDorothy McGuire, and Mel Ferrer.  In 1983, it was revived under the leadership of Des McAnuff. Since then, the Playhouse’s repertoire has included forty-four world premieres, twenty-four West Coast premieres, and seven American premieres, and has won more than three hundred honors, including the 1993 Tony Award as America’s Outstanding Regional Theatre. It is supported, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the City of San Diego, and the County of San Diego. It was announced on April 10, 2007 that Christopher Ashley would succeed McAnuff as Artistic Director.

La Jolla Playhouse provides a number of educational opportunities for children, teens, and adults interested in theatre arts, both as performers and behind-the-scenes. In addition, the Performance Outreach Program brings professional productions to schools, libraries, and community centers throughout San Diego.

Among the productions that originated at the Playhouse before finding success on Broadway are The Who‘s Tommy,Matthew Broderick‘s revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingJane EyreDracula, the Musical,Thoroughly Modern MillieCry BabyBonnie and Clyde700 SundaysJersey BoysMemphisPeter and the StarcatcherChaplin and “Hands on a Hardbody”.

La Jolla Playhouse also has many opportunities for children and young adults interested in theatre. High-schoolers can be part of its Education and Outreach program by becoming part of the La Jolla Playhouse Student Board of Trustees. There are additional opportunities through the La Jolla Playhouse Summer Conservatory, Young Performers’ Workshop (YPW), POP Tour, Residency Programs and many other educational workshops and classes.

Page To Stage

La Jolla Playhouse began the Page To Stage program in 2001 to facilitate the development of new plays and musicals, offering audiences the rare opportunity to experience the “birth” of a play and take part in its evolution. As a Page To Stage workshop, a production will feature minimal sets and costumes, and will be revised throughout its entire process, including performances. After the performance, audience feedback sessions will provide insight and suggestion for both the creative team and the actors.

Work

In the five years since the program began, two Page To Stage Productions have gone on to win Tony Awards. Doug Wright‘sI Am My Own Wife won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Leading Actor in a Play (Jefferson Mays); and Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays, a 2004 Page To Stage Production, won the 2005 Tony Award for Special Theatrical Event.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Jolla_Playhouse

PureHistory.org ℗ is your source to learn about the broad and beautiful spectrum of our shared History.