For Educators

La Jolla Playhouse offers professional learning opportunities for educators. Our latest training series, La Jolla Playhouse Tech Theatre Summer Intensive for Theatre Educators will be offered June 26 – 30 and is now booking! SIGN UP NOW.

To be added to our teacher mailing list please email [email protected] with your name, school, grades/subjects you teach.

One of La Jolla Playhouse’s signature Education programs, the Performance Outreach Program (POP) Tour is an annual world-premiere, Playhouse-commissioned production that brings the magic of theatre to San Diego classrooms. Launched in 1987, the POP Tour can be accessed by schools, libraries and community centers. Prior to each performance, a Playhouse teaching artist visits each school, either in person or virtually, to engage students in an interactive workshop that explores issues and themes at the core of the play. The Playhouse also provides schools with an interactive standards-based engagement guide that enables educators to integrate the play into their curriculum, including exciting interviews with the cast and the creative team. Ideal for students in grades 3 – 6.

POP TOUR 2023

JIN VS. THE BEACH
By Min Kahng
Directed by Jacole Kitchen

This new musical finds fifth grader Jin headed to field trip to a local San Diego Beach—something he is not familiar with, and a bit anxious about. He’d rather spend his time indoors playing with his favorite game, CUBECRAFTIA. With the support of friends, teachers, and his imagination, Jin learns that everyone has different feelings when it comes to approaching the unknown and that it is important to express those feelings even if they may feel scary.

Touring San Diego County Schools in March and April 2023
Public Performances at La Jolla Playhouse’s WOW FESTIVAL at The Rady Shell in April 2023

To be the first to be notified to book the POP TOUR to come to your school, please email [email protected].

The Playhouse offers special student matinees of selected mainstage productions throughout the school year. Virtual Study guides, post-performance workshops and post-show talkbacks are available to prepare students for these productions. Staff development workshops are also offered to teachers prior to their school’s participation in the student matinee.

2022-23 Student Matinee Dates

Thursday, December 1, 2022, 10:30 am (arrival by 10:00 am)

As You Like It
By William Shakespeare
Co-Directed by Christopher Ashley and Will Davis

In these woods, who you want to be is entirely up to you…

In Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy, Rosalind and Orlando meet by chance in court and have an immediate connection. When they are both banished, fate brings them together again in the Forest of Arden. But this time, Rosalind, who is dressed as the male shepherd Ganymede for safe passage, challenges Orlando to prove the strength of his love by offering herself up to role play as Rosalind. In the ensuing game of romantic seduction, does Orlando know who is under the costume, or is the game love itself?

In this reimagined As You Like It, co-directors Christopher Ashley and Will Davis take audiences into the vibrant, wild woods, where our preconceived notions topple in the face of the malleability of identity and limitless potential of the human heart.

Important AS YOU LIKE IT Dates:

Thursday, March 23, 2023, 10:30 am. (arrival by 10:00 am)

The Outsiders
Book by Adam Rapp
Music and Lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine
Music Supervision, Arrangements and Orchestrations by Justin Levine
Directed by Danya Taymor

The story that defined an era is reimagined in a groundbreaking musical for a new generation. In 1967 Tulsa, Oklahoma, the hardened hearts, aching souls and romantic dreams of Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade and their band of greasers take center stage in a fight for survival and a quest for purpose. Adapted from S.E. Hinton’s seminal book and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film, The Outsiders features a book by Adam Rapp, music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine, music supervision, arrangements & orchestrations by Justin Levine; directed by Danya Taymor.

Important THE OUTSIDERS Dates:

Apply Now

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Enjoy world premiere plays from 8 amazing playwrights! These scripts can be performed and read aloud anywhere.

LEARN MORE

La Jolla Playhouse’s Education team has provided standards-based lesson plans as well as fun theatre games and exercises that are easily played virtually. These are the same exercises that we use to build ensemble and acting skills in our classrooms for kids and adults!

LEARN MORE

La Jolla Playhouse is proud to partner with ArtsBusXpress to provide engaging virtual field trip experiences to students 3rd-12th grade in acting, musical theatre, playwriting, and behind-the-scenes peeks into the Playhouse! To learn more and apply for grant funding to bring these experiences to your students FOR FREE, please click the button below.

San Diego County K-12 Public and Charter Teachers can apply for program funding, provided by ArtsBusXpress, a nonprofit organization that connects students with arts and science opportunities. Once you submit, ArtsBusXpress will review your application. Subject to approval, ArtsBusXpress will notify both of us and we’ll be in touch to personalize the session for your class and secure a specific time.

LEARN MORE

The following recorded performances from our Digital WOW series are a great way for high school-age students to enjoy theatre. Plus, they’re all FREE!

• Towards Belonging
  » Download Supporting Curriculum
  (Please note that this production contains strong language)
• Spittin’ Truth to Power While Light Leaping for the People
  » Download Supporting Curriculum
• You Are Here
  » Download Supporting Curriculum
• Walks of Life
• The Society of Wonder
• The Totally Fake Latino News
• Ancient