La Jolla Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theatre-in-residence on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. La Jolla Playhouse logo, courtesy of SanDiegoNighttime. ... The University of California (UC) is a public university system in the state of California. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Americas Finest City Location Location of San Diego within San Diego County Coordinates , Government County San Diego Mayor City Attorney          City Council District One District Two District Three District Four District Five District Six District Seven District Eight Jerry Sanders Michael Aguirre City Council Representatives, Scott...

It was founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Mel Ferrer. In 1983, it was revived under the leadership of Des McAnuff. Since then, the Playhouse’s repertoire has included forty-one world premieres, twenty-four West Coast premieres, and seven American premieres, and has won more than three hundred honors, including the 1993 Tony Award as America’s Outstanding Regional Theatre. It is supported, in part, by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, the City of San Diego, and the County of San Diego. 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an Oscar-winning American film actor. ... Dorothy McGuire and Kent Smith in The Spiral Staircase Dorothy Hackett McGuire (June 14, 1916 – September 13, 2001) was an American actress. ... Mel Ferrer (born August 25, 1917 in Elberon, New Jersey) is an American actor, film director and film producer. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Des McAnuff is the highly celebrated, Tony award-winning director of such hit Broadway musicals as Big River, The Whos Tommy, Titanic, and most recently, Urinetown. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... What is popularly called the Tony Award (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theater, including musical theater, primarily honoring productions on Broadway in New York. ... The National Endowment for the Arts is a United States federally funded program that offers support and funding for projects that exhibit artistic excellence. ... California Arts Council Logo The California Arts Council, in the U.S. state of California, was established in 1976. ...

It was in 1951 when Desi Arnaz and several of his producers heard of a young actress named Vivian Vance. At the time, Desi was looking to cast the role of Ethel Mertz, neighbor to the Ricardo family on I Love Lucy. Arnaz and his team made the nearly two-hour drive from Los Angeles to San Diego to see Vance perform at this theatre. The team was so impressed, they offered her the role on the spot. Vance originally rejected the idea of being on a "silly television show" but later changed her mind, and television history was born. Desi Arnaz (born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha, III) (March 2, 1917 – December 2, 1986) was a Cuban-American musician, actor, comedian and television producer. ... Vivian Vance (July 26, 1909 – August 17, 1979) was an American actress and singer, born in Cherryvale, Kansas as Vivian Roberta Jones. ... I Love Lucy is a television sitcom that aired in the 1950s. ...

La Jolla Playhouse provides a number of educational opportunities for children, teens, and adults interested in theatre arts, both as performers and behind-the-scenes. In addition, the Performance Outreach Program brings professional productions to schools, libraries, and community centers throughout San Diego.

Among the productions that originated at the Playhouse before finding success on Broadway are Big River, The Who’s Tommy, Matthew Broderick's revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays and Jersey Boys. Broadway theatre is often considered the highest professional form of theatre in the United States. ... Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a musical based on Mark Twains novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, with music and lyrics by Roger Miller and book by William Hauptman. ... The Who are an English rock band that first came to prominence in the 1960s. ... Tommy (1969) is one of The Whos two full-scale rock operas, (the other being Quadrophenia) and the first musical work explicitly billed as a rock opera. ... Matthew Broderick (born March 21, 1962) is an American film and stage actor who is perhaps best known for his role as the title character in Ferris Buellers Day Off. ... How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was a humorous book by Shepherd Mead. ... Thoroughly Modern Millie is a musical comedy. ... Jersey Boys is a documentary-style musical based on the lives of one of the most successful 60s rock n roll groups, the Four Seasons. ...

La Jolla Playhouse has been home to many up-and-coming performers early in their careers, including Amy Aquino, Stephen Bogardus, Phoebe Cates, Kim Cattrall, Dann Florek, Sutton Foster, John Goodman, David Marshall Grant, Neil Patrick Harris, Linda Hunt, Holly Hunter, Laura Innes, Bill Irwin, Laura Linney, Jon Lovitz, Marin Mazzie, Cynthia Nixon, Peter Paige, Amanda Plummer, Alice Ripley, Campbell Scott, Helen Shaver, Gary Sinise, Nancy Travis, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Sherie Rene Scott and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Amy Aquino is an American Television and Stage Actress. ... Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) Phoebe Cates (born July 16, 1963) is an American film actress who, by her description, has retired from acting to be a full-time mother. ... As Samantha Jones in Sex and the City Kim Victoria Cattrall (born August 21, 1956) is an Anglo-Canadian actress. ... Dann Florek as Captain Don Cragen in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dann Florek (born May 1, 1950 in Flat Rock, Michigan) is an American actor. ... Sutton Foster is an American actress, singer, and dancer. ... John Goodman on NBCs The West Wing John Stephen Goodman (born June 20, 1952 in Affton, Missouri) is an American actor. ... Neil Patrick Harris in How I Met Your Mother Neil Patrick Harris is an American actor, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 15, 1973. ... Linda Hunt (born April 2, 1945 in Morristown, New Jersey, USA) is an American actress. ... Holly Hunter (born March 20, 1958 in Conyers, Georgia) is an American film actress. ... As Dr. Kerry Weaver on ER Laura Elizabeth Innes is an American actress and director. ... Bill Irwin (born April 11, 1950, Santa Monica, California) is an American clown and actor noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. ... Laura Linney (born February 5, 1964 in New York City) is an American actress. ... Jon Lovitz Jonathan Lovitz (born July 21, 1957) is an actor best known as a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990. ... Cynthia Nixon. ... Peter Paige Peter Paige (born June 20, 1968 in West Hartford, Connecticut) is an American actor. ... Amanda Plummer as Honey Bunny in Pulp Fiction. ... Campbell Scott (born July 19, 1961 in New York City, New York, USA) is an American actor. ... Helen Shaver (born February 24, 1951 in St. ... Gary Sinise (born March 17, 1955, in Blue Island, Illinois) is an Emmy winning American actor and film director. ... Nancy Travis Nancy Travis (born September 21, 1961 in New York City, New York, USA) is a Jewish-American actress best known for supporting roles in both movies and television. ... Press photo of Daphne Rubin-Vega at the tenth anniversary performance of Rent Daphne Rubin-Vega (born November 18, 1969 in Panama City, Panama), also known simply as Daphne, is a dance music singer and actress. ... Sherie René Scott is a well-acclaimed American actress and singer. ... Malcolm-Jamal Warner (born August 18, 1970 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is an African-American actor. ...

External links

• La Jolla Playhouse Official Website
• California Arts Council