Where does the Festival take place?

Without Walls Festival takes place in and around the La Jolla Playhouse Theatre District, on the campus of UC San Diego and local neighborhood.

What are the hours of the Festival?

Below is a schedule of when performances take place:

• Friday, October 9, 11:00am-11:00pm
• Saturday, October 10, 11:00am-11:00pm
• Sunday, October 11, 11:00am-10:00pm

What Can I Expect?

The Without Walls Festival is a three-day event of site-specific and immersive theatre, music, dance and family events taking place in and around La Jolla Playhouse, the UC San Diego campus and local neighborhood. It is presented by La Jolla Playhouse and features work by premier local, national and international artists.

Site-specific performance refers to any production that is performed outside of a traditional theatre space. At the WoW Festival, you can expect to see shows in such varied locations such as a Eucalyptus grove (Queen of Carthage), on a tennis court (Three Sisters) or on a loading dock (Romulus Kilgore’s Mobile Happiness Bazaar). Because many performances are outdoors and may require some walking, casual clothing and walking shoes are recommended. Hats and sunscreen are recommended for warm days.

You should plan to spend several hours, or even a full day, to experience the full range programming the Festival has to offer – whether to take in a complimentary performance like The Spheres, enjoy live music in the Festival Village or just relax with new friends and enjoy a beer. It is recommended to purchase tickets in advance as many productions may sell out, although there will are several free performances that you can enjoy without tickets. Convenient services such as an on-site restaurant, beverage bars and restrooms will be available.

Is WoW a kid-friendly event?

Yes! There are several performances and events for families offered every day of the Festival.

Family-friendly performances include The Spheres (all ages), Flock of Flyers (all ages), Gnomesense! A Happening in the Garden (all ages), The Adventures of Heartman (all ages), Seven Butterflies (ages 6 and up) and Dances with Walls (ages 6 and up).

On Saturday and Sunday, the Playhouse is proud to partner with the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum in Escondido (SDCDM) to bring their whimsical hands-on outdoor experiences ART GARDEN and FORT BUILDING for children of all ages (from 0 – 100).

Saturday is Family Day and features the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum activities, plus additional exhibits from the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA), the Mingei International Museum and the Timken Museum.

For an extra-special experience, join the Society of Creative Thinkers!  

Click here for more information on all family-friendly events.

Will there be ATMs?

No. Credit and debit cards will be accepted on-site for performances. Please bring cash – some food vendors accept cash only.

Where do I park?

There are several parking options that are described in detail on the parking page
Click here to visit the parking information page

Is there valet parking available?

Complimentary valet parking is provided for VIP Pass holders.
Click here to visit the VIP Pass page

Valet parking is also available day-of for a fee of $15/day.
Click here to visit the parking information page

Where is the nearest bus stop?

La Jolla Playhouse is conveniently located on MTS Bus Route 30 (weekdays) and Route 41 (Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays)

How does the Festival shuttle service work?

Complimentary shuttle service will be available for all performances outside of the Festival Village. Shuttle pick-up and drop off are conveniently located on the corner of Scholar’s Drive and Revelle Drive in the Festival Village. Shuttles run approximately every 20 minutes. Return shuttle service is provided from the performance location back to the Festival Village.
Shuttle Service is provided to the following remote shows:
Hurtling
Heaven on Earth
Three Sisters
Queen of Carthage

Is the Festival wheelchair accessible?

The Festival Village is wheelchair accessible and all productions have either a wheelchair accessible track or an alternate viewing option. Please advise box office personnel of wheelchair access needs at the time of ticket purchase so that we can ensure a the best possible experience during your visit.

Is the Festival accessible for blind, low-vision patrons?

With the exception of Healing Wars, each performance takes place in a non-traditional, mostly outdoor performance space around La Jolla Playhouse, UC San Diego and the local neighborhood. Our assisted listening devices are theatre specific and unable to be used in these alternative spaces. However we will provide an audio described performance of Healing Wars on Saturday, October 17 at 2:00 pm in the Forum Theatre.

Is the Festival accessible for deaf, hard-of-hearing patrons?

Healing Wars offers an open-captioned performance on Sunday, October 11 at 2:00 pm and an ASL-interpreted performance on Saturday, October 17 at 2:00 pm. Other recommended productions: The Spheres, Dances with Walls and Gnomesense: A Happening in the Garden! are non-verbal performances with music.

Will there be public restrooms?

There will be several public restrooms available on site. These are a mixture of existing restrooms and portable facilities.

Will there be food and drink options on site?

Yes, there will be several food and drink options for purchase throughout the run of the festival. Please bring cash – some food vendors accept cash only.

Are dogs allowed at the WoW Festival?

We are animal lovers at the Playhouse, but they may be disruptive during live performance. We kindly ask that you leave all pets at home.

Ticketing Information

Are tickets required to attend the Festival?

Tickets are required for specific Festival productions and are conveniently priced from $10 - $29. Several productions are free and there is no cost to enter the Festival Village Friday - Sunday.
Click here to visit the ticket purchase page

Do you offer discounted tickets?

Students save $5 on all WoW productions. Select the student pricing at checkout. Tickets will be held in Will Call and a Student ID is needed for pick up.

There are also savings when you purchase multiple productions. Buy 2 shows and receive a 10% discount, buy 3 or more shows and receive a 20% discount. This discount is only valid when purchasing multiple productions. Your discount is automatically applied at check out.

WoW ticket packages include a 20% discount. Buy packages here.

I'm planning to attend the Festival with a group. What's the best way to get tickets?

Please call the box office at (858) 550-1010.

Will there be tickets sold at the event?

There will be tickets sold on-site at the Potiker Theatre Box Office during the Festival. Tickets will not be sold at entrance points of individual performances.

How can I find out the duration of the performance?

Performance durations are listed on the production page of individual shows as well as on the Festival Schedule distributed on-site.

Are there performance packages?

We are offering a VIP pass, which is good for all three days of the festival. The VIP pass includes three tickets to performances of your choice as well as other unique benefits. Please visit the VIP Pass page for more information.
Click here to visit the VIP Pass page

Various ticket packages are also available
Click here to visit Ticket Packages page

Where do I pick up my tickets?

If you have pre-purchased tickets, please pick them up at the Will Call booth located at the entrance to the Festival Village. The Potiker Box Office will be open during festival hours for patrons to purchase new or additional tickets.

What methods of payment are accepted at the main box offices?

All major credit cards, cash and personal checks are accepted.

Can I exchange or get a refund for my tickets?

All ticket sales are final. Tickets cannot be exchanged. No refunds or cancellations. Should you lose or misplace your tickets, Patron Services can reprint them for you.

Further Information

Are there volunteer opportunities at the Festival?

Absolutely! We would love to have you involved! If you are interested in volunteering for the WoW Festival, please visit our Volunteer page and give us some information about yourself so we can contact you with volunteer opportunities.
Click here to visit the volunteer page

I am a member of the media, who do I contact?

Please contact Becky Biegelsen, Public Relations Director at (858) 550-1070 ext 104 or [email protected].

How do I get in contact with the Festival organization regarding sponsorship or promotional opportunities?

Please contact Alex Goodman at (858) 228-3081 or email [email protected].

How do I get into contact with the Festival organization?

For general inquires please email [email protected].