| 2012/2013 Season |
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A Without Walls Presentation Part Game. Part Theatre. All Taking Place on the City Streets.ACCOMPLICE: SAN DIEGOMarch 26 - April 14Written by Tom Salamon and Betsy Salamon-Sufott ACCOMPLICE: SAN DIEGO offers a completely unique theatrical experience, unlike any found on any stage, taking its audience on an adventure through the city streets. You’ll be sent on a mission, aided by clues and mysterious cast members strewn throughout various locations such as street corners, bars and out-of-the-way spots. Groups of 10 piece together the clues of a meticulously crafted criminal plot and rely on their own street smarts to make it to the end. Who’s in on it? Who’s not? With San Diego’s hip and historic Little Italy district as its stage, ACCOMPLICE is an experience you won't soon forget. 
PAST SHOWS
World-Premiere Musical Hands on a HardbodyApril 27 - June 17, 2012Mandell Weiss TheatreBook by Doug Wright When an auto dealership in Longview, TX launches an endurance contest, ten economically-strapped strangers embark on a journey that puts their hearts, minds and bodies to the test. The contestant that keeps at least one hand on a brand-new hardbody truck the longest gets to drive it off the lot. Only one can win, but for all involved, that truck holds the key to their own private American dream. Featuring a brilliant rock, folk and country score from Amanda Green (High Fidelity) and Trey Anastasio (leader of the improvisational jam band Phish), extraordinary dance numbers from Benjamin Millepied (Black Swan) and a masterful story from Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife, Grey Gardens), this world premiere musical is bound to become an American classic.
Blood and GiftsJune 12 - July 8, 2012By J.T. Rogers Blood and Gifts tells the story of the secret spy war behind the official Soviet-Afghan War of the 1980s. Spanning a decade and playing out in Washington DC, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the play offers up a slice of historical fiction laced with dark humor, as it follows the character of CIA operative Jim Warnock and his struggles to stop the Soviet Army's destruction of Afghanistan. The ground constantly shifts for Jim and his British, Russian and Pakistani counterparts as the political and personal alliances between the men keep changing. In this thrilling, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse, Blood and Gifts depicts the unknown men who shaped one of the greatest historical events in recent history, the repercussions of which continue to shape our world.
Page To Stage Musical The NightingaleJuly 10 - August 5, 2012Book and lyrics by Steven Sater A compelling contemporary musical based on Hans Christian Andersen's classic tale, The Nightingale tells the story of a young emperor in ancient China, whose luxurious but constricted life inside the walls of the Forbidden City is upended by the song of an extraordinary bird that lives beyond his reach. With music of Grammy- and Tony Award-winning pop composer/musician Duncan Sheik, book and lyrics by Tony and Grammy Award winner Steven Sater, and direction by Tony Award nominee and Playhouse favorite Moisés Kaufman, The Nightingale will captivate audiences with its poetic pop sensibility, while engaging them in the process of creating a brand new work.
Special Engagement: David SteinbergThat Could Turn Into Something Big...or NotAugust 16 – 25 | 6 performances only!Written and Performed by David Steinberg Legendary comedian and director, David Steinberg, whom The New York Times has called "a cross between Woody Allen and Lenny Bruce" and "a comic institution all by himself...," is second only to Bob Hope in Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show guest appearances. He produced and directed hit comedies such as Friends, Newhart, Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm for HBO. Now, don't miss his humorous look back and forward at his life in show business during a workshop production of his new one-man show. Follow @David_Steinberg on Twitter.
A Re-Imagined Classic An IliadAugust 11 - September 9, 2012By Denis O’Hare and Lisa Peterson On a bare stage, a storyteller emerges from the back of the theatre to re-tell The Iliad, one of the oldest stories in Western civilization. The elements are familiar -- the 10-year siege of Troy, the Greeks and Trojans locked in a brutal combat, the heroic and final battle between Achilles and Hector. But this storyteller points at something more in the epic text. In this eye-opening version, we are on the front lines of every major war in history, reliving a futile struggle that has replayed itself over thousands of years. An Iliad transports us through time to feel the glory and honor of war -- as well as the loneliness and pain it leaves in its wake.
A Without Walls Presentation Luke Macfarlane inSam Bendrix at the Bon SoirSeptember 24 - October 10 | Martinis Above Fourth 3940 4th AvenueBy Keith Bunin Luke Macfarlane (ABC's Brothers and Sisters) transforms Martinis Above Fourth in Hillcrest into a Greenwich Village nightclub in 1958 - a decade before the Stonewall riots. The drinks and music flow as a young singer and his band take the stage for their last performance before leaving New York City for good. Macfarlane and his band showcase a musical score of American song classics that you won't want to miss.
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Play Directed by Christopher Ashley Glengarry Glen RossSeptember 18 - October 21, 2012By David Mamet Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama, Glengarry Glen Ross is David Mamet’s scorching play about a group of desperate salesmen in a Chicago real estate office. When a contest pits the men against each other, they resort to manipulation, bribery and even theft to keep their jobs. The Darwinian struggle that ensues is a stinging indictment of a culture that rewards the strong, punishes the weak and values success above all else. One of the most influential plays of the 20th century, Glengarry Glen Ross shows Mamet at the height of his literary and dramatic powers. Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley directs this modern masterpiece with a keen eye for the remarkable dialogue and personal defeat at the heart of this story.
World-Premiere Musical Yoshimi Battles the Pink RobotsNovember 6 - December 16Story by Wayne Coyne & Des McAnuff | Music & Lyrics by The Flaming Lips Yoshimi must choose between two boyfriends, but first she's got to take down an army of pink robots. This technological stunner set on a science fiction landscape, features the music of Wayne Coyne and The Flaming Lips, and integrates lights, video and puppetry and innovative technology that has never been seen on stage before. Tony Award-winning director Des McAnuff (The Who's Tommy, Jersey Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar) helms this powerful musical about a young artist who faces the battle of a lifetime.
DNA New Work SeriesJanuary 24 - March 3La Jolla Playhouse announces a new play development initiative, the DNA New Work Series, entailing a six-week period of workshop productions and readings of new plays and musicals, taking place from January 24 through March 3, 2013. The focus of this exciting series is to give established and emerging artists the opportunity to develop a script by providing rehearsal time, space and resources, culminating in a public reading or workshop production. New play development – it’s in our DNA. All projects in the DNA New Work Series take place with little to no scenic, costume or staging elements. You may see actors reading with scripts in hand. This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of the process as new work as it develops. All seats general admission.
LJP Presents The Second City's Laughing Matters TourMarch 20 – 23, 2013Special EngagementLegendary sketch comedy theatre, The Second City, returns with their Laughing Matters Tour, featuring some of the best sketches, songs and improvisations from the company’s 53-year history. The Second City is truly a Chicago landmark and a national treasure, having launched the careers of Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and more. Now comes the next generation of the comedy world’s best and brightest, delivering an evening of hilarious sketch comedy and Second City’s trademark improvisation. Whether it’s ripped from the morning headlines or a classic gem from their archives, The Second City is always a laugh out loud hit. This exciting show takes place in a specially-designed cabaret space in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre. Created by the Playhouse's scene shop artisans for the theatre's 2011 and 2012 Galas, this unique cabaret-style space features multi-level platforms, custom banquettes, as well as a full array of beverages for purchase.
LJP Presents Steam Powered GiraffeMarch 24Special EngagementThe artists behind Steam Powered Giraffe started street busking as their signature robot-like characters in January 2008 in Balboa Park and instantly drew the attention of Southern California. Their act combines the visual of robot pantomime with sketches, pop culture references, improvised comedic dialogue, and of course, original music. From their heartwarming nostalgic melodies to their funky cabaret rock, Steam Powered Giraffe's songs are memorable, infectious and as unique as the robots themselves. More than just a band, Steam Powered Giraffe is an experience that must be seen and heard by the entire family. This exciting show takes place in a specially-designed cabaret space in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre. Created by the Playhouse's scene shop artisans for the theatre's 2011 and 2012 Galas, this unique cabaret-style space features multi-level platforms, custom banquettes, as well as a full array of beverages for purchase.
LJP Presents Steppin’ Out with Ben VereenMarch 29 – 31, 2013Special EngagementSteppin’ Out with Ben Vereen has been dazzling audiences around the world. The show highlights Mr. Vereen’s unique artistry, combining a tribute to Broadway and Frank Sinatra. Featuring hit songs such as “Defying Gravity,” “Stand By Me” and “My Way,” Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen is a contemporary yet timeless journey. The New York Times dubbed him “an old-school song and dance man who never lets up. He wins you over with his sheer energy, good will and showbiz know-how. This exciting show takes place in a specially-designed cabaret space in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre. Created by the Playhouse's scene shop artisans for the theatre's 2011 and 2012 Galas, this unique cabaret-style space features multi-level platforms, custom banquettes, as well as a full array of beverages for purchase.
For questions, please contact the Box Office at (858) 550-1010. All artists and programs subject to change. |