LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE

Since its establishment, La Jolla Playhouse has produced 56 world premieres, as part of its mission to advance theatre as an art form and provide a vital social, moral, and political platform and unfettered creative opportunities for the leading artists of today and tomorrow.

Bonnie & Clyde

Book: Ivan Menchell
Music: Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics: Don Black
Director: Jeff Calhoun
Performance Dates: November 10 - December 20, 2009, Mandell Weiss Theatre

Creditors

Adaptor: Doug Wright, from the play by August Strindberg
Director: Doug Wright
Performance Dates: September 29 - October 25, 2009, Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre

Restoration

Playwright: Claudia Shear
Director: Christopher Ashley
Performance Dates: June 23 - July 19, 2009, Mandell Weiss Forum Theatre

Peter and the Starcatchers

Book by Rick Elice
Music and Lyrics by Wayne Barker
Directors: Roger Rees & Alex Timbers
Choreography by Kelly Devine
Performance Dates: February 13 - March 8, 2009, Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre

The Third Story

Playwright: Charles Busch
Director: Carl Andress
Composer: Lewis Flinn
Performance Dates: September 16 - October 19, 2008, Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre

The Night Watcher

Playwright: Charlayne Woodard
Director: Robert Egan
Performance Dates: July 1 - 27, 2008, Mandell Weiss Forum

Cry-Baby

World Premiere
Based upon the Universal Pictures film written and directed by John Waters
Book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan
Songs by David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger
Choreography by Rob Ashford
Directed by Mark Brokaw
Performance Dates: November 6 – December 16, 2007

Most Wanted

A Page To Stage Workshop Production
Music by Mark Bennett
Book by Jessica Hagedorn
Lyrics by Mark Bennett and Jessica Hagedorn
Directed by Michael Greif
Performance Dates: October 2 – October 14, 2007

The Deception

Carmen

Book by Sarah Miles
Music by John Ewbank
Lyrics by AnnMarie Milazzo
Directed by Franco Dragone
Performance Dates: June 5 – July 22, 2007

cCulture Clash's Zorro in Hell

Zhivago

World Premiere
Book by Michael Weller
Music by Lucy Simon
Lyrics by Michael Korie and Amy Powers
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performance Dates: May 10 – July 9, 2006

The Scottish play

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Lee Blessing
Directed by Melia Bensussen
Music by Michael Roth
Performance Dates: September 20 – October 23, 2005

Palm Beach, the screwball musical

World Premiere
Book by Robert Cary and Benjamin Feldman
Music by David Gursky
Lyrics by Robert Cary
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performance Dates: May 31 – July 17, 2005

Private Fittings

The Inaugural Production of the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre
World Premiere Adaptation by Mark O’Donnell
Written by Georges Feydeau
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performance Dates: February 22 – March 27, 2005

Jersey Boys

World Premiere
Book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice
Music by Bob Gaudio
Lyrics by Bob Crewe
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performance Dates: October 5, 2004 – January 16, 2005

Fräulein Else

World Premiere co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Translated and Adapated by Francesca Faridany
Adapted from the novella by Arthur Schnitzler
Directed by Stephen Wadsworth
Performance Dates: June 10 – July 13, 2003

Eden Lane

World Premiere
Written by Tom Donaghy
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performance Dates: August 12 – September 14, 2003

Beauty

World Premiere
Written and directed by Tina Landau
Performance Dates: September 16 – October 19, 2003

A Feast of Fools

World Premiere
Written by Geoff Hoyle
Original Music by Gina Leishman
Directed by Richard Seyd
Performance Dates: June 11 – July 14, 2002

When Grace Comes In

World Premiere co-production with Seattle Repertory Theatre
Written by Heather McDonald
Directed by Sharon Ott
Original Music by David Van Tieghem
Performance Dates: July 30 – September 1, 2002

Wintertime

World Premiere co-production with Long Wharf Theatre
Written by Charles L. Mee
Directed by Les Waters
Performance Dates: August 13 – September 15, 2002

Adoration of the Old Woman

Be Aggressive

World Premiere
Written by Annie Weisman
Directed by Lisa Peterson
Performance Dates: July 24 – August 26, 2001

Diva

World Premiere
Written by Howard Gould
Directed by Neel Keller
Performance Dates: September 13 – October 14, 2001

Dracula, the Musical

World Premiere, based on the novel by Bram Stoker
Book and Lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black
Music by Frank Wildhorn
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performance Dates: October 9 – November 25, 2001

Sheridan or Schooled in Scandal

World Premiere
Written by David Grimm
Directed by Mark Brokaw
Performance Dates: July 18 – August 20, 2000

Thoroughly Modern Millie

World Premiere Inspired by Richard Morris’ Original Story and Screenplay
Book by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan
New Music by Jeanine Tesori
New Lyrics by Dick Scanlan
Directed by Michael Mayer
Performance Dates: October 10 – December 10, 2000
*Subsequently produced on Broadway, The Marquis Theater, April 2002. Received six 2002 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Actress, Best Featured Actress, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, Best Costume Design.

Wonderland

World Premiere
Written by Chay Yew
Directed by Lisa Peterson
Set Design by Rachel Hauck
Costume Design by Joyce Kim Lee
Lighting Design by Geoff Korf
With Tsai Chin, Joel de la Fuente, Alec Mapa, Sab Shimono
Performance Dates: September 14 – October 17, 1999, Mandell Weiss Forum

Dogeaters

World Premiere
Written by Jessica Hagedorn
Directed by Michael Greif
Performance Dates: September 9 – October 11
*Subsequently produced at the Joseph Papp Public Theater, February 2001

Harmony

World Premiere
Music by Barry Manilow
Book and Lyrics by Bruce Sussman
Directed by David Warren
Performance Dates: October 7 – November 23, 1997

2.5 Minute Ride

World Premiere
Written by Lisa Kron
Directed by Lowry Marshall
Performance Dates: September 24 – October 27, 1996
*Subsequently produced at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre, March 1999

Boy

World Premiere
Written by Diana Son
Directed by Michael Greif
Performance Dates: June 11 – July 14, 1996

An Almost Holy Picture

World Premiere
Written by Heather McDonald
Directed by Michael Mayer
Performance Dates: September 12 – October 15, 1995
*Subsequently produced in Baltimore, February/March 1999 and on Broadway, Roundabout Theater, February 2002

Randy Newman's "Faust”

World Premiere
Book, Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman
Directed by Michael Greif
Performance Dates: September 19 – October 29, 1995
*Subsequently produced at Goodman Theatre in Chicago (September 20 – November 2, 1996)

The Good Person of Setzuan

World Premiere
Written by Bertolt Brecht
Adapted by Tony Kushner
Directed by Lisa Peterson
Original Music and Lyric Adaptation by David Hidalgo and Louie Perez
Performance Dates: July 26 – August 28, 1994

Luck, Pluck & Virtue

World Premiere
Written and Directed by James Lapine
Based upon A Cool Million by Nathaniel West
Performance Dates: July 27 – August 29, 1993

Le Petomane – A Comedy of Airs

World Premiere
Conceived by The Flying Karamazov Brothers and Robert Woodruff
Written by Paul Magid
Le Petomane’s Act Written by Howard Jay Patterson
Directed by Robert Woodruff
Performance Dates: June 10 – July 12, 1992

fFortinbras

World Premiere
The Inaugural Production of the Mandell Weiss Forum
Commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Lee Blessing
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performance Dates: June 18 – July 28, 1991

Life During Wartime

World Premiere
Written by Keith Reddin
Directed by Les Waters
Performance Dates: June 6 – July 29, 1990

Don Quixote de La Jolla

World Premiere
Written by Eric Overmyer
Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' novel Don Quixote
Original Conception by Geoff Hoyle
Created in Collaboration with Robert Dorfman, Geoff Hoyle, Gina Leishman, Ellen McElduff, Stan Wojewodski, Jr.
Directed by Stan Wojewodski Jr.
Performance Dates: August 7 – September 16, 1990, The Warren Theatre

The Grapes of Wrath

A La Jolla Playhouse presentation of a Steppenwolf Theatre Company production
Based on the Novel by John Steinbeck
Adapted and Directed by Frank Galati
Performance Dates: May 9 – June 17, 1989
*Subsequently produced at London's Royal National Theatre and at Broadway's Cort Theater;
Broadway production presented on PBS's "American Playhouse" (March 22, 1991)

Nebraska

World Premiere
Written by Keith Reddin
Directed by Les Waters
Performance Dates: June 20 – July 30, 1989
*Subsequently produced by Chicago's American Blues Theater and New York City's Naked Angels Theatre

Dangerous Games – Two Tango Pieces

World Premiere
A La Jolla Playhouse, American Music Theater Festival and Spoleto Festival U.S.A. production
Music by Astor Piazzolla
Lyrics by William Finn
Book by Jim Lewis and Graciela Daniele
Conceived, Choreographed and Directed by Graciela Daniele
Performance Dates: June 27 – August 6, 1989, Mandell Weiss Theatre
*Moved to San Francisco’s Bayview Opera House (September 1989) and Broadway (October 10 – 21, 1989)

Down the Road

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Lee Blessing
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performance Dates: August 8 – September 17, 1989
*Subsequently produced by Humana Festival/Actors Theatre of Louisville (March 1991)

80 Days

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Music and Lyrics by Ray Davies
Book by Snoo Wilson
Directed by Des McAnuff
Conceived by Ray Davies, Des McAnuff and Snoo Wilson
Inspired by Jules Verne's novel, Around the World in Eighty Days
Performance Dates: August 23 – October 9, 1988

Two Rooms

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Lee Blessing
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performance Dates: June 21 – July 31, 1988

Shout up a Morning

World Premiere
Music by Julian and Nathaniel Adderley
Lyrics by Diane Charlotte Lampert
Book by Paul Avila Mayer and George W. George
Based on a Libretto and Lyrics by Peter Farrow
Directed by Des McAnuff
Performance Dates: May 27 – June 28, 1986
*Moved to Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, Summer 1986

World Premiere Performances for Children

Produced as part of the Performance Outreach Program (POP) Tour.

Each year the Playhouse Performance Outreach Program (POP)
Tour brings a bold new play conceived and created by world-class artists to children of San Diego. Introduced in 1987 by Playhouse then-Artistic Director Des McAnuff with the goal of reaching those
throughout San Diego who do not have the resources to see live theatre, the POP Tour production travels throughout the county,
touring schools, libraries and community centers.

Designed to fit into a van, the set, costumes and props can be unloaded, placed in the space, and in just twenty minutes, ready for children to watch. Playwrights create a 40-minute creative, theatrically interesting and innovative piece that will inspire the imagination and curiosity of the young people in this community.

POP Tour: West of the 5

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Sunil Kuruvilla
Directed by Jackson Gay
Performance Dates: January 23 – March 11, 2006

POP Tour: Bay and the Spectacles of Doom

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Julia Cho
Directed by Robert Castro
Performance Dates: January 24 – March 12, 2005

POP Tour: Guitar

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Julia Jordan
Directed by Daisy Walker
Performance Dates: January 26 – March 6, 2004

POP Tour: The Breeze, the Gust, the Gale and the Wind

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Hilly Hicks
Directed by Dan Fields
Performance Dates: January 25 – March 15, 2003

POP Tour: Ladybird: The Life and Time of a Roller Derby Queen

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Luis Alfaro
Directed by Robert Castro
Performance Dates: January 25 – March 15, 2002

POP Tour: The Origin of Corn / El Origen de Maíz

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Ralph Lee
Directed by Ralph Lee
Performance Dates: January 26 – March 16, 2001

POP Tour: Alice’s Wild Ride

World Premiere, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Written by Karen Hartman
Directed by Patrick McBride
Performance Dates: January 24 – March 10, 2000

POP Tour: The Flimflam Man

Adapted by Melanie Marnich, commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse
Directed by Patrick McBride
Performance Dates: January 19 – March 12, 1999

POP Tour: Maricela de la luz Lights the World

By José Rivera
Directed by Neel Keller
Performance Dates: January 21 – March 15, 1998

POP Tour: The Man who had no Story

A Musical Adventure for Young Audiences
Written and adapted by Oana-Marie Hock
Directed by James Martin
Performance Dates: 1989

POP Tour: Silent Edward

Book, Music and Lyrics by Des McAnuff
Directed by David Warren
A professional, Equity Theatre for Young Audiences production, created to develop a tradition of quality theatre for children in San Diego. A special La Jolla Playhouse engagement played Dec. 27 – 31, 1987 in The Warren Theatre, UCSD. First tour in spring of 1988 played to more than 20,000 San Diego area school children, parents, teachers and friends. A second tour ran in the fall of 1988, and played to more than 10,000.