A MESSAGE FROM CHRISTOPHER ASHLEY
THE RICH FAMILY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
Dear Playhouse Friends,
Welcome to our 2025/26 Season, dedicated to the extraordinary Joan Jacobs and her remarkable impact and unmatched influence on our theatre and far beyond. This year’s slate features a wonderful mix of new voices, Playhouse veterans and theatrical rock stars – and in one case, an actual rock star – all sharing works that are truly heart-forward. More than ever, I wanted this season to spark joy; to provide a place to sink into your seat and let an inspiring story wash over you. This is a season full of hopeful, uplifting shows, all of which thoughtfully engage with complex issues and thought-provoking themes.
While this coming season features five world premieres, we’re launching it with a Tony Award-nominated Broadway play that I feel is a can’t-miss experience for San Diego audiences. Jocelyn Bioh is a writer who crafts pitch-perfect characters with brilliant dialogue, and Jaja’s African Hair Braiding is a sharp comedy with an immensely moving side.
We’ll also be mounting three world-premiere plays by three riveting writers – each of whom brings their singular vision to works that are at once deeply personal and universally relatable. Eliana Theologides Rodriguez will get her very first professional production ever with the delightful and sweet play Indian Princesses, but her talent and assuredness as a writer are unmistakable. We’re also introducing Playhouse audiences to Noah Diaz, whose theatrical imagination and playfulness knows no bounds; All the Men Who’ve Frightened Me is the 12th show to make the leap from our DNA Series to our season. And Claudia Shear’s as-yet-untitled, witty and acerbic new play cooks up a different take on Julia Child’s inspiring story, seasoned with boldness and a sense of adventure.
Finally, I’m delighted to be directing two brand-new musicals this season: Cyndi Lauper and Theresa Rebeck’s Working Girl, based on the beloved ‘80s film, but very much in conversation with our current moment; and Kait Kerrigan, Anne Eisendrath and Ian Eisendrath’s The Heart, an adrenaline-fueled, pulse-pounding and genre-defying show that is unlike any project I’ve directed before.
These six productions – along with our acclaimed WOW programming – make for an unforgettable season that epitomizes the Playhouse’s commitment to developing the new and the next in American theatre. And you are a vital part of that process. As a subscriber, your ongoing support makes it possible for us to take risks, find new voices, and be the launching pad for future classics. We look forward to sharing these thrilling productions with you throughout the year.
See you soon at the Playhouse,
Christopher Ashley
The Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse
