WELCOME TO THE FOURTH BIENNIAL WITHOUT WALLS (WOW) FESTIVAL!
On October 17 -20, La Jolla Playhouse will gather local, national and international artists at ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station to create four days of vibrant multidisciplinary experiences that interact with the contemporary world in exciting ways. With over twenty productions, half of which are free, there is an almost infinite combination of shows you could spend your day exploring.
Inhabiting ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station means we will join the myriad of artists and vendors that already call the district home, and we hope WOW audiences will venture out and find their new favorite gallery, restaurant or brewery in between WOW shows. Be sure to stop by the North Promenade, the location of the SHOW IMAGING FESTIVAL STAGE, which will be home to programming throughout the Festival and a perfect central location to meet friends and socialize.
Featuring several world premieres and new commissions, the festival offers events to entice all arts lovers, from intimate one-on-one experiences to epic storytelling spectacles. All generations are invited to come together to be part of the adventure. We are looking forward to sharing it all with you.
This is a ticketless event. Use your printed email confirmation for entry. Free events are open entry.
What is Without Walls?
Without Walls (WOW) productions offer a dizzying array of interactive and site-inspired theatre. Full of diverse offerings, WOW shows have one thing in common – they are an invitation to reimagine what theatre can be through intriguing and playful experiences.
WOW performances take place outside the confines of a traditional theatre, in unusual or unexpected locations. Past shows have occurred in the backseat of a car, on a basketball court and even emerging from the ocean at a local beach. WOW audiences can expect to be part of the action. You might find yourself in the middle of an impromptu dance party or taking a stroll through a lush botanical garden as your WOW experience unfolds.
Since its inception, Without Walls has become one of San Diego’s most popular and acclaimed performance series, delighting critics and audiences alike.
About La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse is a place where artists and audiences come together to create what’s new and next in the American theatre, from the WOW Festival, to Tony Award-winning productions, to imaginative programs for young audiences. Founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer, the Playhouse is currently led by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley, the Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse, and Managing Director Debby Buchholz. The Playhouse is internationally renowned for the development of new plays and musicals, including mounting 102 world premieres, commissioning 52 new works, and sending 32 productions to Broadway – including the currently-running hit musical Come From Away – garnering a total of 38 Tony Awards, as well as the 1993 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. LaJollaPlayhouse.org.
About ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station
Liberty Station is where San Diego lives. It’s the place where artists can showcase their craft in either art, performance, design, fashion, culinary deliciousness, and even beer. It is a hub for growth, innovation, and inspiration promoting connection, creativity and community. https://libertystation.com/directory/arts-district
Quotes from Previous WOW Festivals:
“The city is the stage”
San Diego Magazine
“Coolest thing happening in town”
San Diego CityBeat
“You’re part of the experience. What you do matters”
The Rich Family Artistic Director Christopher Ashley in The Wall Street Journal
“When theatre is this memorable and fun, who needs air conditioning or gloves?”
American Theatre Magazine
“Bold, extreme theater”
TIME
La Jolla Playhouse’s festival charms with its site-specific and roaming works”
Los Angeles Times
