• Job Description

  Req#: 32748243438

  La Jolla Playhouse's production of COME FROM AWAY. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

  APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

  OPPORTUNITY

  La Jolla Playhouse (the Playhouse) is excited to welcome a new visionary leader to serve as its next Artistic Director, shaping the Playhouse's artistic footprint and, in light of the organization's expansive cultural influence, the future of American theatre. Serving in partnership with La Jolla Playhouse's Managing Director, the Artistic Director co-leads one of the premiere theatre producing companies in the nation, developing plans for how the theatre's work can reach audiences locally and globally. The new Artistic Director will have the opportunity to create art in an atmosphere of great care, kindness, and respect for the people who contribute to the Playhouse's enduring success. The Artistic Director will lead a team of top-tier artists, artisans, community engagement specialists, and theatre professionals focused on ensuring the highest quality of performance in any forum that the Playhouse produces, from local pop-up tours and special events that introduce young people to the power and possibilities of what live performance can mean for developing a full and expansive world view to grand scale Broadway-bound musicals. Serving in an ambassadorial role for the Playhouse, the Artistic Director will give significant time and care to promoting the Playhouse's local San Diego impact and influence while also continuing to grow the Playhouse's national and international reputation.

  BACKGROUND AND CURRENT ENVIRONMENT

  Mission

  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

  At La Jolla Playhouse, 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.

  The Playhouse's brilliant and innovative productions of new plays and musicals, as well as immersive projects and classics, have merited over 300 major honors and 42 Tony Awards, including the 1993 Tony Award for America's Outstanding Regional Theatre.

  Founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer, La Jolla Playhouse thrived as a summer stock retreat for such Hollywood luminaries as Vivian Vance, Groucho Marx and Eve Arden. The Playhouse went on hiatus from 1959 – 1982, but a handful of dedicated supporters fought to keep the Playhouse alive, eventually working to revive it on the campus of UC San Diego (UCSD) in 1983. The relationship between the Playhouse and UCSD is an important one. The Playhouse and UCSD actively work together to seek new ways for each institution to gain advantage from this unique and successful complementary relationship.

  Since its revival in 1983, La Jolla Playhouse rose to prominence as one of the most celebrated regional theatres in the country. Under the artistic leadership of Des McAnuff (1983 – 1994; 2001 – 2007), the Playhouse developed dozens of new works, many of which transferred to Broadway, including Big River, The Who's Tommy and Jersey Boys. In 1993, the Playhouse was awarded the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Between McAnuff's bookended artistic leadership, Michael Grief (1995-1999) and Anne Hamburger (1999-2000) served as artistic leaders of the Playhouse.

  New work development is a core commitment for the Playhouse. With the signature programs Page To Stage and DNA New Works Series , the Playhouse has served as one of the American theatre's most significant generators of new work, with incubation beginning at La Jolla, often resulting in full production in a Playhouse season, and then extending to national and international influence through subsequent regional and commercial productions.

  Christopher Ashley has served as Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse since 2007, and he will depart the company after a hugely successful tenure to become Roundabout Theatre Company's Artistic Director in 2026. Under his artistic leadership, the Playhouse has solidified its reputation of originating new work, producing a total of 120 world premieres and sending 37 productions to Broadway – including the international hit musical Come From Away (for which Ashley won the 2017 Best Direction of a Musical Tony Award) and the 2024 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, The Outsiders.

  Deepening the Playhouse's connection to the San Diego community, Ashley inaugurated the Resident Theatre Program in 2008 , providing a temporary home each year for an up-and-coming theatre company. In 2011, he spearheaded the innovative Without Walls (WOW) series of site-inspired and immersive theatre. The Playhouse hosts an annual WOW Festival featuring local and international artists in free-of-charge, vibrant, interactive experiences that amplify the energy of the city. WOW Festival's influence extends year-round beyond the annual four-day festival into stand-alone performances throughout the year and ongoing development opportunities. This programming runs parallel to the more traditional format of theatre productions that are a foundation of the Playhouse's artistic footprint and has extended the company's reach through its commitments to different forms of live performance in more immersive settings.

  The Playhouse's Learning and Engagement commitments are a signature component of the company's current organizational priorities, and reflect the unique character of the greater San Diego community. Programs under the Learning and Engagement banner include the Playhouse's acclaimed Performance Outreach Program (POP) Tour , in which a brand new, Playhouse-commissioned work performed by local San Diego theater artists brings the magic of theatre into San Diego schools, a robust Teen Council , classes for adults and youth, the aforementioned POP Tour, and the Military and Veterans Programs (MVP Initiative) . With the military community being a large and important part of San Diego's civic identity, MVP is a program that uniquely speaks to the needs and individuals living and working within the region.

  The Playhouse produces an annual six-production season of musicals and plays in three spaces–the 504-seat Weiss Theatre (its primary performance space), the Potiker Theatre, a black box space configurable for 300-450 seats; and the Forum Theatre, a 400-seat thrust space. The Playhouse's current annual budget is nearly $24 million, and they maintain a very strong balance sheet including long-term assets of nearly $80 million in the form of a traditional endowment and Board designated reserves. The Playhouse also controls 24 apartments that are used for artist housing for productions and new work development. The Playhouse's Board of Directors is an active and engaged group of civic leaders (currently 54 Trustees) from the greater San Diego community.

  To learn more about the La Jolla Playhouse, its mission, history, and values, please visit the Playhouse's website at .

  POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  The Artistic Director serves as co-leader of La Jolla Playhouse in partnership with the Managing Director, Debby Buchholz . Ms. Buchholz is a highly respected figure in the theatre world and is the current President of the League of Resident Theaters (LORT). The co-leadership team reports directly to the Playhouse's Board of Directors and each hold their own seats as Trustees. Key priorities for the Artistic Director role include:

  Affirming Artistic Excellence and Reach

  The Artistic Director is responsible for leading the planning and execution of the full range of artistic activities for the Playhouse including productions within the Playhouse's annual subscription season, development of new works, artistic offerings within the community, and as-yet-unrealized new initiatives to extend the company's reach, influence, and impact. The Artistic Director will build and maintain relationships with emerging artists, producers, writers, directors, actors, other creatives, and peer theatres with whom the Playhouse co-produces. Working with a high-functioning artistic team (currently an Artistic Producing Director, Director of Artistic Development, Associate Producer, and Director of Experiences and Activations) and talented production staff, the Artistic Director will oversee the manner and means in which the Playhouse produces work that supports the company's mission. Maintaining and uplifting the Playhouse's status as one of the leading theatre companies in the United States will be front and center in the Artistic Director's goals and ambitions; balancing a local and national presence for the company will go into all decision-making. The Artistic Director is also expected to actively participate in the annual creative life of the Playhouse, serving in an artistic leadership capacity relating to their own specialization within the field.

  Stewarding a Healthy Institution

  As the staff co-leader working in strong partnership with the Playhouse's Managing Director, the Artistic Director will enthusiastically embrace the responsibilities of institutional care. Establishing strong relationships with Playhouse Staff and Board will be a priority for the new Artistic Director. The Artistic Director will be invested in the full health and welfare of the company, and will take appropriate ownership of leadership participation in fund development (including securing all talent and organizing the programming for the Playhouse's annual fundraising gala), establishing company policies and procedures, and maintaining a serious-minded approach to short and long-term stability of the Playhouse's finances. As a direct link to the Playhouse Board of Directors, the Artistic Director will attend all Board meetings, deliver an Artistic Director's report, as well as arrange an “artistic spotlight” for those meetings.

  Deepening The Playhouse's Engagement Near and Far

  With a commitment to opening up the artistic experience that the Playhouse creates to an ever-wider audience, the Artistic Director will be dedicated to the short and long-term impact of community engagement, learning opportunities, and a progressive idea of arts education. Overseeing the Playhouse's Learning and Engagement efforts, the Artistic Director will invest real time and energy in understanding current programming and work side-by-side with staff to create new pathways for broader engagement. With an understanding that local ripples can create national waves, the Artistic Director will integrate all engagement efforts into planning and decision-making with the overarching goal of ensuring that the Playhouse is viewed as a thought leader in how to build meaningful community connections with expansive resonance.

  Centering Kindness, Integrity, and Respect

  La Jolla Playhouse's new Artistic Director will enter a culture that is supportive, nurturing, and joyful, a place where people feel they can do their best work. Adding to that culture will be a top priority for the Artistic Director in all actions and deeds in service to the Playhouse directly and as a highly visible public ambassador within the creative community.

  La Jolla Playhouse has a strong preference to see these characteristics and traits in candidates for the Artistic Director role:

  An expert-level proficiency as an artistic creative in the theatre arts (with a preference towards stage direction);

  Experience in and passion for ambitious new work development in theatre, particularly in musicals;

  An activated network of producers, writers, directors, actors, designers, and other creatives within the regional and commercial theatre world;

  An interest in and commitment to partnering with a world-class theatre training program in the development of the next generation of artists;

  A warm and open presence - someone who can easily form authentic and meaningful relationships and has a positive approach to confronting challenge and change;

  The ability to serve as leader, coach and mentor, allowing the team to excel in their particular areas of expertise. Demonstrated leadership experience within organizations is helpful but not required;

  A voracious appetite for learning and lifelong education that manifests itself in the ability to prepare for change and to understand how to recalibrate leadership style;

  The ability to dream big and help lead a team in developing vision and long-term plans that advance the mission and values of the Playhouse;

  Satisfaction in facilitating the best work in others and the ability to generously support other artists;

  A highly collaborative, inclusive spirit; a committed partner in the success of an institution;

  A dynamic public presence that will inspire artists, Board, staff, partners, and the public to collaborate on and support the Playhouse's artistic work and organizational vision;

  The desire to be a part of the greater San Diego community, and to work in service to a community in need of cultural enrichment;

  Deep curiosity and an interest in what's new and what's next; and

  Integrity, truthfulness, and ethics.

  COMPENSATION AND START DATE

  The annual salary range for the Artistic Director role at the Playhouse begins at $400,000 and includes a full benefit package commensurate with other organizations of its size in this industry. The company intends to make a hiring decision by the third quarter of 2025, with the selected candidate transitioning into the position with appropriate timing in line with Christopher Ashley's departure at the end of the calendar year.

  This position will require a varying work schedule, including evenings, weekends, and travel.

  La Jolla Playhouse is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on one or any combination of the following: race (which includes, but is not limited to, race-associated traits such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, military or veteran status, physical or mental disabilities, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. La Jolla Playhouse will make a good faith effort to provide reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless undue hardship would result.

  La Jolla Playhouse has engaged Management Consultants for the Arts to facilitate this important search; Jonathan West (Managing Director) and Emily Knapp (Consultant) are leading the process. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit in complete confidence a cover letter, resumé, and four professional references. The cover letter of no more than 1½ pages should address how the opportunities and challenges shared in this profile intersect with the candidate's professional background and what about this opportunity is of greatest interest to them personally. Application materials should have the applicant's name included as part of each file name and must be submitted electronically by clicking the APPLY NOW button below.

  Once all materials have been submitted online, the applicant will receive a confirmation of their submission via the email address provided in the application. For clarification on any of this information, please contact Christy Wall at ...@mcaonline.com .

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• About the company

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