Performances Magazine San Diego | La Jolla Playhouse, March 2026
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P1 Program
Cast, performances, who’s who, director’s notes, donors and more.
6 In the Wings
The San Diego Symphony performs with Foreigner at The Rady Shell to celebrate the rock band’s 50th anniversary; San Diego Opera stages Carmen at the Civic Theatre; Broadway San Diego presents The Notebook: The Musical; and more.
10 Feature: Jazz Spotlight
A preview of next month’s Mini Jazz Festival, presented by La Jolla Music Society, celebrating the music and legacy of jazz legends Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
13 Dining
March dining gems around town—including Bacari in North Park, Katsuya Ko at Westfield UTC, Doc Holliday’s in Old Town, the newly remodeled George’s Ocean Terrace, Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House on Convoy Street, and more
IT’S THE COLLAB we didn’t know we needed in 2026. Celebrating their 50th anniversary “orchestral style,” Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Foreigner join the San Diego Symphony Orchestra on stage for one night only, March 20, at The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park. Conducted by Stuart Chafetz, the special concert showcases the legendary multiplatinum rock band—with Luis Carlos Maldonado on lead vocals, bassist Jeff Pilson, Michael Bluestein on keyboards, guitarist Bruce Watson and Chris Frazier on drums—with Symphony orchestral accompaniment. Expect all your Foreigner favorites, including hits such as “Waiting for a Girl Like You,” “I Want to Know What Love Is,” “Juke Box Hero,” “Feels Like the First Time” and many more. sandiegosymphony.org At the Civic Theatre, San Diego Opera—performing with the San Diego Symphony—stages Carmen, March 27-29. Georges Bizet’s epic opera—with libretto by Ludovic Halévy and Henri Meilhac— centers on the fiery Romani factory worker, Carmen, who seduces naïve soldier Don José, leading him down a destructive path of jealousy and violence. Keturah Stickann directs; Louis Lohraseb conducts. sdopera.org
MUSIC
From left: Foreigner performs with the San Diego Symphony at The Rady Shell on March 20; San Diego Opera stages Carmen at the Civic Theatre, March 27-29.
ART & ARCHITECTURE
A SPECIAL EXHIBIT visits San Diego for the first time: The Art of Banksy: Without Limits. The 60-minute experience, at Del Mar Fairgrounds through April 19, lets visitors peruse 200 works
by Banksy—considered the world’s most famous and mysterious graffiti/street artist—including prints, photos, murals, sculptures and certified originals. You can step inside the “Infinity Room,” spray-paint Banksy’s art on your own tee, purchase gifts and more. artofbanksyus.com On view through April 26, Oceanside Museum of Art brings us Modern
The Art of Banksy: Without Limits; Americanization School by Irving J. Gill, 1931.
Simplicity: The Architecture of Irving J. Gill in Oceanside, spotlighting Irving Gill’s trailblazing influence on early modern architecture. The exhibit is well timed, as the City of Oceanside approaches the centennial of two significant civic landmarks designed by Gill: the former 1934 City Hall and the original Fire Station #1 and police station. oma-online.org
Must-See Spring Shows
THEATER
THE SAN DIEGO premiere of Somewhere Over the Border, the uplifting musical by Brian Quijada, runs at Cygnet Theatre through March 15. Cygnet Theatre also stages the San Diego premiere of The Lehman Trilogy, March 25April 19. Stefano Massini’s 2022 Tony Award winner for “Best Play” follows the rise and fall of Wall Street’s Lehman Brothers—a saga that spans 150 years. cygnettheatre.org At The Old Globe through March 22, don’t miss the Globe-commissioned world premiere of Fiasco Theater’s Bartleby. Adapted for the stage by Noah Brody and Paul L. Coffey, it’s a new take on Herman Melville’s dark comic classic, Bartleby, the Scrivener. It’s set in an 1850s law firm “but infused with the spirit of The Office and the absurdity of Beckett.” theoldglobe.org Save the date for The Notebook: The Musical, April 14-19, presented by Broadway San Diego at the Civic Theatre. Based on the famed novel and film, the musical follows the epic love story of Allie and Noah. broadwaysd.com
The Notebook: The Musical (above); artwork for The Lehman Triology.
A Century of Giants
La Jolla Music Society Presents a Jazz Mini Festival Dedicated to Two Late Greats
by STEPHANIE SAAD
THIS APRIL, LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY (LJMS) transforms the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, aka The Conrad, in La Jolla into a high-energy celebration of jazz greats and laboratory for the future of jazz. The 2026 Jazz Mini Festival—April 6, 7, 9 and 11—is a deliberate pivot toward the experimental—marking the centennial birthdays of two titans who redefined the genre: Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Far from a museum-piece tribute, the festival brings together visionary artists to interpret the revolutionary legacy of these jazz immortals for the present moment.
“The Jazz Mini Festival was created as an intensive experience, a true deep dive into a specific jazz style or theme,” says La Jolla Music Society’s Artistic Director, Leah Rosenthal. “By
activating multiple venues, both on-site at The Conrad and off-site at spaces like the Balboa Theatre, the goal is to create as many access points as possible and welcome a wide range of audiences; while showcasing an extraordinary lineup of musicians. The artistic team also values opportunities to engage more deeply with the music itself; this festival allows us to work even more closely with our Learning and Engagement team. Together, we further activate The Conrad through panel discussions, artist interviews, lectures and other contextual programming that deepen the audience’s connection to both the music and the artists. This season’s theme honors the 100th birthdays of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, offering a focused exploration of their music, influence and enduring legacy—through performances, conversations, educational initiatives and a free community concert.”
Miles Davis and John Coltrane are widely regarded as
FROM LEFT: FRANCIS WOLFF; BRADLEY JOSLIN; COURTESY IMAGE
the two most significant figures in the evolution of modern jazz. Born just months apart in 1926, their partnership in the mid-to-late 1950s (specifically within Davis’ “First Great Quintet”) became the laboratory for musical
/ CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
From left: Miles Davis; The Conrad; John Coltrane.
THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR'S CIRCLESEASON SPONSORS
Denise and Lon Bevers
Theodor S. and Audrey S. Geisel Fund
Kay and Bill Gurtin
Jeanne L. Herberger, Ph.D.
Debby and Hal Jacobs
Joan* and Irwin Jacobs
Sheri L. Jamieson
La Atalaya Fund
Rebecca Moores Foundation
Paula and Brian Powers
Jordan Ressler Charitable Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Karen and Jeff Silberman
Weston Anson and Alice Mitchell, Melissa and Michael Bartell, Gail and Ralph Bryan, Marlene and Gary Cohen, Drs. Edward and Martha Dennis, Hal and Hilary Dunning, Greg and Marike Fitzgerald Charitable Fund, The Estate of Pauline Foster, Hanna and Mark Gleiberman, Lynn Gorguze and Scott Peters, Laurents / Hatcher Foundation, Veronica and Miguel Leff, Esq., Jeff and Carolyn Levin, Steven and Jerri Nagelberg, Perlmeter Family Foundation, Maryanne and Irwin Pfister, Robin and Larry Rusinko, Stern Leichter Foundation, The Stockdale Family, William Hall Tippett and Ruth Rathell Tippett Foundation, Molli Wagner, Pamela J. Wagner and Hans Tegebo, Peggy Ann Wallace, Mandell Weiss Charitable Trust
Drs. Edward and Martha Dennis Lynn Gorguze and Scott Peters Rebecca Moores Foundation
Playhouse Partners Robin and Larry Rusinko Pamela J. Wagner and Hans Tegebo
A MESSAGE FROM LEADERSHIP
Dear Friends,
Happy new year! Welcome to The Recipe, our final production of the 2025/26 season. This delightful new play beautifully exemplifies our mission – a bold new show from two artists whose work has been nurtured by La Jolla Playhouse throughout their careers. It’s the perfect piece to cap off a truly memorable season.
The next few months will be a time of exciting transition at the Playhouse, as we say farewell to outgoing Artistic Director Christopher Ashley after 18 years, and welcome our incoming artistic leader Jessica Stone.
It has been a true joy working with Chris over the last two decades. An inspirational artist, colleague, and friend, Chris’s thrilling artistic leadership of the Playhouse, along with his incredible warmth and generosity, have made working in partnership with him a dream. He will be dearly missed by the entire San Diego arts community. At the same time, we are incredibly excited to forge a new path with Jessica. She has a deep understanding of the Playhouse culture and our commitment to being a safe harbor for the development of new work. Her artistic vision is truly exhilarating, and the entire Playhouse staff looks forward to bringing that vision to life on our stages and throughout the San Diego community.
Looking back, 2025 was a banner year for the Playhouse. We produced five world premieres, mounted our eighth WOW Festival, and celebrated our 37th show to move to Broadway, along with countless military and community engagement programs. Looking ahead to next season, we’ll be launching three world-premiere musicals, along with two new plays and a Pulitzer Prize-winning work. Our annual Performance Outreach Program (POP) Tour also begins this month, with an enchanting new piece for young audiences entitled Colorín, Colorado
None of these accomplishments would be possible without your unwavering support. Thank you so much for being a part of the Playhouse family and for championing our ongoing mission to create the new and the next in American theatre.
DEBBY BUCHHOLZ MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
La Jolla Playhouse acknowledges the land on which our theatres sit as the unceded territory of the KUMEYAAY NATION. Today, the Kumeyaay people continue to maintain their political sovereignty and cultural traditions as vital members of the San Diego community. Their contributions to our region are tremendous and we thank them for their stewardship.
LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS
Christopher Ashley
THE RICH FAMILY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
Debby Buchholz MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LA JOLLA PLAYHOUSE
WRITTEN BY
Claudia Shear
BASED ON THE BOOK DEARIE BY BOB SPITZ
DIRECTED BY
Lisa Peterson
FEATURING
Jill Abramovitz*, Norbert Leo Butz*, Christina Kirk*, Germainne Lebrón‡ , Rami Margron*, Torkan Omari‡, Michael Park *, Kenneth Ray‡, Ariel Shafir*, Saisha Talwar*
CHOREOGRAPHY
SCENIC DESIGN
COSTUME DESIGN
LIGHTING DESIGN
SOUND DESIGN AND ORIGINAL MUSIC
WIG AND HAIR DESIGN
DRAMATURG
DIALECT COACH
CASTING
STAGE MANAGER
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
PRODUCTION MANAGER
GENERAL MANAGER
ARTISTIC PRODUCING DIRECTOR
David Neumann
Rachel Hauck
Linda Cho
Ben Stanton
André Pluess
Tom Watson
Edward Sobel
Andrea Caban
Caparelliotis Casting; David Caparelliotis, CSA;
Hannah Reinert
Dean Remington*
Alexa Burn*
Annette Nixon
Ryan Meisheid
Eric Keen-Louie
THE CAST
(in alphabetical order)
Simca and others ....................................................................................................Jill Abramovitz*
Paul Child .......................................................................................................... Norbert Leo Butz*
Julia Child ................................................................................................................. Christina Kirk*
Madame Brassart and others...................................................................................Rami Margron*
McWilliams and others .............................................................................................. Michael Park*
Tom and others............................................................................................................. Ariel Shafir*
The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts and the Schlesinger Library
Tyler Seiple and Anouche Delprat-Khoubesserian
Olympus Theatricals and FineWomen Productions *
THE COMPANY
Jill Abramovitz (Simca and others)
La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway: Beetlejuice, All In: Comedy About Love, Fiddler, 9 to 5, Cinderella, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. Off-Broadway: Joy (Laura Pels), Sweeney Todd (NY Phil), Yentl (Folksbiene). Regional: Fiddler (Papermill, MUNY), A Walk on the Moon (George Street), God of Carnage (Cape Playhouse), Ever After (Paper Mill) and others. TV/Film: Stevie on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Susan Charles on Chicago Med, Blue Bloods, The Blacklist, FBI: Most Wanted, Daughter of the Bride, Unholy and others. Education: University of Pennsylvania. Also an award-winning writer, Jill was a contributing lyricist on Broadway’s It Shoulda Been You and has several projects in development. jillaonline.com
Norbert Leo Butz (Paul Child)
La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway: Rent, Thou Shalt Not (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC noms), Wicked (original Fiyero), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC, Drama League Awards), Enron, Is He Dead, Dead Accounts, Catch Me If You Can (Tony, Drama Desk Awards), Speed-the-Plow, My Fair Lady (Tony, Drama Desk, OCC noms). Off-Broadway: The Last Five Years (original cast), Juno and the Paycock, How I Learned to Drive (Second Stage); Vladimir (MTC); Cornelia Street (Atlantic Theater). Select TV/Film: Bloodline, Justified, Fosse/Verdon, The Girl from Plainville, Trust, Mercy Street, Blue Bloods, Madam Secretary, Gladiator: American Sports Story, A Complete Unknown, Dan in Real Life, Flag Day, Give or Take, upcoming: Heartland, opposite Jessica Chastain. B.F.A.: Webster University. M.F.A.: ASF.
Jason Heil he/him (Understudy)
La Jolla Playhouse: Indian Princesses, Bhangin’ It, Zhivago. Off-Broadway: Sea of Souls. Regional: Twelfth Night, Plaid Tidings (Old Globe); Mother Road, Sweat, Beachtown, Hand to God, Violet, Clybourne Park, A Christmas Carol (SD Rep); Curious Incident… (CCAE), Laguna Playhouse, Arkansas and Tennessee Repertory Theatres, Capital Stage, A.C.T., A Noise Within, and nine seasons with the Utah, Lake Tahoe, Marin, and Texas Shakespeare Festivals. Other San Diego: Lamb’s Players Theatre (Associate Artist), North Coast Rep, Cygnet Theatre, Moonlight Stage Productions, Intrepid. www.jasonheil.com
Christina Kirk (Julia Child)
La Jolla Playhouse: Suitcase (or those that resemble flies from a distance) and Current Nobody. Other theatre credits include Infinite Life (Atlantic Theater Company/ National Theatre London), Clybourne Park (Broadway/Playwrights Horizons), Well (Broadway), God’s Ear (New Georges/The Vineyard) and [sic] (Soho Rep). She is an affiliated artist of Clubbed Thumb and a founding associate artist of the Civilians. Film and television credits include Fatal Attraction, Goliath, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Powerless, A to Z, Girls and Love Is Strange.
Germainne Lebrón he/him (Ensemble)
La Jolla Playhouse: Derecho. UC San Diego credits include: One Flea Spare, Hedda Gabler, The Promise by Jose Rivera, The Rogue’s Trial, 809 Almond (Wagner New Play Festival 2024). Regional credits include: Execution of Justice, August Strindberg’s Pariah (Chautauqua Theater Company); La Gringa (American Stage); Native Gardens (The Warehouse Theatre); The Inheritance (Trinity Rep); Eight Tales of Pedro (The Secret Theatre); Dracula, A Christmas Carol (Actors Theatre of Louisville); Are You There (Humana Festival of New American Plays 2020). Education: 3rd year M.F.A. Actor at UC San Diego.
Rami Margron they/them (Madame Brassart and others)
La Jolla Playhouse: As You Like It. OffBroadway: Have You Met Jane Goodall and Her Mother? (Ensemble Studio Theatre); Angry Young Man (Urban Stages); Love’s Labour's Lost (Shake and Bake). Regional credits include: Hurricane Diane, The Age of Innocence (The Old Globe); Angels in America, King John (Actors Theater of Louisville); Coriolanus (Oregon Shakespeare Festival); Pericles, Macbeth (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); Hurricane Diane (Huntington Theatre and People’s Light Theatre); Three Sisters (Two River Theater); The Tempest (Pittsburgh Public Theatre); Lady Windermere’s Fan, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Comedy of Errors (California Shakespeare Theater). IG: ramimargron
THE COMPANY
Amanda Naughton (Understudy)
La Jolla Playhouse: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Come From Away, DNA New Work Series. Broadway: Into the Woods, The Secret Garden. National Tours: Fun Home, The Secret Garden. Off-Broadway: Romance in Hard Times, 3Postcards, Hundreds of Hats, Mr. President. Regional credits include Follies (Cygnet); Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare Theatre Company); Head Over Heels (Diversionary); Fun Home (SD Rep); Bethany, A Doll’s House, Emma, The Women, The Constant Wife, Lost in Yonkers, Grinch, Loves and Hours, Paramour (The Old Globe); A Little Night Music, Amour (Goodspeed). Film: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Mexico City. TV: Remember WENN (as Betty Roberts), Law & Order: SVU, Payne, Chappelle’s Show.
Michael Park (McWilliams and others)
La Jolla Playhouse: Redwood. Broadway: Redwood, Carousel, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Little Me, H2$, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Tuck Everlasting, Dear Evan Hansen. OffBroadway: Hello Again, Violet, Burnt Part Boys. TV: As the World Turns, The Good Wife, House of Cards, Mindhunter, You, Stranger Things Season 3, Tales of the City, The Family, Dash & Lily, Blue Bloods, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Bull, Saint X, Law & Order, Special Ops: Lioness.
Torkan Omari she/her (Ensemble)
La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Theatre credits include People, Places & Things, Auto da Compadecida, Shar-e-Naw, Orlando, The Comedy of Errors and 809 Almond (world premiere). A former law student turned poet turned actress, she is a member of the UC San Diego M.F.A. Acting Class of 2026. On screen, she appeared in the feature film No Good Men, the opening film of the Berlin International Film Festival, directed by Cannes Award–winning director Shahrbanoo Sadat. She also starred in the short film Will You Be Me Levantine, for which she won the Best Actress Award at the Amsterdam New Cinema Festival.
Kenneth Ray (Ensemble)
La Jolla Playhouse: Red Taxi (DNA New Work Series). Kenneth is an actor and educator whose performance credits include regional theatres across the country and The Kennedy Center. He trained at Howard University, the British American Drama Academy and is currently an M.F.A. candidate at UC San Diego. Kenneth serves on faculty at Circle in the Square Theatre School and The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. You can learn more about his work on his website thebespokemethod.net.
Ariel Shafir (Tom and others)
La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. OffBroadway: Richard III (Shakespeare in the Park); The Merchant of Venice (TFANA - Royal Lyceum Edinburgh); Henry V (The Public); Mankind (Playwrights Horizons); Medea in Jerusalem (Rattlestick). Regional: Hamlet (Mark Taper); Macbeth (Denver Center); Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakes); A Streetcar Named Desire (Williamstown); Marie Antionette (Steppenwolf); Disgraced (Arena Stage - China Tour). Film: Bride Wars, What Happens in Vegas, Don Peyote. TV: Only Murders in the Building, When They See Us, The Sinner, The Blacklist, Bull, Blue Bloods, Law and Order: SVU, Orange Is the New Black, 30 Rock.
Drew Springer-Miller (Understudy: Julia Child)
La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Regional: The Cottage, Cabaret, Gruesome Playground Injuries, Love/Sick. Producing: Our Town (Broadway). Training: B.F.A. from Pace University, The Actors Center, Circle in the Square.
Jim Stanek (Understudy: Paul Child)
La Jolla Playhouse: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy). Broadway: Into the Woods (Revival/Tour), Fun Home, A Gentleman’s Guide…, The Story of My Life, Lestat, Little Women, The Rivals, …Forum, Indiscretions. Off-Broadway: Freud’s Last Session, Jacques Brel… TV/Film: Blue Bloods, Mr. Robot, The Good Wife, Bella, Borough of Kings. Cast Recordings: Goldstein, Frankenstein, The 3hree Musketeers, ...Forum. Lives in NYC with wife, Beth. Their three boys (all grown) often stay at the 450 sq ft, 1BR where they were raised! Jim loves Pro Wrestling, collecting action figures, Pokemon Go and concert-going! Recently: Elf (Tuacahn), Barnum (The REV). Education: Carnegie Mellon. Unions: AEA, SAG-AFTRA.
Saisha Talwar she/her (Louise and others)
La Jolla Playhouse: Debut. Broadway: McNeal. Education: M.F.A. from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and B.A. from the University of Chicago. IG: @saishatalwar.
Claudia Shear (Playwright)
Broadway credits include The Smell of the Kill (dir. Christopher Ashley; Drama League Award), Dirty Blonde (dir. James Lapine; Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations for Best Play and Best Actress, Drama League Award, Theatre World Award). London/West End: Dirty Blonde, Chicago. Off-Broadway: Blown Sideways Through Life (dir. Christopher Ashley; Obie Award, Drama Desk Award nomination), Dirty Blonde, Restoration (New York Theatre Workshop); Evening at the Talk House (The New Group). Regional: The Smell of the Kill (Berkshire Theatre Festival); Dirty Blonde (Kennedy Center; Helen Hayes Award nominations for Best Play and Best Actress; West Yorkshire Playhouse); Dirty Blonde, End of the Day (Williamstown Theatre Festival); Blown Sideways Through Life (Coronet Theatre); Restoration (La Jolla Playhouse). TV: Friends, Earthly Possessions (dir. James Lapine), Blown Sideways Through Life (dir. Christopher Ashley; winner, Montreux Rose d'Or). Film: Living Out Loud, It Could Happen to You, The Opportunists. Ms. Shear has also written for various publications, including The New York Times, New York Magazine, Vogue and Travel & Leisure. She is a member of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab, NYTW’s Usual Suspects and The Dramatists Guild. She’s been wild about Harry since 2004.
Lisa Peterson (Director) is delighted to be back at La Jolla Playhouse, where she directed An Iliad, Mother Courage, Surf Report, Be Aggressive, Good Person of Szechuan, Valley Song, Triumph of Love, Arms and the Man and The Swan. Lisa co-wrote An Iliad with Denis O’Hare (NYTW; Obie and Lortel Awards), as well as The Good Book (Court Theatre, Berkeley Rep) and Song of Rome (Spoleto Festival). Recent directing work includes the world premiere of Doug Wright's Good Night, Oscar at the Goodman, on Broadway and in the West End; As You Like It at Oregon Shakespeare Festival; her adaptation of Homer's Odyssey for The Acting Company; and the musical memoir F*ck 7th Grade by Jill Sobule and Liza Birkenmeier. Lisa has directed world premieres by Tony Kushner, Beth Henley, Donald Margulies, Naomi Wallace, Luis Alfaro, Chay Yew, Culture Clash, Miranda Rose Hall, Jose Rivera and many others at theaters across the country, including New York Theater Workshop, The Vineyard, Primary Stages, Manhattan Theatre Club, WP, The Guthrie, Arena Stage, Hartford Stage, Baltimore Center Stage, Seattle Rep, ACT and South Coast Rep. She served as Associate Director at La Jolla Playhouse for three years, Associate Director at Berkeley Rep for three years, and Resident Director at CTG for ten years. She has developed many new plays at the Sundance Theatre Lab, where she served as the Guest Artistic Director in 2019, as well as at O’Neill Playwrights Conference, Playwrights’ Center and Ojai Playwrights Conference. She is a recent recipient of the Gordon Davidson Award for Lifetime Achievement.
David Neumann (Choreographer) is an award-winning choreographer and movement director. His work includes Hadestown and Swept Away on Broadway; Grounded at The Kennedy Center and the Metropolitan Opera; Die Schweigsame Frau at Bard Summerscape; Stew’s The Total Bent at The Public Theater; Annie Baker’s The Antipodes at Signature Theatre; Branden Jacob-Jenkins’s An Octoroon at Soho Rep and Theater for a New Audience; and Geoff Sobelle’s The Object Lesson (which he also directed) at BAM and NYTW. In film and television, Neumann was choreographer and movement director for I Am Legend, Kindred and Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story, White Noise and Jay Kelly. As artistic director of Advanced Beginner Group, his Bessie and Obie Award-winning original work has been presented at Performance Space New York, New York Live Arts and the Whitney Museum. For Hadestown, Neumann received the 2019 Chita Rivera Award for Outstanding Choreography of a Broadway Musical, a 2019 Tony Award nomination and the 2022 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Choreography. In 2024, he also received the Chita Rivera Critics Choice Award for Swept Away. Upcoming projects include Galileo, which premiered at Berkeley Rep in 2024, The Reservoir at Atlantic Theater, and Begin Again, a new musical coming to The Old Globe this summer.
Rachel Hauck (Scenic Design)
Previously for La Jolla Playhouse: Is It Thursday Yet?, The Garden, Mother Courage, Surf Report, Be Aggressive, An Iliad and Wonderland. Rachel's Broadway credits include Hadestown, Swept Away, Good Night Oscar, How I Learned to Drive, What the Constitution Means to Me, Latin History for Morons, and the upcoming Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Recent work also includes Ceilidh, The Staircase (SCR), Galileo (BRT), F*ck 7th Grade (Wild Project) and Destiny of Desire (Old Globe). Rachel’s work has been recognized with Princess Grace and Lilly Awards, as well as an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence. She is honored to have received UCLA’s Distinguished Alumni Award, Tony Award nominations for Good Night Oscar and Swept Away, and a Tony Award for her design of Hadestown.
Linda Cho (Costume Design)
La Jolla Playhouse: Working Girl; Babbitt; Bhangin’ It; Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord; Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin; The Orphan of Zhao; Wild Goose Dreams. Broadway: Schmigadoon; Art; The Great Gatsby (Tony Award; West End, London, South Korea); Pirates! The Penzance Musical; Doubt; Summer, 1976; Take Me Out; Grand Horizons; Anastasia (Tony nomination); POTUS; Harmony; The Great Society; A Gentleman's Guide… (Tony and Henry Hewes Awards; Outer Critics Circle nomination); The Lifespan of a Fact; Velocity of Autumn. Numerous Off-Broadway, international, regional theatre, opera and dance productions. Serves on the Advisory Committee of the American Theatre Wing. M.F.A.: Yale School of Drama. Linda@LindaCho.com
THE COMPANY
Ben Stanton (Lighting Design) is a five-time Tony Award nominee as well as an Obie, Lortel, Hewes, IRNE and Ovation Award winner. His work is currently represented on Broadway in Maybe Happy Ending and Marjorie Prime; in the off-Broadway immersive experience Masquerade; and on the national tour of The Notebook. Additional Broadway credits include: The Notebook, Mary Jane, Days of Wine and Roses, Good Night, Oscar, The Collaboration, A Christmas Carol, The Rose Tattoo, Derren Brown: SECRET, Regina Spektor: Live at the Lunt-Fontanne, Junk, Six Degrees of Separation, Deaf West Theater’s Spring Awakening, Fully Committed and Fun Home (Broadway, Off-Broadway, 1st National Tour, London). www.benstanton.com
André Pluess (Sound Design and Original Music) La Jolla Playhouse: Milk Like Sugar, 33 Variations, after the quake. Broadway: Good Night, Oscar (Belasco), The Minutes (Studio 54), 33 Variations (Eugene O'Neill), I Am My Own Wife (Lyceum), Metamorphoses (Circle in the Square), as well as the world premiere of The Clean House (Yale Repertory/Lincoln Center). Based in Chicago, he's worked frequently with Northlight, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Court, Chicago Shakespeare, and Lookingglass, where he is an ensemble member. Regional credits include multiple productions with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Center Theatre Group, McCarter Theatre, Berkeley Repertory, Arena Stage, Huntington Theatre, and South Coast Repertory.
Tom Watson (Wig and Hair Design)
Originally from N. Ireland, he headed the wig/makeup department at the Metropolitan Opera for 17 years. He has designed more than 100 Broadway productions including Wicked, Rock of Ages, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Oslo, Falsettos, The Little Foxes, Junk, My Fair Lady, King Kong, All My Sons, Great Society, Harmony, Spamalot, Plaza Suite, Parade, Just in Time and Ragtime.
Edward Sobel (Dramaturg)
Broadway: The Minutes, Linda Vista, Superior Donuts, August: Osage County. Off-Broadway: Data. Formerly, Director of New Play Development (Steppenwolf) and Associate Artistic Director (The Arden), overseeing development of over forty new plays, including Mary Page Marlowe, Sunset Limited, The Pain and the Itch, Red Light Winter, Man from Nebraska. Recent directing credits include world premieres of A Puppeteer with the Palsy Performs Scenes from Shakespeare, Uninvited, Moon Man Walk, and The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington. Recipient of the Elliot Hayes Award from the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas for outstanding contribution to the field.
Andrea Caban she/they (Dialect Coach) is a dialect coach for film and theatre. She collaborated with Francis Ford Coppola on his career opus film Megalopolis. Other coaching includes 3 Summers of Lincoln, The Heart (La Jolla Playhouse); Appropriate, Deceived (The Old Globe); The Thing About Jellyfish (Berkeley Rep); Absurd Person Singular, Chinglish, Death of a Salesman, Madwomen in a Volvo, Peter and the Starcatcher (South Coast Rep) and Dangerous Games to Play (Scott Strauss, Badlands). Books: Experiencing Speech: A Skills-based, Panlingual Approach to Actor Training and Experiencing Accents: A Knight-Thompson Speechwork Guide for Acting in Accent. Andrea is new faculty in UC San Diego’s Theatre & Dance Department, leading Speech & Accents training. Education: M.F.A. from UC Irvine.
Caparelliotis Casting, David Caparelliots, CSA (Casting)
Select Broadway: Punch, Good Night and Good Luck, Eureka Day, Mary Jane, Jaja's African Hair Braiding, Cost of Living, Macbeth, Skeleton Crew, The Minutes, The Boys in the Band, Jitney. Off-Broadway: MTC, Signature (NYC), Atlantic, Ars Nova. Select Regional: The Old Globe, Arena Stage, Berkeley Rep. Donmar Warehouse (consulting US casting director). TV/Film: New Amsterdam (NBC, series casting), Boys in the Band (Netflix, original casting).
Dean Remington (Stage Manager)
La Jolla Playhouse: The Outsiders, The Ballad of Johnny and June, Primary Trust, The Luckiest, Gala, WOW Festival. National Tours: The Lion King, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Regional: Outside Mullingar, Manifest Destinitis (San Diego Rep); The Outsider (North Coast Rep); Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Pride and Prejudice, When the Rain Stops Falling, Every Brilliant Thing, Sharon, The Virgin Trial, The Wind and the Breeze, The Effect of Gamma Rays..., Shockheaded Peter, A Christmas Carol (Cygnet Theatre). International: Cameron Mackintosh’s Hey, Mr. Producer!, Grease, 42nd Street, Anything Goes, A Chorus Line, Meet Me in St. Louis.
Alexa Burn she/her (Assistant Stage Manager)
La Jolla Playhouse: Working Girl, The Heart, Indian Princesses, Your Local Theater Presents..., Derecho, Primary Trust, 3 Summers of Lincoln. Select credits include Clyde’s (ASM) at the Denver Center, The Royale (SM) at American Players Theatre, Bald Sisters (SM) at San Jose Stage, Intimate Apparel (ASM), The Three Musketeers (ASM), Chicken and Biscuits (ASM), The Great Leap (ASM), Grand Horizons (ASM), Hood (ASM) at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, and The Code (SM) at American Conservatory Theatre SF. Alexa was also a stage manager at the Disneyland Resort for many years, working with the Disneyland Band, Dapper Dans, and many more.
AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT EVENTS
Enhance your Playhouse experience by attending these free events. Simply book your performance for one of the following dates:
TALKBACK TUESDAYS
Participate in a lively discussion with performers and Playhouse staff members immediately following these performances.
Tuesday, February 24 and March 3 after the 7:30pm show
ACCESS PERFORMANCE
DISCOVERY SUNDAY
Join special guest speakers post-performance as they engage audience members in a moderated discussion exploring the themes in the play.
Sunday, March 1 after the 1pm show
A select Saturday matinee of each show is designated as a relaxed performance, and live American Sign Language interpretation and closed captioning is available for those who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing. Audio description for those who are blind or have low vision is available upon request with prior notice. Find more info at lajollaplayhouse.org/access.
Saturday, February 28 at 2pm
You're welcome to take photos in the theatre before and after the performance. If you post photos on social media, please tag La Jolla Playhouse:
WE ALL THINK OF OURSELVES AS AMELIA EARHART”
The Recipe’s playwright Claudia Shear and director Lisa Peterson recently Zoomed with the Playhouse’s director of artistic development, Gabriel Greene.
GG: Claudia, what drew you to Julia Child as a subject for a play?
CS: I was approached to write this play, and while I was certainly for Julia Child, I was not a particularly major fan. I had to find what I would imprint on, so I read the [Bob Spitz] biography [Dearie], and then I read some other biographies, and then something went zing for me, which was: she ate a “fish on a dish” and her life changed. I find that kind of epiphany around food very satisfying and applicable in my own life. At this very moment, I have a pheasant in the oven. So when the timer goes off, I will take the pheasant out of the oven.
LP: And show it to us, I hope.
CS: No, no, my kitchen's too messy. I'm not a cooking show, believe me.
LP: That's just a regular Monday night for Claudia.
CS: There’s also bread sauce, peas, sauteed cabbage, gravy, roast potatoes, and stuffed mushrooms. Obviously [the producers] came to me [to write this play] because of the cooking.
GG: With so much having been written and filmed about Julia Child's life, how did you decide upon the scope and focus of your version?
CS: Everything becomes selfreferential on some level. My way in to her story was that I get being a [screw]-up. I get not knowing what you're going to do. I get people not seeing you as how you see yourself. So I really identified with the young Julia, though we couldn't be more different. She was 6'2", I'm a human corgi; she grew up very wealthy, I probably cleaned her toilet.
GG: Lisa, when did you become involved in the project?
LP: Maybe two years ago now. And similarly to Claudia, I approached it wondering if we needed another story about Julia Child. But I got sucked in, first on the page – the great energy that was being expressed in the play – and then by sitting with Claudia herself. I had been a fan of Claudia's starting with Blown Sideways Through Life, which Chris Ashley directed at New York Theater Workshop [in 1993].
CS: I knew your work from New York Theater Workshop, too.
LP: We’ve been opening night “nodding at each other” acquaintances for many, many years, but we had never worked together. That first coffee that we had, Claudia, I left thinking to myself, "People have to be in the presence of this wit and this particular view of the world." So I signed on mostly because of my enthusiasm about Claudia as a creative person.
But the more that I looked at the play, I started to see that it’s about creativity and finding your particular gift to offer the world. I think life is so much about trying to sort out not just who you are, but what you have to offer the world. That's what the play is about. The Recipe covers a part of Julia Child that most people don't know. First, she was not always interested in cooking. And then when she has her epiphany, she learns she can't cook. So the thing that she decides is her special gift to the world, she has no talent at. In fact, I think Julia's talent was people. Connection was her talent. But she had to figure out a way to channel that particular gift.
(L-R) Director Lisa Peterson and playwright Claudia Shear
What's exciting about the play is you get to watch somebody construct themselves. We all think we know how Julia Child sounds, how she moves, what she looks like, but let's break all that down – let's assume we don't know anything about her and let's watch somebody take ingredients from a life before [that life] became about a cookbook. I think a lot of what's fun about the play is watching a person break through boxes.
GG: Claudia, that idea of breaking through boxes feels like a throughline in your oeuvre – and yes, I’m using French in honor of Julia. Blown Sideways, Dirty Blonde and Restoration all foreground female protagonists who are indomitable, devastatingly funny, self-deprecating, and butting up against intractable societal barriers.
CS: I never think that way. I don't have a very helicopter view of it. But yes, I guess you're right. If there’s a throughline to my plays, it’s obsession and redemption.
LP: This is so much about the choices women had, coming out of World War II. But Julia wanted to make other choices, to free herself from domestic restrictions. She's not Amelia Earhart, but she should feel like Amelia Earhart. It should feel like she's doing an impossible thing.
CS: Well, isn't everyone's journey that we all think of ourselves as Amelia Earhart, even if you're a rich, tall lady from Pasadena?
GG: What are some of the discoveries you’ve made in the years The Recipe has been baking?
CS: Well, there's just so much. I knew I didn't want anybody cooking on stage because it would get a little schifoso after a couple of
weeks, even if you cleaned the stage. And everybody's so worried that things are going to catch on fire. So I wrote a stage direction in a cooking sequence that said the characters “danced,” and Lisa said, "Now that I like." So movement became a language feeding through the show, because I'm obsessed with Pina Bausch. Then we got [movement director] David Neumann, who's amazing and understands exactly what I mean.
LP: When I first read the play, I said, "Well, you could either do full-on realism and put garlic in the aisles so the audience smells it, or you need to come at it sort of more abstractly." We've been lucky enough to be able to do two workshops with David to play around with ideas. How do you dance a play? As we started talking, David and [original music composer] André [Pluess] and I talked about locating other places in the script where there was “food bliss” of any kind. Because, yes, the play happens to be about cooking, but really cooking equals pleasure in the play. Where else in the play movement could express that kind of pleasure?
Another thing that David's particularly good at, is that his movement always comes from real life, either repeated or accentuated or lengthened or slowed down or sped up. All of that is what we were able to look at in the room. We're always thinking about the movement of a body through space, because we want it to feel like Jules Feiffer and Pina Bausch meet in a French restaurant. I want the audience to feel delighted by watching this –moved by Julia's story, but also opened up to experience and to feel tingly about life.
The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts
Photo by: Paul Child / Source: Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute
JULIA CHILD (1912 – 2004)
Born Julia McWilliams on August 15, 1912, in Pasadena, California, Julia Child was the eldest of three children. Her father, John McWilliams Jr., was an early investor in California real estate, bringing the family significant wealth. She was educated at San Francisco's elite Katherine Branson School for Girls, where — at 6 feet, 2 inches — she was the tallest student in her class. She was adventurous and athletic, with a particular talent for golf and tennis. In 1930, she enrolled at Smith College with the intention of becoming a writer.
Upon graduation, Child moved to New York, where she worked in the advertising department of the prestigious home furnishings company W. & J. Sloane. In 1941, at the onset of World War II, Child moved to Washington, D.C., where she volunteered as a research assistant for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a newly-formed government intelligence agency. Playing a key role in the communication of top-secret documents between U.S. government officials and their intelligence officers, Child and her colleagues were sent on assignments around the world, to locales such as China and Sri Lanka. In 1945, while in Ceylon, Child began a relationship with fellow OSS employee Paul Child. In September of 1946, the Childs returned to America and were married.
In 1948, when Paul was reassigned to the U.S. Information Service at the American Embassy in Paris, the Childs moved to France. While there, Child developed a penchant for French cuisine and attended the world-famous Cordon Bleu cooking school. Following her training, Child banded with fellow Cordon Bleu students Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle to form the cooking school L'Ecole de Trois Gourmandes. With a goal of adapting French cuisine for mainstream Americans, Child, Beck and Bertholle collaborated on a two-volume cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. The book was considered groundbreaking upon its September 1961 release and remained the bestselling cookbook for five straight years. Child went on to create several bestsellers, and through her many cookbooks, fans learned the recipes for Child's signature dishes, including beef bourguignon, French onion soup and roast chicken.
Child also enjoyed a successful career on public television, where she taped her famous cooking series, The French Chef, on WGBH Boston in 1963. Child received the prestigious Peabody Award in 1965, followed by an Emmy Award in 1966. In 1993, she was rewarded for her body of work when she became the first woman inducted into the Culinary Institute Hall of Fame. In November 2000, following a 40-year career that gave her a permanent place among the world's most famous chefs, Child received France's highest honor, the Legion d'Honneur. Adapted from Biography.com.
The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts
Photo by: Paul Child / Source: Schlesinger Library, Harvard Radcliffe Institute
JULIA CHILD'S ROAST CHICKEN (POULET RÔTI)
Ingredients
A 3-lb., ready-to-cook roasting or frying chicken
3/4 tsp salt, divided
2 tbsp softened butter
A small sliced carrot and onion
For basting: a small saucepan containing 2 tbsp melted butter, 1 tbsp good cooking oil; a basting brush
1/2 tbsp minced shallot or green onion
1 cup brown chicken stock, canned chicken broth, or beef bouillon
1 to 2 tbsp softened butter
Serves
4 people
Adapted from
Mastering the Art of French Cooking
Step 1
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Sprinkle the inside of the chicken with 1/4 tsp salt, and smear in half the butter. Truss the chicken. Dry it thoroughly, and rub the skin with the rest of the butter.
Step 2
Place the chicken breast up in a shallow roasting pan. Strew the vegetables around it, and set it on a rack in the middle of the preheated oven. Allow the chicken to brown lightly for 15 minutes, turning it on the left side after 5 minutes, on the right side for the last 5 minutes, and basting it with the butter and oil after each turn. Baste rapidly, so oven does not cool off.
Step 3
Reduce oven to 350 degrees. Leave the chicken on its side, and baste every 8 to 10 minutes, using the fat in the roasting pan when the butter and oil are exhausted. Regulate oven heat so chicken is making cooking noises, but fat is not burning.
Step 4
Halfway through estimated roasting time, salt the chicken with another 1/4 tsp salt and turn on its other side. Continue basting.
Step 5
Fiteen minutes before end of estimated roasting time, salt again with 1/4 tsp salt and turn the chicken breast up. Continue basting.
Step 6
Indications that the chicken are almost done are: a sudden rain of splutters in the oven, a swelling of the breast and slight puff of the skin, the drumstick is tender when pressed and can be moved in its socket. To check further, prick the thickest part of the drumstick with a fork. Its juices should run clear yellow. As a final check, lift the chicken and drain the juices from its vent. If the last drops are clear yellow, the chicken is definitely done. If not, roast another 5 minutes and test again.
When done, discard trussing strings and set the chicken on a hot platter. It should sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before being carved, so its juices will retreat back into the tissues.
Step 7
Remove all but two tablespoons of fat from the pan. Stir in minced shallow or onion and cook slowly for 1 minute. Add the stock and boil rapidly over high heat, scraping up coagulated roasting juices with a wooden spoon and letting liquid reduce to about 1/2 cup. Season with salt and pepper. Off heat and just before serving, swirl in the enrichment butter by bits until it has been absored. Pour a spoonful of the sauce over the chicken, and send the rest to the table in a sauce boat.
PLAYHOUSE LEADERSHIP
Christopher Ashley, (he/him) The Rich Family Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse has served as La Jolla Playhouse’s Artistic Director since 2007. During his tenure, he directed the world premieres of Come From Away, The Heart, 3 Summers of Lincoln, The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical, Babbitt, Diana: The Musical, Memphis, Escape to Margaritaville, Hollywood, The Darrell Hammond Project, The Squirrels, A Dram of Drummhicit, Restoration and Chasing the As You Like It, His Girl Friday, Glengarry Glen Ross, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Freaky Friday and Xanadu. He also spearheaded the Playhouse’s Without Walls (WOW) initiative, the DNA New Work Series and the Resident Theatre program. Mr. Ashley recently directed Come From Away for AppleTV+ and Diana: for Netflix. Other screen credits include the feature Lucky Stiff, and the American Playhouse production of Blown Sideways Through Life for PBS. Mr. Ashley’s Broadway credits include Come From Away (Tony and Outer Critics Circle Awards), Diana: The Musical, Escape to Margaritaville, Memphis (Tony Award nomination), Xanadu, Leap of Faith (Drama Desk Award nomination), All Shook Up and The Rocky Horror Show (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Award nominations). He also helmed productions of Come From Away in London (Olivier Award nomination), Toronto, Australia and on national tour. Other national tours include Escape to Margaritaville, Memphis, Xanadu, All Shook Up and Seussical: The Musical. Additional New York stage credits include Blown Sideways Through Life, Jeffrey (Lucille Lortel and Obie Awards), The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Valhalla (Lucille Lortel Award nomination), Regrets Only, Wonder of the World, Communicating Doors, Bunny Bunny, The Night Hank Williams Died and Fires in the Mirror (Lucille Lortel Award), among others. Mr. Ashley is the recipient of the Princess Grace Award, the Drama League Director Fellowship and an NEA/TCG Director Fellowship.
Debby Buchholz, (she/her) Managing Director of La Jolla Playhouse joined the Playhouse in 2002, serving first as General Manager before becoming Managing Director. She is President of the League of Resident Theaters (LORT) and a member of its Executive Committee. She is a recipient of a San Diego Women Who Mean Business Award from The San Diego Business Journal. Prior to joining La Jolla Playhouse, she served as Counsel to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. She was a faculty member of the Smithsonian Institution’s program on Legal Problems of Museum Administration. Prior to The Kennedy Center, she served as a corporate attorney in New York City and Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of UC San Diego and Harvard Law School.
Ms. Buchholz and her husband, noted author and White House economic policy advisor Todd Buchholz, live in Solana Beach.
Eric Keen-Louie, (he/him) Artistic Producing Director joined the Playhouse in 2018 as Producing Director, before becoming Executive Producer in 2021. He previously worked at The Old Globe (Associate Producer and Associate Artistic Director) and The Public Theater (Assistant to the Associate Producer and Director of Special Projects). He assisted Broadway producer Margo Lion on Hairspray and Caroline, or Change. He is a graduate of Columbia University where he received his M.F.A. in Theatre Management & Producing as a Dean’s Fellow and New York University where he earned a B.A. in Dramatic Literature. He serves as Vice President on the National Alliance of Musical Theatre’s Board of Directors. He is a proud third-generation Chinese-American and is married to Anthony Keen-Louie, a local mediator and Associate Ombuds at UC Santa Cruz.
Des McAnuff, (he/him) Director Emeritus is a two-time Tony Award-winning director and served as La Jolla Playhouse’s Artistic Director from 1983 through 1994, and from 2001 through April 2007 where he staged over 30 productions of classics, new plays and musicals. Under his leadership, the Playhouse garnered the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. He is also the former Artistic Director of Canada’s Stratford Festival and co-founder of Broadway’s Dodgers. Broadway: Ain’t Too Proud, Summer, Doctor Zhivago, Jesus Christ Superstar, Guys and Dolls, Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention, Jersey Boys (Tony and Olivier Awards: Best Musical), Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (Tony Award: Best Special Theatrical Event), Dracula the Musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Who’s Tommy (Tony and Olivier Awards: Best Director), A Walk in the Woods, Big River (Tony Awards: Best Director, Best Musical). Selected New York: Fetch Clay, Make Man (NYTW); multiple productions at The Public and BAM. Stratford highlights: A Word or Two, Caesar and Cleopatra, The Tempest (all with Christopher Plummer), Twelfth Night (with Brian Dennehy). Opera: Faust (The Met, ENO). TV: 700 Sundays (HBO). Film: Cousin Bette (director, with Jessica Lange), The Iron Giant (producer, BAFTA Award) and Quills (executive producer). He has an honorary doctorate from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), and in 2012, he was awarded Canada’s Governor Generals National Arts Center Award and the Order of Canada. His new version of The Who’s Tommy recently opened on Broadway in March, 2024.
La Jolla Playhouse is a place where artists and audiences come together to create what’s new and next in the American theatre, from Tony Award-winning productions, to imaginative programs for young audiences, to interactive experiences outside our theatre walls. 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 works, including mounting 120 world premieres, commissioning more than 70 new works, and sending 37 productions to Broadway – among them the hit musical Come From Away – garnering a total of 42 Tony Awards, as well as the 1993 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre.
WELCOME JESSICA STONE!
Nationally acclaimed, Tony Award-nominated director appointed as the Playhouse's next Artistic Director
Following a year-long national search, two-time Tony Award nominee Jessica Stone has been appointed Artistic Director, succeeding Christopher Ashley, who served as Artistic Director since 2007. In partnership with Managing Director Debby Buchholz, Jessica will guide the organization’s mission and vision.
“Joining this resoundingly successful company – one that has local and national reach, one that is a home for new work, one that cares deeply about cultivating new audiences, one that believes in educational and community outreach, and one that pushes the boundaries of what theatre can be – is thrilling to me,” remarked Jessica. “La Jolla Playhouse is one of the foremost theatres in the country, and I am honored to be a part of its storied history, to build on Christopher Ashley’s legacy, and imagine ways in which to expand its possibilities for nurturing artists and audiences.”
Jessica was most recently nominated for a Tony Award for directing the original Broadway musical Water for Elephants in 2024. She also won the Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Best Director for Water for Elephants. In 2023 she received a Tony Award nomination for her direction of Kimberly Akimbo, which won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Jessica worked as an actress on and off-Broadway, in television and in film for decades before transitioning to directing. Broadway credits included Anything Goes, Butley, The Odd Couple, The Smell of the Kill, Design for Living, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Grease. Her directing career began in earnest with her all-male 2010 production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for Williamstown Theatre Festival. She has since been directing all over the country at such theaters as A.C.T., Shakespeare Theatre Company, Huntington Theatre Company, The Old Globe, Two River Theatre Company, and Williamstown Theatre Festival, among others.
“We are delighted to welcome Jessica to the Playhouse family. Jessica’s incredible directorial credits, her inspiring and collaborative leadership style, along with her passion for making bold, compelling theatre, make her the ideal choice to take the artistic reins of La Jolla Playhouse,” said Board Chair Denise Bevers.
Photo by Erica Joan.
MISSION STATEMENT
La Jolla Playhouse advances theatre as an art form, telling stories that inspire empathy and create a dialogue toward a more just future. With our intrepid spirit and eclectic, artist-driven approach we will continue to cultivate a local, national and global following with an insatiable appetite for audacious work.
We provide unfettered creative opportunities for a community of artists of all backgrounds and abilities. We are committed to being a permanent safe harbor for unsafe and surprising work, offering a glimpse of the new and the next in American theatre.
VALUES STATEMENT
Welcome to La Jolla Playhouse, where we believe that stories enhance the human experience, instill empathy and help us see the world in new ways. We respect all races, ethnicities, cultures, physical/cognitive abilities, ages, genders and identities, and endeavor to be an anti-racist and accessible organization that removes barriers to engagement. As a community of life-long learners who celebrate the spirit of play, we innovate and collaborate to bring theatre to life.
We practice empathy by listening, challenging our assumptions and staying open to all perspectives.
We respect and recognize the complexities of all lived experiences, identities and cultural backgrounds. We honor the Kumeyaay Nation, the original caretakers of the land on which our theaters sit. We will fight against anti-blackness, the many forms of racism directed at BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and all types of discrimination and harassment, to be a more inclusive space where everyone feels welcome onstage and off.
We work with our community to identify, understand and address ways to make our theatre more equitable and accessible.
We infuse the spirit of play into everything we do, sparking creativity, fun and life-long learning.
We innovate and take risks to propel theatre as an art form and as a pathway toward fostering belonging and enhancing human connection.
We collaborate by prioritizing inclusive practices from which diverse voices, talents and ideas can strengthen engagement and creative thinking.
We vow to grow and embrace these values. When we falter, we will hold ourselves accountable through transparent communication, measurable outcomes, self-reflection and humility. With great joy and a strong sense of responsibility, we commit to these values in every aspect of our work.
WHY I SUPPORT THE PLAYHOUSE
My association with La Jolla Playhouse has been deeply fulfilling. From being an undergraduate student at UC San Diego when the Playhouse reopened in 1983 to eventually joining the Board of Trustees three years ago, I have had a frontrow seat to its extraordinary growth. My passion for theatre and commitment to broadening the reach of the Playhouse are reflected in the inspiring initiatives found throughout the organization. Through programs such as the Without Walls (WOW) Festival, the DNA New Works Series and the POP Tour, La Jolla Playhouse plays a vital role in cultivating new audiences and supporting artists across San Diego and beyond.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to The Recipe, our final production of the 2025/2026 Season. Before she became the world’s most beloved chef, Julia Child was a restless young woman searching for purpose. Her journey from Pasadena to New York, Washington, D.C., Ceylon, and ultimately Paris was shaped by uncertainty, self-doubt, and determination, leading her to discover both her calling and her great love.
A funny, colorful, and delicious new play from Claudia Shear and Lisa Peterson, The Recipe brings this untold chapter of an iconic life to the stage. The Playhouse is proud to continue sharing stories that reveal how curiosity, risk, and resilience can change lives and, sometimes, the world. Thank you for joining us this evening, and I hope you enjoy the show.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
DENISE BEVERS
Board Chair
SCOTT STANTON, Mintz
First Vice-Chair
KAREN SILBERMAN
Second Vice-Chair
RALPH BRYAN*
Treasurer
ANNIE ELLIS
Secretary
TRUSTEES
Weston Anson
Christopher Ashley**
Laurielynn Bar nett**
Michael Bartell
David Brenner
Sanford Burnham Prebys
Janice Brown
Debby Buchholz**
Lisa Casey
Ann Cathcart Chaplin, Qualcomm
Patricia Chavez
Bank of America Private Bank
Randall Clark*, Sempra
Mary Coleman**
Stephan Coleman, PNC Bank
Doug Dawson
Edward A. Dennis, Ph.D.
Susan Dubé
Hal Dunning
Emily Einhorn
Ray Flores**
Sutton Foster**
Judy Garrett
Robert Gleason
The Lodge at Torrey Pines
Justin Gleiberman
Lynn E. Gorguze
Rachel Greenwald
Luke Gulley, Show Imaging
Kay Gurtin
Dean Haas
Osborn Hurston
Debby Jacobs
Sheri L. Jamieson*
Pradeep K. Khosla, Ph.D.**
Chancellor, UC San Diego
Veronica Leff
Lynelle Lynch*
Margret McBride*
Steven Nagelberg
Byron Pollitt
David I. Reynoso**
Becky Robbins
Phil Rudolph
Robin Rusinko
Tim Scott
Shane Shelley, Morrison Foerster
Suzi Sterner**, UC San Diego
Greta Treadgold
Marjorie Mae Treger**
Erin Trenda, Cooley, LLP
Delicia Turner Sonnenberg**
Mary Walshok, Ph.D.
Hanaa Zahran, US Bank
Debbie Zeligson
Barbara ZoBell
HONORARY TRUSTEES
Robert Caplan
Peter Cowhey, Ph.D.
Ivan Gayler
Jeanne Jones
Julie Potiker
Steven M. Strauss*
Geri Ann Warnke*
Robert Wright, Esq.
EMERITUS TRUSTEES
Rita Bronowski (1917-2010)
David Copley (1952-2012)
Ted Cranston (1940-2012)
Milton Fredman (1920-2005)
Ewart W. Goodwin, Jr.* (1938- 2019)
Joel Holliday* (1939-2022)
Joan Jacobs (1933-2024)
Marian Jones Longstreth (1906-1997)
Hughes Potiker (1925-2005)
Sheila Potiker (1930-2011)
Jeffrey Ressler* (1943-2022)
Ellen Revelle (1910-2009)
Roger Revelle (1909-1991)
Willard P. VanderLaan, M.D.* (1917-2012)
Arthur Wagner, Ph.D. (1923-2015)
Mandell Weiss (1891-1993)
1947 FOUNDERS
Mel Ferrer
Dorothy McGuire
Gregory Peck
*Past Chair of the Board **Ex-Officio
List as of December 2025
Photo credits: Trustee Ralph and Gail Bryan; Trustee Robert Gleason and family; Trustee Becky Robbins and Artistic Direector Christopher Ashley; Cyndi Lauper and Trustee Annie Ellis
PRODUCTION SPONSORS
Drs. Edward and Martha Dennis
With our shared love of the visual and performing arts, we are thrilled and privileged to sponsor this world-premiere play The Recipe. This funny, colorful, and delicious new play captures the fearless curiosity and determination that defined Julia Child long before she became a household name. We are proud to be production sponsors of The Recipe and to support the Playhouse’s commitment to bold new storytelling.
Lynn Gorguze and Scott Peters
It is our great pleasure to support The Recipe, a new play at La Jolla Playhouse that celebrates the development of new work and the artists who bring it to life. This world-premiere production embodies the Playhouse’s dedication to championing stories of curiosity, resilience, and transformation—values we are proud to support.
Rebecca Moores Foundation
I am always honored to support the work of the La Jolla Playhouse, and The Recipe is no exception. With humor, heart, and remarkable authenticity, the creative team brings us inside Julia Child’s journey from uncertainty to self-discovery, inviting us to reflect on the courage it takes to find one’s true calling.
Playhouse Partners
The Playhouse Partners are an all-volunteer group that supports the La Jolla Playhouse in many different ways. The Partners are known to most cast members and Playhouse staff for the Company Breakfast and Tech Dinner, so this show is very appropriate. We are honored to be a co-sponsor of The Recipe. Enjoy the show!
Robin and Larry Rusinko
We are thrilled to support the world-premiere of The Recipe, which has all the ingredients to be a great play. Start with Tony-nominated writer Claudia Shear and Obie-winning director Lisa Peterson. Add an iconic character with an appetite for life who defied expectations and forged her own path. Fold in a love story, and the result – one woman’s bold pursuit to discover her purpose and in doing so, revolutionizing the way we cook. Julia Child shows us all that it’s never too late to find your true bliss.
Pamela J. Wagner and Hans Tegebo
We are proud that we can have a part in supporting the Playhouse. Hans and I are very excited to be sponsors of The Recipe. As someone who loves to cook, it is close to my heart. Plus, my uncle was in the OSS during WWII; who knows, maybe their paths crossed.
The arts are a powerful force for bringing people together and helping support local economies. Bank of America is proud to continue our longstanding partnership with La Jolla Playhouse as a sponsor of the world-premiere play The Recipe, an inspiring new production exploring the early life of Julia Child. We can't wait to see the show.
This play is a recipient of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award which gives world premieres extra funds for an extended rehearsal time. The program rewards excellent scripts in the hope that with a more polished performance, they will join the American canon of frequently produced plays.
Morrison Foerster is proud to support La Jolla Playhouse and its role as a cultural leader that brings people together through bold, imaginative theatre. As a global law firm serving leading financial institutions, Fortune 100 companies, and technology and life sciences organizations, Morrison Foerster is pleased to invest in San Diego’s cultural and civic vitality through this partnership with the La Jolla Playhouse. We hope you enjoy The Recipe.
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute is proud to support La Jolla Playhouse and its commitment to empowering our community through theatre. As a San Diego based research institute dedicated to translating science into health and celebrating 50 years of discovery throughout 2026, we share a commitment to excellence, creativity and innovation. Driven by curiosity and bold thinking, science and art alike help shape a more imaginative, connected, and forward looking San Diego.
CORPORATE CIRCLE
ANNUAL SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS
THE ARTISTIC
DIRECTOR'S CIRCLE -
$100,000 AND ABOVE
Denise and Lon Bevers
Theodor S. and Audrey S. Geisel Fund
Kay and Bill Gurtin
Jeanne L. Herberger, Ph.D.
Debby and Hal Jacobs
Joan* and Irwin Jacobs
Sheri L. Jamieson
La Atalaya Fund
Rebecca Moores Foundation
Paula and Brian Powers
Jordan Ressler
Charitable Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Karen and Jeff Silberman
SEASON SPONSORS$50,000+
Weston Anson and Alice Mitchell
Melissa and Michael Bartell
Gail and Ralph Bryan
Marlene and Gary Cohen
Drs. Edward and Martha Dennis
Hal and Hilary Dunning
Greg and Marike
Fitzgerald Charitable Fund
Estate of Pauline Foster
Hanna and Mark Gleiberman
Lynn Gorguze and Scott Peters
Veronica and Miguel Leff, Esq.
Jeff and Carolyn Levin
Steve and Jerri Nagelberg
Perlmeter Family Foundation
Maryanne and Irwin Pfister
Robin and Larry Rusinko
Stern Leichter Foundation
The Stockdale Family
Molli Wagner
Pamela J. Wagner and Hans Tegebo
Peggy Ann Wallace PLAYWRIGHTS CIRCLE -
Christopher Ashley and Ranjit Bahadur
Roberta C. Baade Charitable Fund
The Paula Marie Black Endowment for Women's Voices in the Art of Theatre
Debby and Todd
Buchholz
Pamela B. Burkholz
Brian Devine
Susan E. Dubé
Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs
Jeff and Annie Jacobs
Paul E. Jacobs
Stacy Brackon Jacobs
Joy and Eric Laws
Lynelle and William Lynch
Margret and Nevins McBride
Teresa and Byron Pollitt
Tricia and Mark Rothschild
Stan Siegel
Philip and Margarita Wilkinson
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE$15,000+
Anonymous
Tony and Margaret Acampora
Randy Camp and Susan Tousi
Lisa and David Casey
Big Blue Sky Foundation
Karen and Donald Cohn
Amy Corton and Carl Eibl
Doug Dawson
Daniel and Emily Einhorn
Annie and Charles Ellis
Sonali and Eric Fain
Drs. Bessie and Ron Floyd
Hal and Pam Fuson, Fuson
Family Fund
Bill and Judy Garrett
Justin Gleiberman
Rachel and Brad Greenwald
David and Claire Guggenheim
Dean J. Haas
Dwight Hare and Stephanie Bergsma
Osborn Hurston
Jay Jeffcoat
Lorne Polger and Lori Weiner
Julie and Lowell Potiker Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Becky Lynne Robbins Charitable Fund
Colette and Ivor Royston
Phil Rudolph
Swanna and Alan Saltiel, Dan Cameron Family Foundation
Margie and Bill Strauss
Iris and Matthew* Strauss
Greta and Steve Treadgold
Mary Lindenstein Walshok, Ph.D.
Sheryl and Harvey P.* White
Debbie S. Zeligson
DIRECTORS CIRCLE - $10,000+
Anonymous
Alex and Zsuzsanna Balazs
Gary and Barbara Blake
Family Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Janice Brown
Holly McGrath, Highland
Partners Charitable Fund
Ann Cathcart Chaplin
Randall Clark
Christopher and Nancy Cook
Robin and Leo Eisenberg
Family
Dan and Phyllis Epstein
Gail Fliesbach
Wendy Gillespie
Alan and Marleigh Gleicher
Mrs. Ewart (Chip) Goodwin
Lamees Hamdan
Tammy and Larry Hershfield
Adam and Amy Jacobs
JM Foundation
Gina and Kent Johnson
Sherry and Larry Kline, Arnold and Mabel
Beckman Foundation
Andrew and Mackenzie
Linville, Linville Family Foundation
Christy and Alan Molasky
Jim and Susan Morris
Lee and Stuart Posnock
Karen Quiñones, The Quiñones Family Trust
Judy Robbins
Tammy and Cameron Rooke
Don and Stacy Rosenberg
Laleh Roudi
Lynn Schenk
Herb Schnall, in memory of Ann Schnall
Joseph Schuman
Linda J. and Jeffrey M. Shohet
Steven Strauss and Lise
Wilson
Richard Winkler
Leatrice Wolf
Barbara ZoBell
CELEBRATION
CIRCLE$5,000+
Anonymous
Dede and Mike Alpert
Lisa and Steven Altman
Mrs. Valerie Ewell
Armstrong and Mr. Sam
Armstrong
Stephen Miller Baird, MD and Carol Davidson Baird
Mireille and Steven Barnard
Mary and Rolf Benirschke
Joan and Jeremy Berg
David Bialis and Diana Breister
Michele Braatz
Nancy and Matt Browar
Christa Burke
Robert Caplan and Carol
Randolph
Dr. Marilyn R. Carlson
Pamela and Edward Carnot
Maureen and Lawrence Cavaiola
Marilyn Colby and Evans
Family Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Michelle Crosby and Guity Balow
Nancy Cunningham
Elaine S. Darwin
Ana De Vedia
Jendy Dennis Endowment Fund
Marty and Shel Diller
Dr. Margo Emami and Mr. Edward Lizano
Pam Farr and Buford
Alexander
Paula Fitzgerald and Chris Nielsen
Michael and Susanna Flaster
Maria Frase
Dr. Benjamin and Sue Frishberg
Jan and Helane Fronek
Robert Gleason and Marc Matys
David Newman and Samantha Goldstein, The Jasada Foundation
Beth Goodman
Beverly Goodman
Carrie and Jim Greenstein
Starr and John Grundy
Judith and Chris Hamilton
Ivy Hanson, Hanson Family
Charity Fund
Judy Hertzberg
Gerald and Ingrid Hoffmeister Fund, The San Diego Foundation
Rosanne and Joel*
Holliday
George and Maryka Hoover
Gail and Doug Hutcheson
Marguerite Jackson Dill
Conner Jacobs
Lindsey Jacobs and Nolan Weinberg
Kathy and Rob Jones
Kavanaugh Family Foundation
Lynda and Richard Kerr
Angela and Matt Kilman
Shirley King and Arthur Olson
Michael H Kossman
Ms. Gale M. Krause, in memory of Jim Krause
Tig Krekel and Sherry
Bahrambeygui
Drs. Janice and Matt Kurth
Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Labowe, Labowe Family Foundation
Karen and Mark Liebowitz
Sheila and Jeffrey Lipinsky and Family
Gerald and Ann Lipschitz
Barbara Loonin
Leslye and Scott Lyons
Janine Marcus, Marcus Giving Fund
Tiffany Medina and Bruce Weisman
Daphne Muchnic
Wendy Nash
Grant and Aradhna
Oliphant, Prebys Foundation
Susan C. Parker
Bernard Paul and Maria
Sardina
Dr. Julie Prazich and Dr. Sara Rosenthal
J.R. Rains
Jeannie and Gerry Ranglas
Clare Redlinger
Dr. Joseph and Carol Sabatini
Rick Sandstrom and Sandy Timmons
Jay and Julie Sarno
Tim and Emily Scott
Alex Seaver
Gad and Suzan Shaanan
Leslie Simon
Dawn and Ira Smalberg
Dr. Doris Trauner and Mr. Richard Stanford
Elizabeth and Joseph Taft Foundation
Karen and Stuart Tanz
David and Tina Thomas
Erin Trenda
Dean Ujihara Charitable Fund
Denise and Peter Walsh
Geri Ann Warnke and Donald Frey
David and Sharon Wax
Linda Rankin and Rod Whitlow
Michael and Lisa Witz
Jill and Bruno Wolfenzon
Meryl and George Young
Diane and Robert Zeps
ACTORS CIRCLE - $2,500+
Anonymous
Dr. Kim E. Barrett
Liz Bernal and Suzanne LaTour
Carolyn and Giovanni Bertussi
Cindy and Steve Blumkin
Barbara L. Borden
Julie and George Bronstein, The ARJ Fund of The San Diego Foundation
Loyce R. Bruce
John and Jackie
Bucksbaum
John and Nancy Jo Cappetta
Gary and Lynette
Cederquist
Janet and Maarten
Chrispeels
Diane Clarke
Stanley Cohen and Mark Whitacre
Peter Cowhey and Margaret McKeown
Stacy Cromidas and Ruth
Gilbert
Brian Danielson
Karen B. Dow
Mark and Jenny Dowling
Dr. Robert* and Mrs. Ann Dynes
Toby Eisenberg
Doris and Peter Ellsworth, Legler Benbough Fund, San Diego Foundation
Jill and Jeffrey Essakow
Marjorie Fox
Koji and Angela Fukumura
In memory of Dennis L. Field
Susan Gembrowski Baker and Rex Baker
Barbara and Joseph Giammona
Pat and Norm Gillespie
Jim Gilmore
Steven Goe
Kimberly and Jeffrey Goldman
Bernard and Judith Greenspan
Julie Hall, Carrington/Hall Fund
Thomas Harvey and Bonnie Drolet
Tom and Lynn Hawkins
Marcia Hazan and Mark Cammell
Nishma and John Held
Jamie Henson and Robert Houskeeper
Richard Heyman and Anne Daigle
Col. Michael and Diana Hill
Claudia Baranowski and Tom Horvath
Tony Isaac
Jess Jacobs and Bryan Keller
Susan and David Kabakoff
Larry Katz
Dr. Warren and Karen Kessler
King Graul Trust
Amy and Bill Koman
Linda Lenhard and Mark Kritchevsky
Helen and Sig Kupka
Dr. K.B. Lim and Linda Lee
Lim Foundation
Colleen Miller-Booth, Longfellow Real Estate Partners
Lori and Joe Mahler
Edna and Daniel Maneval
David Marchesani, CFA
Holley and Robert Martens, Sandstone Foundation
Valorie McClelland
Dennis A. McConnell
Valorie Miller, in memory of Lisa Uribe
Ilene Mittman, in memory of Dr. Charles Mittman
Kelly and Mike Moore
Judith B. Morgan
Gregg and Cindy Motsenbocker
Arlene and Louis Navias
Mark C. Niblack, MD
Mary Adams O'Connell, in honor of Louise and Brad Edgerton
Dr. Walter Olsen and Dr. Zdenka Fronek
Janet and Larry Pollack
Claudia Prescott
Dr. William and Marisa
Rastetter
Caroline M Raymond
Bingo and Gino Roncelli
True Life Center
Scarano Family Foundation at The San Diego Foundation
Neil R. Senturia and Barbara Bry
Teresa Shaffer
Richard Shapiro and Marsha Janger
Maureen Elizabeth
Sheehan
Alan and Esther Siman
Dr. Ed and Evelyn Singer
Dr. Robert Singer, in memory of Judith Harris
Susan and Gerald Slavet
Judy Sweet
John and Gail Tauscher
Tom Templeton and Mary Ena Erlenborn
Jim and Kathy Waring
Karin E. Winner
Hanaa Zahran and Dr. Richard Leung
Howard and Christy Zatkin
Helene and Allan Ziman Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Howard and Judy Ziment
Emma and Leo Zuckerman
INNER CIRCLE - $1,000+
Anonymous
Hon. Louise De Carl Adler
Philip Anderson and
Verónica Valdés
Lynell Antrim
Sharon Ashley
Lisa Celia Balderston
Judith Bambace and Brian Trotier
Alisa and David Barba, Barba Charitable Fund
Alain D. Baron and Marilyn M. Baron
Social Doctor
Barbara Young Beebe
Chad Benefield, Marilyn and William Young Foundation
Joni and Miles Benickes
Jane and Michael Benton
Anthony Bollotta, Bollotta Entertainment
Nina and Tony Borwick
Paige Bosacki Santos
Tatiana and David Brenner
Merritt Brizolis
Jeanne Burton
Cheryl and Greg Carlson
Cathy and Michael Casteel
Kyle Chan and Cathy Swindlehurst
Kay Chandler
Carol and Jeff Chang
Sue Lasbury, in memory of John Charles Cochran
Liz Nederander Coden and Daniel J. Coden, MD
Wayne Saville and Laura Colban
Daniel E. Collins and Nancy Shimamoto
Coral Courts Donor
Advised Fund, Corinna Cotsen and Lee Rosenbaum
Carol and Joe Danks
Maile and Brett D'Arcy
Gerral and Anne David
Denise and Gary David
Brett and Jennifer Dickinson
Wally and Linda Dieckmann
Kim and A.T. Ditty
Bob Duffield
Anne and Chris Duhaime, in honor of Rebecca Duhaime
W. Byron and Pamela Dunn
Rebecca and David Ebershoff
Gail Ebner and Tom Stockfisch
Rachel and Michael Esposito
Jennifer and Kurt Eve
Karen and Steven Feitelberg
Dieter Fischer's Mercedes Service, Inc.
Rik and Carol Floyd
Dr. Laurie Forrest
Susan Forsburg and Lisa Churchill
Robert and Mona Freels
Catherine R. Friedman
Barbie and Dan Friedman
Fran and Nick Frost
Anne and Mark Smith
Ira J. Gaines
Steven and Cheryl Garfin
Martha and Bill Gilmer
Kathy and Gregg Glaser
Fred and Lisa Goldberg
Drs. Tom and Cindy Goodman, in honor of Whitney Goodman
The Lloyd Gorcey
Charitable Foundation, Inc. in memory of Lloyd Gorcey
M. Jean Gorman
Judi Gottschalk
Carmel Gouveia
Ed Greulich
George C. Guerra
Luke Gulley
Clark and Savonia Guy
Robert and Merrill Haimsohn
Kendall Hall, Fred Jones
Family Foundation
Cherie Halladay
Professor Marc and Mr.
James Harden
Jeff Harms and Joel Harms
Dana Harrel and Daniel Roemer
Dr. Carol A. Harter and Mr.
William D. Smith
Sarah Herr
Dr. Peter and Mrs. Megan Hoagland
Robert and Carla Hoblit
Susan and Bill Hoehn
Ray and Kate Hong
Mark and Frances Huettinger
Robert and Pat Hughes
Aaron and Susan Huniu
Hilary and Selwyn Isakow
Nora Jaffe
Neil and Vivien Joebchen
Wendy Johnson
Dario and Dan Jones
Lewis and Patricia Judd
Pradeep Khosla and Thespine Kavoulakis
Gail and George Knox
Mike Krupp
Anne M. and Richard C. Kruse
Gautam and Anjali Lalani
Samara and Paul Larson
Chuck Laughlin
Mick and Sherrie Laver
Tracey Lazarus
Brian and Joanna Leddin
Dixon and Pat Lee
Michael Lee and Katharine Cline
Jim Lennox and Brad Woodford
Pamela Hamilton Lester
Rebecca Le Vasseur
Pamela and Bradley Macaleer
Sally and Luis Maizel
Scott Markus and Luci Lander
Jasna Markovac and Gary Miller
Rob McManus
Dr. Ken Melville and Dr. Sabina Wallach
Marci and Ronnie Morgan
David Morris
Greg and Andrea Moser
Ann L. Mound
Chandra Mukerji
Stephen Cary Nagler
Ann Nathan
Lyn Nelson
Bob Nowlan
Kyomi O'Connor
Mike and Joy O'Neil
F. Richard Pappas
Drs. Kim Kerr and Paul Pearigen
Dr. William and Beth Penny
Jerry Petree
Meredith Pierce and Bobby Ocampo
Lori and Kenneth Polin
Family Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Adele Rabin
Jennifer and Tom Ranglas
Sanjiv Nanda and Urmi Ray
Edward Richard, in memory of Warren P KendrickRichard
Russ and Marty Ries
Dr. Stephen and Cheryl Rockwood
Manuel and Liz Rodriguez
David A. Roth and Toni D. Wolinsky
Joy Rottenstein
Oliver Ryder
Bill and Dorian Sailer
Kristine and Denis Salmon
Beverly Sanborn, in memory of Warren Sanborn
Scott Sandel and James Marich
Sanderson Family Donor
Advised Fund at Rancho
Santa Fe Foundation
Tom Shapiro and Madeleine Grynsztejn, in honor of Flossie Cohen
Alan Shorr and Marcia
Wagner
Mitchell and Elizabeth Siegler
Debbie and Dr. Darren
Sigal
Harold and Susan Small Family Charitable Fund of the JCF
Leslie Branman-Smith
Mark and Elaine Smith
Rod and Dolores Smith
Annie So
Marion So
John and Lynn Spafford
Nancy and Alan Spector
Susan and Gary Spoto
Scott M. Stanton
Dale and Mark Steele
Robert and Julie Sullivan
Karen J Surtes
Michael and Pamela Swartout
Barb and Sam Takahashi
Al and Stephanie
Tarkington
Marie Tartar and Steve Eilenberg
Place D. Tegland
Caroline Thornton and Mark Sornson
William Tong and Marilyn Newhoff
Janet Toon
Ray Lee and Teresa Trucchi
Chris and Rebecca Twomey Family Foundation of San Diego Foundation
Alyce and Tom Vessey
Cynthia Walk
Bobbi Warren
Jo and Howard Weiner
Diana Weiss-Wisdom and Gabriel Wisdom
Sharon Weremiuk
Graydon and Dorothy Wetzler
Helen Willink
Wayne Wilson
Elaine Wolfe
Carolyn and Peter Woodbury
Barry and Barb Zemel
Karen and Sidney Zisook
Steven and Cindy Zisser
ANNUAL SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS
CENTER STAGE CLUB - $500 AND UP Anonymous
• Barb and Jon Achenbaum
• Heather R. Adams • Jack Adcox • Sharon and Terry Allen • Robin Allgren, MD PhD
• Rich and Mary Lou Amen • Janet Ambrozek and Bruce Kimmich • Sheila Amend • Robert Baizer and Diane Jacobs Baizer • Gil and Annabelle Balaoing • John Balen • Francis and Diane Bardsley • Dusty and Lynn Bernard • Gerlinde and Greg Beuerlein • Johanna L. Brody • Alice W. Brown • Dr. and Mrs. Edgar D. Canada • Rachel Caparelli • Lorraine Chuman and Stephen Mikolajczyk • Bowers Jewelers • Julie Cooke • Denis M. Crane, in memory of Rilla Crane • Bob Cunningham • Marcus and Ann De Barros • Don and Julie DeMent • Dannielle Dickinson • Eric and Kristine Doan • Jodi and Tom Dobron • Rosalyn and Tim Dong • Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Edelson • Diane L. Edge DDS • James and Marti Eisenberg • Barbara and Eric Emont • Mary and Jon Epsten • Debroah and J Faulkner • Annie Finch • Drs. Linda and Gary Firestein • Beth Fischer • Ruben Flores, in honor of Gail V. Flores • Gregory and Monica Foerster • Judith and William Friedel • Shannon-Frink Family Gift Fund • Hortense Gerardo • Bonnie Gibbs • Doug Gillingham • Russell H Ginns • Drs. Charles and Nancy Girvin • Jas Grewal and Suren Dutia • Pat and Pepper Guevara • Terry Gulden and Renée Comeau • Elsa and Keith Hall • Cynthia Hamilton • Strait Hicklin • Bryan Hill • Hughes Family Foundation, in memory of Robert Petry, Ph.D., and in honor of Karen Petry • Beth Hulsart and Stephen L'Heureux • Randy and Carrol Jackson • Michael and Linda Karin • Rick and Beth Kent • Laura Killmer • Jerry and Martha Krasne • Evelyn and Bill Lamden • Patti Lamm and Sheldon Newhouse • Richard Leib and Sharon Rosen Leib Family Fund of JCF • Bena Leslie • Marshall and Judy Lewis Fund, Jewish Community Foundation • Zita Liebermensch • Scott and Pamela Linton • Michael and Catherina Madani • Susan and Peter Mallory • Jeanne Maltese • Patsy and David Marino • Madonna Maxwell Omens • Carol Mazzetti • Wallace McCloskey • Larry McDonald and Clare WhiteMcDonald • Jim and Cheryl McIlhon • Maggi McKerrow, in memory of Judie McDonald • Leslie and Josh Mereminsky • David and Patricia Meyers • Norma and Scott Miller • Evelyn Mishuck • Robert and JoAnn Mogg • Dr. and Mrs. Robert B Moore • Laura Morkan • Susan Muha • Esther R. Nahama • Robert C. Nelson and Jean Fujisaki • Sherry Nicholas • Barbara and Donald Niemann • Beatrice E. Pardo • Drs. Genevieve and Kelly Parsons • Pamela Partlow and Bruce Maigatter • John and Paula Peeling • Mark Peterson • Sheila and Ken Poggenburg • Kathleen Rae • Laura and Mike Ravine • Carla and Rudolph Rehm • Margaret Riel and Hugh Mehan • Patrick Ritto • John and Johanna Roach • Mark and Lia Robinson • Jodyne Roseman • Bob and Beth Rosenfeld • Sharon Ruhnau • Ann Schall • Kari Lorraine Scott • Barbara and Guy Shaw • Beverly and Howard Silldorf • Elizabeth Simmons and Sekhar Chivukula • Drs. Ronald and Marilyn Simon • Barbara Slater • Linda Small • Norman and Judith Solomon • Bob Steck • Charles Stephens and Eric Meijer • Dr. Nancy Stewart, in memory of Dr. Charles Stewart • Jefferson Stone • Stephen and Patricia Sulivan • Jennifer Tillman • Anne Turhollow, in memory of Michael Perkins • Rick Van Noy • John Venekamp and Clifford Schireson • Joseph Viery and Steve Cusato • Dr. Ruth S. Waterman • Ted Scott and Joan Weber • Susan Chortek Weisman and Eric Weisman • Jennie Jackson Werner • Jean M Wilkinson • Joyce H. Williams • LeAnn and Sam Williams • Carey Winston • Philip and Claire Wise • Sylvia and Ed Wrench • Susan and Jock Wright • Brendan and Kaye Wynne
Reflects giving to Annual Fund, Gala Underwriting and Paddle Raises from October 2024 – December 2025.
We apologize for any errors or accidental omissions. Please contact the Individual Giving Office at (858) 550-1070 x134 if you would like to change your listing.
IN LOVING MEMORY Jordan Ressler, 1981-2004
A Film and Theatre graduate from Cornell University, Jordan was an adventurer with a passion for the arts. Here at La Jolla Playhouse, he served as an assistant to Des McAnuff on Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays and was the script supervisor for Jersey Boys
The Jordan Ressler Charitable Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation was established by his parents, Vivien and Jeffrey Ressler, to honor their son and his love of theatre and film.
FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
$100,000 +
$50,000 - $99,999
Laurents / Hatcher Foundation
Mandell Weiss Charitable Trust
William Hall Tippett and Ruth Rathell Tippett Foundation
$25,000 - $49,999
Gerald T. and Inez Grant Parker Foundation
San Diego Foundation
$10,000 - $24,999
Charles & Ruth Billingsley Foundation
David C. Copley Foundation
Samuel H. French and Katherine Weaver French Fund
National Alliance for Musical Theatre
Performing Arts Fund NL
Price Philanthropies Foundation
San Diego Scottish Rite Community Foundation
Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation
$5,000 - $9,999
City of Carlsbad’s Cultural Arts Office
Dutch Culture USA
Goodwin Family Memorial Trust
John and Marcia Price Family Foundation
Sutherland Foundation
Villa Albertine
$1,000 - $4,999
Creative West
Samuel I. & John Henry Fox Foundation
Kiwanis Club of La Jolla
Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation
$250 - $999
Actors' Equity Foundation
List as of December 2025
* Deceased
Gala Chairs Gail & Ralph Bryan Saturday, March 21, 2026
Mandell Weiss Theatre at La Jolla Playhouse
Join us for an unforgettable Gala celebrating Artistic Director Christopher Ashley’s legacy and welcoming new Artistic Director Jessica Stone. The evening will feature an electrifying performance by Tony Award-winning Broadway icon Brian Stokes Mitchell, acclaimed for his leading roles in Ragtime and Kiss Me Kate. Celebrated for his soaring baritone, commanding presence and remarkable versatility across stage, film and television, Brian Stokes Mitchell brings elegance, warmth and outstanding artistry to every performance. For more information: lajollaplayhouse.org/gala
Special appearance by MILCK, songwriter of
The generosity of individuals has made such a difference for arts nonprofits this year. Thank you for attending live theatre in San Diego.
Gifts through IRA rollovers, appreciated securities or donor advised funds, are a smart way to support our work as you can receive tax benefits. These planned gifts sustain our mission to create the new and the next in American theatre.
To see how you can help us begin 2026 with a strong first act, contact Keely Daximillion, Director of Philanthropy, at (858) 228-3084 or kdaximillion@ljp.org.
THESE GENEROUS SUPPORTERS HAVE BEEN SO INSPIRED AND, IN TURN, ARE INSPIRING OTHERS:
Anonymous
Paula and Ted Adams
Christopher Ashley
Scott Aylward
Roberta C. Baade and George F. Yee*
Quaintance Bartlett*
Roger S. Benson*
Gary and Barbara Blake Family Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Cynthia Bolker
Ralphº and Gail Bryan
Pamela B. Burkholz
Robert Caplan and Carol Randolph
Leslie J. Cohen*
Ted Cranstonº*
Robert William Cunningham
Doug Dawson
Armando de Peralta, Sr.*
Janie Decelles
Jendy Dennis* Endowment Fund
Grace Marie Duhamel*
Suzanne Figi*
Pauline Foster*
Lisa Gerardo
Ewart* “Chip” and Sherrilyn Goodwin
David and Claire Guggenheim
Kay and Bill Gurtin
Dean J. Haas
Professor Marc and Mr James Harden
Dwight Hare and Stephanie Bergsma
Denise J. Harris
Diana Jillie Hill
Joel*º and Rosanne Holliday
Bob Jacobs
Joan* and Irwin Jacobs
Jay Jeffcoat
Charmaineº* and Maury* Kaplan
Olga Khitarishvili
Bill and Linda Kolb
Dr. Gloria C.L. Ma*
Josephine R. MacConnell*
Mandell Weiss Charitable Trust
Valorie McClelland
Maggi McKerrow
Paul Miller
Stephen Cary Nagler
Teresa Nugent*
John O’Dea
Bernard Paul
Margaret F. Peninger*
Dr. Julie Prazich and Dr. Sara Rosenthal
Jennette Pyne
Karen Quiñones
Jeffreyº* and Vivien Ressler
Ellen* and Roger* Revelle
Michael S. Rosenberg
Warren Sanborn*
Ruth Shepherd*
Dale and Mark Steele
Mickey Stern*
Steven Straussº and Lise Wilson
Willardº* and Eileen* VanderLaan
Tammy Vaught
Arthur* and Molli Wagner
Peggy Ann Wallace
Geri Ann Warnkeº and Joseph F. Kennedy, M.D.*
Mandell Weiss*
Dr. Steve and Lynne Wheeler
Richard Winkler
Gary L. Wollbergº and Dr. Yumi Miyamoto
Liza Zinola
* Deceased Playhouse Legacy Circle Members
º Past Chair of La Jolla Playhouse Board
List as of September 2025
THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 DNA NEW WORKS SUPPORTERS
The DNA New Work Series, launched by Artistic Director Christopher Ashley in 2013, is part of the Playhouse’s commitment to being a home for bold new plays and musicals. Through this beloved program, playwrights and directors spend days or weeks developing their new project with access to the Playhouse’s spaces, staff and resources. The process culminates in free, intimate readings and workshops, giving audiences a rare glimpse into brand-new theatre in the making and a chance to shape its evolution.
DNA NEW WORKS FESTIVAL SPONSORS Prebys Foundation • Morrison Foerster • Greta and Stephen Treadgold
DNA DISCOVERERS Robin and Larry Rusinko
DNA SCHOLARS Margaret and Tony Acampora • Jendy Dennis Endowment Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Hal and Hilary Dunning • Dean J. Haas • Dwight Hare and Stephanie Bergsma • Judy and Bill Garrett • Peggy Ann Wallace
To support the New Work Development program and learn about special benefits like the DNA Speakeasy Lounge, reserved seating and more, contact Taylor Lehmkuhl, Individual Giving Manager at (858) 228-3086 or tlehmkuhl@ljp.org
GIVE WOW. GET WOW’D.
Without Walls (WOW) is La Jolla Playhouse’s signature performance program that takes art outside traditional theatre walls and into unique spaces. From a car to a bar, from a beach to a basement, WOW invites audiences of all ages to interact with artists and art in unexpected ways.
100+ artists. 200+ arts professionals. Thousands of people. 4 days. One unforgettable Festival, April 23-26, 2026 at UC San Diego.
Your donation helps keep the WOW Festival accessible to all and allows us to offer the majority of WOW programming totally free of charge.
Photo Credit: Kayla Foster and Evan Jonigkeit in Well Well Well at 2025 DNA New Work Series; photo by Samantha Laurent.
Georgie, a shy fourth-grader with a hidden talent for guitar, panics when asked to read aloud and ends up in the principal’s office, sparking an unexpected friendship with the fearless and ever-curious Inez. While Georgie worries about her grandfather in the hospital, she discovers an old story he once wrote: the magical tale of two fantastical creatures: Goyo and Gato. With help from her new BFF Inez, Georgie finds the courage to face her reading challenges and brings the story to life — just in time for the Festival de Primavera. In the end, talents are discovered, a family bond is deepened, and the story finds its perfect ending: ¡Colorín, Colorado, este cuento se ha acabado!
For more information on booking a POP Tour performance, please contact learningandengagement@ljp.org
LEARNING & ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS
Community Programs
The Playhouse partners with members of local affinity groups to create productions for, by, with and in the communities we serve. In addition, we provide creative opportunities for artistic development and growth for various community groups.
In-School Programs The Playhouse partners with school districts across San Diego County to place professional teaching artists in schools for intensive artist residencies aimed at providing young people with meaningful opportunities to learn about theatre. Through the Kennedy Center’s Partner in Education program, the San Diego County Office of Education and LJP team up to provide professional development for educators on how to enhance their existing lessons with theatre strategies.
JumpStart Theatre
This three-year program provides curriculum and mentorship for a team of middle school teachers to produce musicals in their schools for the first time. After three years, the school receives continued support to maintain a viable theatre program. Supported by the Peggy and Roberts Matthews Foundation and the Sutherland Foundation.
Performance Outreach Program (POP) Tour
Each year, the Playhouse commissions a new play that addresses real concerns of today’s youth and brings a professional production to schools and community centers across San Diego County. Supported by US Bank.
Spotlight On Playhouse teaching artists lead classes for adults on Improv, Musical Theatre, Acting and Technical Theatre.
Student Matinees Special student matinees of selected mainstage productions are offered throughout the school year. An online engagement guide, pre- or post-show workshops, and a post-show talkback provides a deeper understanding on how a new play is uniquely developed with Playhouse staff. Supported by California Arts Council.
Tech Theatre Training Each summer, the Playhouse hosts technical theatre training to provide exposure to career pathways in theatre production to students who are part of the SD County Juvenile Court and Community Schools and members of the military community. We also provide professional learning opportunities in technical theatre to educators.
Young Performers’ Conservatory and Junior Conservatory (YPC) Summer intensive programs that guide young artists in the process of creating theatre and that prepares performers college theatre programs; and Tech Theatre, which introduces young people to the various aspects of technical theatre. Supported by the Jordan Ressler Endowment Fund, and the Roberto Quiñones, Jr. Scholarship Fund.
For more information on La Jolla Playhouse’s Learning & Engagement Programs, please email learningandengagement@ljp.org and view our free resources for educators and families on our website.
Lead Supporters: City of San Diego | Prebys
PLAYHOUSE PARTNERS
For three decades the Playhouse Partners have donated their time, service and skills to support and promote La Jolla Playhouse. This dedicated group provides many ways to become involved, such as staffing the Patron Services desk, organizing breakfasts for the cast and crew and providing administrative support. In return, Partners receive many exciting benefits and special events, all while representing one of the foremost producing theatres in the country. La Jolla Playhouse is deeply grateful for the Partners' efforts over the last 30 years, and for so many years to come.
For
PATRON SERVICES
ACCESSIBILITY
Designated wheelchair-accessible seating is available and accessible parking is provided by UC San Diego in the Theatre District Parking Structure. Wheelchair seat locations are available for wheelchair users and a companion. Additionally, a golf cart is available to assist patrons with accessibility needs to and from the drop-off location. You may pull into the Passenger/ Ride Share Drop-Off area and a greeter will assist you. The Playhouse offers assisted listening devices free of charge at the Patron Information Booth for any patron who would like amplified sound (subject to availability). Please provide a credit card or ID for temporary deposit. Listening Devices Provided in Part by
CHILDREN under the age of 6 are not permitted in the theatre during performances unless otherwise posted. Unaccompanied minors ages 12 and under are not permitted in the theatre. Out of respect for fellow audience members and the performers, babes in arms are not permitted in the theatre during performances.
CONCESSIONS AND DINING
Start your night off right with bar and concessions service from James' Place: serving beer, wine, sodas and individuallywrapped snacks. Additionally, James’ Place provides dining service starting at 5:00pm before evening performances.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Please visit lajollaplayhouse.org/ healthandsafety for our latest policy updates.
LATE SEATING
Should you arrive late for any performance or need to leave your seat during the performance, you may be asked to wait in the lobby until an appropriate moment. To minimize any disturbance to actors or other patrons, you may stand or be seated in the first available location by House Management even if not your assigned location. Please be advised that some performances may not allow for late seating or return to your assigned seat.
PARKING
For the latest parking information, please go to lajollaplayhouse.org/parking
PATRON SERVICES is located in the lobby or courtyard of each theatre. A volunteer is available to distribute assisted listening devices and answer questions.
PHOTOGRAPHY/RECORDING DEVICES
Photography and video or audio recording of performances is strictly prohibited.
PLEASE SILENCE or turn off all electronic devices, including cell phones and watches, before the performance.
SAFETY IN THE THEATRE DISTRICT
La Jolla Playhouse is constantly working with UC San Diego Police Department and Transportation and Parking Services to maintain a safe and secure environment in the parking lots. Patrons are welcome to use the UC San Diego escort service by contacting UC San Diego Community Service Officers (CSOs) at (858) 534-9255 (WALK). Further questions regarding security, please contact UC San Diego Police at (858) 5344357 (HELP).
PLAYHOUSE STAFF
ARTISTIC
Artistic Producing Director Eric Keen-Louie
Director of Artistic Development Gabriel Greene*
Director of Experiences and Activations
Mia Fiorella*
Associate Producer Amy Ashton
Producing Associate/Local Casting Director
Hannah Reinert
Director Emeritus Des McAnuff
Directing Fellow Jacole Kitchen
Artistic Interns Abi Hood, Bluma Lezak
Commissioned Artists Melis Aker, Todd Almond, Jeff Augustin, Sam Chanse, Fernanda Coppel, Adrianne Gonzalez (AG), Matt Gould, Kenneth Lin, Mona Mansour, Jess McLeod, MILCK (aka Connie Lim), Lisa Peterson, Theresa Rebeck, Harrison
David Rivers, Claudia Shear, Octavio Solis, Jonathan Spector, Benjamin Velez, Keith Wallace, Kristina Wong, Lauren Yee
UC San Diego M.F.A. Commissions Mylan Gray, Beth Hyland, Phanésia Pharel
From a New Mediterranean Wine Bar to Japanese Hot Pot Heaven by SARAH
TAKING OVER THE French Quarterinspired building once occupied by Urban Solace, Bacari (a Venetian word for “wine bar”) has opened in the heart of North Park. The Mediterranean-inspired neighborhood bar and restaurant—operated by brothers Robert and Danny Kronfli, along with executive chef and co-owner Lior Hillel—is a two-story space that blends vintage rugs and antiques
with rustic stone work and colorful Mexican tiles for a quaint, Old World feel—complete with a plant-filled covered patio, a wraparound balcony above, and a full bar on each level. Dine on seasonal small plates for dinner and weekend brunch, from shawarma tacos to “Moroccan Cigars” (stuffed with lamb and chicken) to lamb-shakshouka pizza to challah French toast; plus craft cocktails and
global wines. 3823 30th St., North Park, eatwithbacari.com/north-park
Old Town welcomes an outlawinspired saloon by restaurateur Pietro Busalacchi: Doc Holliday’s Be transported to the Wild West with its blue velvet seats, tassel-trimmed curtains and a long bar, with food and cocktails served all day. Breakfast includes chicken ‘n’ waffles and corned beef hash; with hearty steaks,
DAOUST
Dinner at Bacari
fried chicken, and lobster mac ‘n’ cheese for dinner; plus milkshakes, floats and libations like Georgia on My Mind with Jim Beam bourbon and the gin-based Purple Haze. And a menu specialty: Doc Holliday’s “Smash Burgers” cooked in beef tallow. Try the Rockefeller, made with a double smash patty, a lobster cake, grilled onions and double American cheese. 2547 San Diego Ave., Old Town, 619.203.9603, dochollidaysd.com
With a loyal following in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Irvine, Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House has opened its first San Diego location on Convoy Street. Shabu-shabu lovers will be in Japanese hot pot heaven with its all-you-can eat, 90-minute experience,
with several premium tiers from which to choose.
Silver and Gold are great, but the Diamond Tier is a favorite—comprising Japanese A5 wagyu, Australian wagyu, specialty dishes and premium seafood. 4225 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa, 858.298.4255, mikiyashabu.com
Westfield UTC welcomes Katsuya Ko, part of the famed Katsuya brand. (“Ko” means “child” in Japanese.) The bright, contemporary restaurant features geometric lighting, playful floral and Japanese accents, an open robata and sushi bar, and a dining patio. A modern Pan-Asian menu offers signature dishes like the Original Crispy Rice and Yellowtail Jalapeño; plus new plates such as chicken
and kimchi gyoza with black-garlic ponzu; and sake, beer and wine to drink. 4303 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 2105, UTC, 858.365.5855, sbe.com
After a three-month closure for remodeling, La Jolla dining institution George’s at the Cove has reopened its Ocean Terrace. The rooftop dining
area and bar now boasts a new glass perimeter wall sans view-obstructing pillars, new dining tables and flooring, new permanent heaters and more. Those unparalleled La Jolla coastline views are now
Clockwise from top left: colorful decor and dishes at Katsuya Ko; George’s Ocean Terrace (prior to remodel).
THE CONRAD
Home of La Jolla Music Society
J AZZ Mini FESTIVAL
APRIL 6−11
MILES DAVIS & JOHN COLTRANE: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
In honor of the 100th birthdays of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, The Conrad presents a weeklong jazz festival that brings their revolutionary artistry into the present moment. This is more than a tribute. It’s a living celebration of two artists whose work changed the course of music—and a glimpse into the future they inspired.
EMMET COHEN PRESENTS:
MILES AND COLTRANE AT 100
Monday, April 6 · 5:30 PM & 8 PM
Tuesday, April 7 · 5:30 PM & 8 PM
TERENCE BLANCHARD & RAVI COLTRANE:
MILES DAVIS & JOHN COLTRANE AT 100
Thursday, April 9 • 7:30 PM · Balboa Theatre
COLTRANE 100: BOTH DIRECTIONS AT ONCE
Joe Lovano · Melissa Aldana · Ndudzo Makhathini
Linda May Han Oh · Jeff “Tain” Watts
Saturday, April 11 • 7:30 PM
Buy all three concerts and instantly save 10%!
SUMMERFEST 2026
July 31 August 29 · Inon Barnatan, Music Director
SummerFest Celebrates 40 Years
Four thrilling weeks of classical music, jazz, and community events.
Packages on sale March 2026
Inon Barnatan
Linda May Han Oh
Terence Blanchard
even better. 1250 Prospect St., La Jolla, 858.454.4244, georgesatthecove.com
With tasting rooms in South Park, Bay Park and Scripps Ranch, Harland Brewing Company has opened its fourth location, nestled in 4S Ranch. The family-friendly brewery of course features Harland’s popular pilsners, lagers, blonde and pale ales, IPAs, hard seltzers and more; along with tasty, elevated pub fare. Offerings include braised short ribs, roasted chicken, salmon poke bowls, chicken-satay salad and grilled flatbreads. (Weekend brunch is launching soon.) 16480 Paseo del Sur, Suite 105, 4S Ranch, harlandbeer.com
Jumping on the “girl dinner” dining trend train, La Jolla hot spot Marisi has debuted an elevated “Girl Dinner” menu, available every Wednesday during dinner service (5 to
“Girl Dinner” at Marisi; braised short ribs at Harland Brewing Company.
9 p.m.; $45 per person).
Grab dinner with the gals and enjoy a special prix fixe menu that includes a little gem salad with Parmigiano-Reggiano and sourdough; focaccia; and spicy rigatoni with Calabrian chilis, stracciatella and basil. To drink: the Marisi Spritz, made with Rinomato Americano Bianco, Apollonia’s limoncello and sparkling wine. 1044 Wall St., La Jolla, 858.401.6787, marisilajolla.com
shifts that still define the genre.
Davis was the master of minimalism and space, using a hauntingly lyrical trumpet tone that prioritized “the silence between the notes.” In contrast, Coltrane was a tireless searcher—developing a high-velocity “sheets of sound” technique that pushed the saxophone to its physical and harmonic limits.
Their early recordings, such as ’Round About Midnight, solidified a soulful, aggressive alternative to the “cool jazz” of the era. On the 1959 masterpiece Kind of Blue, they abandoned complex chord changes for open-ended scales. This shift allowed for greater melodic freedom and remains the template for contemporary improvisation.
While Davis eventually pioneered jazz-rock fusion, Coltrane’s later work, like A Love Supreme, turned jazz into a form of prayer, expanding the music’s purpose into the spiritual
Terence Blanchard
realm. Ultimately, their legacy is one of constant transformation, ensuring jazz remains a living, breathing art form.
The LJMS Jazz Mini Festival launches with four highly anticipated sets by the Emmet Cohen Quintet. Cohen—a piano dynamo known for his viral “Live from Emmet’s Place” online series—will present “Miles & Coltrane
at 100,” exploring the intricate synergy that defined the legends’ historic collaborations.
The festival shifts to a grander scale as trumpeter Terence Blanchard joins forces with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. This once-in-a-generation collaboration finds the son of John Coltrane and the acclaimed composer Blanchard, both Grammy Award winners, reimagining the mid-century masterpieces that changed the course of music.
The festival reaches its zenith with an all-star ensemble titled “Coltrane 100: Both Directions at Once.” Inspired by Coltrane’s description of
his own musical vision, the group features saxophonists Joe Lovano and Melissa Aldana (both also Grammy Award winners); pianist Nduduzo Makhathini; and Grammy winners: bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts.
La Jolla Music Society’s Jazz Series, launched in 2006, has established the company as one of San Diego’s foremost jazz presenters. “First and foremost, my curatorial lens is driven by artistic excellence,” says Rosenthal. “I aim to present an eclectic
Emmet Cohen
Ravi Coltrane
Take your cue. Defend democracy – donate to our work protecting civil liberties today! Scan here or visit aclu-sdic.org.
FEATURE
range of artists—from rising voices to legendary icons such as Wynton Marsalis and Herbie Hancock—who together reflect the vitality, breadth, and ongoing evolution of the jazz tradition.”
“Leah has a great commitment to lifting up artists at different stages of their careers,” says jazz pianist and saxophonist Kamau Kenyatta, a Grammy Awardwinning producer and arranger who is currently a Teaching Professor at the University of California San Diego Music Department.
“She works from programming young artists to internationally known artists—all of the highest quality, representing many nationalities and different styles. As someone who’s been in the business for over 50 years, I can tell you Leah really knows music. She’s a musician herself, and has a remarkable knowledge of music and breadth of styles she understands.”
This year, Kenyatta was invited by Rosenthal to curate emerging jazz artists concerts at The Conrad. He has programmed Shenel Johns on
Melissa Aldana
May 16; and the Jihye Lee Orchestra on June 6.
“Our work at La Jolla Music Society is rooted in preserving and celebrating jazz as a singularly premier indigenous American art form,” Rosenthal says. “Alongside many other presenters, clubs and cultural institutions in San Diego, we play a role in sustaining this musical language, ensuring its continued growth, relevance, and enjoyment for future generations.”
“I’ve seen a great variety of high-quality artists presented in the wonderful acoustics and esthetically beautiful surroundings of The Conrad,” adds Kenyatta. “I don’t know if it gets any better than that. I would hope the reputation of La Jolla Music Society spreads beyond just the jazz community. My dream is classical musicians would be inspired to hear jazz and vice versa, because of the depth and variety of music presented there—not to think about genre, but just to think about the music.”
A prolific performer throughout his career, Kenyatta says he now does more production work and mentoring; while still playing on occasion at venues like the Jazz Lounge. “My focus now is enabling younger musicians,” he says. In this, he and Rosenthal, in her goals for LJMS’ jazz program, are in perfect alignment.
“If, in some small way,
to expanding our jazz programming and to honoring this art form with the care and seriousness it deserves. The Jazz Mini Festival is simply the next step in that ongoing commitment—an expression of our deep respect for the music and our desire to bring it to ever-wider and more diverse audiences.”
Beyond the headlining concerts, the week features free courtyard performances and panel discussions at The Conrad, ensuring that the centennial of Davis and Coltrane is a true community celebration.
Emmet Cohen performs on Monday, April 6, and Tuesday, April 7, in The JAI (The Conrad’s intimate cabaret-style lounge).
Terence Blanchard and Ravi Coltrane perform at Balboa Theatre on Thursday, April 9.
“Coltrane 100: Both Directions at Once” is slated for April 11 in The Baker-Baum Concert Hall at The Conrad.
For more info and tickets, please visit theconrad.org
