Visit La Jolla Playhouse
About the La Jolla Playhouse
You may have been to twenty Broadway shows, or you may have only stepped inside a theater once in your entire life. Either way, La Jolla Playhouse is home to incredibly thought-provoking shows and wonderful events year-round. It’s filled with a rich history, has close ties within the community, and hosts incredible, award-winning shows that continue to impress audiences. The team and community here put amazing amounts of effort into the design, practice, and showcasing of each component of the show, which you’ll get to experience when the curtain opens!
Background of La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse was founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Mel Ferrer—names you may well recognize.
It was revived in 1983 under the leadership of Des McAnuff, who served as Artistic Director from 1983 to 1994. From 2007 to 2025, the Playhouse was led by Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, and is currently led by two-time Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone. All of these individuals have been on a mission to advance theatre as an art form, telling stories that inspire empathy and create a dialogue toward a more just future, as well as become internationally renowned for producing plays that continue to surprise and surpass limits.
This mission has certainly been upheld to this day. Shows and plays performed at La Jolla Playhouse have mounted 132 world premieres, commissioned 70 new works, and sent 37 productions to Broadway—earning 42 Tony Awards, including the 1993 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Numerous plays have gone on to Broadway, such as The Outsiders, Come From Away, Jersey Boys, Memphis, Bonnie and Clyde, and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, among many others.
What’s the Venue at La Jolla Playhouse Today?
One thing we particularly love about this theater is the number of plays it has showing at one time and throughout the year. New shows are constantly in the lineup, and La Jolla Playhouse utilizes multiple stages and venues to host productions.
Other Events at La Jolla Playhouse
Regular showgoers may be surprised to discover other events hosted here at the Playhouse that they weren’t aware of. Some of these include:
Innovation Night
Combine extraordinary theater with networking—this event brings together industry professionals from around San Diego in one place.
WOW Festival
La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW Festival is four days of “fearless and fun activations that electrify our creative city” (BroadwayWorld). Launched in 2013, the WOW Festival has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated cultural events, celebrated for its bold, participatory experiences designed for audiences of all ages. The festival invites visitors to explore surprising, one‑of‑a‑kind moments—from interactive performances to immersive encounters that blur the line between artist and audience.
The Annual Gala
Every year, this exclusive night gives theater lovers the ultimate way to enjoy and contribute to the Playhouse. Tickets go toward a welcome reception (complete with cocktails), an exquisite meal created by renowned chefs, cocktails with dinner, and desserts and dancing after an incredible performance. The most wonderful part? Because the Playhouse is a nonprofit, all proceeds from your ticket go toward funding Playhouse programs and opportunities.
Good to Know
If at La Jolla Playhouse itself, parking is $2.25 per hour (maximum $9) until 11 pm. (This is a time that’s difficult to go past, as the latest shows are typically at 7:30 pm or 8 pm.) When pulling into a spot, just make sure to note the spot number before heading to pay for parking—you’ll need it!
If you or any members of your party are hearing‑impaired, La Jolla Playhouse provides special hearing‑impaired headphones to ensure the full experience. Simply ask a staff member where to pick them up before the show.
Giving & Volunteering
If you truly love theater and want to do more than just attend shows, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved at the Playhouse. Learn more on their website: lajollaplayhouse.org
Planning a Date?
For art and theater lovers, we’ve created the itinerary for the ultimate date in La Jolla. See how to plan it at our blog: The Ultimate Art Lovers’ Date in La Jolla
The image at the top of this article is from The Outsiders performance, courtesy of La Jolla Playhouse.
Named after Pearl Street in La Jolla, Pearl is the unofficial mascot of the various elves on the daily news desk at LaJolla.com. We’re writers, editors, and people who work on websites; sometimes so many people work on one project that no one feels like they should take the credit.