La Jolla’s Theatre Village
Last year ground was broken for the La Jolla Playhouse (LJP) Joan and Irwin Jacobs Center. It was exciting then and it’s really exciting now. The 50,000-square-foot Jacobs Center will serve as the new artistic and administrative home for LJP. It will foster play development, and the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre will be a featured part of that effort, serving as a supportive laboratory for artists and educators to collaborate on development and production of innovative interpretations of great classic works, new plays and musicals, as well as educational programs.
When I interviewed artistic director Des McAnuff in 2003, he had this to say about his vision of the new plant: “We’ll do more development work. It’s about deepening the work here, and it will enable us to improve the quality of work we do, which is our struggle and always has been, to get better, not necessarily bigger. By deepening our work I mean we’ll be able to take a project from its inception through developmental steps to full production.”
McAnuff talked about a sense of openness where everyone can see what everyone else is doing. The whole notion of working within a busy, creative community kept coming up in conversation. There will be Seuss One and Seuss Two rehearsal rooms, a duel use restaurant/cabaret, a design studio with additional shop support space, a storage warehouse, and Charmaine and Maury Kaplan administrative offices. The library will pay homage to La Jolla’s beloved Ellen Revelle, and the artistic director’s office will honor the long-time LJP trustee, Dorothy Johnston, who committed so much to the Playhouse. Visitors will enjoy the Castendyck Hospitality Center, and a conference room will be dedicated to Mickey and Faiya Fredman.
The Gregory Peck Park will tie together the Jacobs Center with the Mandell Weiss Theatre and Forum. Along with the Molli and Arthur Wagner Dance Building, there will be a true theatre district. Gregory Peck, a La Jolla boy, was a founder of the LJP and was involved in the campaign for this revitalization. The park is a fitting tribute to him, as well as a symbol of the celebrated actor’s values.
The Jacobs Center for LJP will be the centerpiece of a permanent year-round theatre village, where audiences will come for a day or two — even three — of performances, discussions, play readings, tours, meals, cabaret performances, and the good company of other theatre goers and artists. It will be a place where people engage in theatre activity at every level. Call 858/550-1070 or visit www.lajollaplayhouse.com. — Darlene G. Davies

La Jolla Stage Company Goes Downtown
Their performance space may be at the Hershel Avenue Firehouse, but The Westgate Hotel lobby became their stage as the La Jolla Stage Company brought the best of all worlds together at a high tea. It featured fashions, boutiques, show excerpts, and a hat contest, among other things. One model, Shanly Gardner-Smith, only had to search her own closet for the assortment of hats she showed on the runway.
— Nanette Martin

Making Sweet Summer Music
La Jolla Music Society’s SummerFest runs from August 4 through August 22, and offers musical delights. A few of the tantalizing programs include “In Vienna’s Golden Glow” on August 10, the Chick Corea Trio on August 17, and “The Music of the Law: Sandra Day O’Connor” on August 12. The latter is a special event of SummerFest, with music of Schubert, a talk by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, and the impressive venue of the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego. Much more is planned for the festival, from a gala to coaching workshops and open rehearsals. For tickets and a complete schedule, Call 858/459-3728 or visit www.lajollamusicsociety.org. —

Supporting The Symphony
The Symphony Stars held their spring luncheon at the home of Jack and Patty Queen. The outdoor event began with a wine reception courtesy of Henry Wines, followed by a luncheon catered by TK&A Custom Catering. A French horn quartet entertained guests as they mingled around the pool. Symphony Stars was started in 1999 by Lael Kovtun to bring together women who love orchestral music and wish to support its future. Women wishing to learn more about the organization should call 619/685-4885.
Another way to get up close and personal with the San Diego Symphony is through their new program, Partner with a Player. Become personally acquainted with the musician and instrument of your preference by sponsoring a player. Partners and players will have their photographs hung in Copley Symphony Hall for all to see and are entitled to special orchestra performances, and VIP treatment, such as access to the Revelle Room during intermission and complimentary valet parking. For more information call 619/235-0800. — Charles Union

La Jolla Symphony & Chorus’s Upcoming Season
An inviting 2004-2005 season has been announced by La Jolla Symphony & Chorus (LJS&C). The programming is especially appealing, which may, in part, be due to LJS&C’s 50th anniversary celebration. Several San Diego musical colleagues will be performing with the symphony and chorus during the upcoming season. They include The Four Horns of San Diego Symphony, The San Diego Master Chorale, and the much admired jazz and classical pianist, Cecil Lytle, as well as others. Six major concerts are scheduled from October of this year through June 2005. In addition, there will be a 50th anniversary gala, a Christmas Messiah Sing, and a Winner’s Showcase Concert. The organization is celebrating 50 years of imaginative programming and impressive performances by talented musicians from the San Diego community during the coming year. We may all want to be a part of it. Call 858/534-4637, or visit www.lajollasymphony.com. — Darlene G. Davies

Culture Calendar
6th @ Penn (619/688-9210)
Thru 7/25: The Maids
Thru 7/2: A Lesson from Aloes
Athenaeum Mozart Festival II (858/454-5872)
7/4, 11, 18 and 25: At the Neurosciences Institute, John Jay Hopkins Drive.
Cedros Gallery Night
Every third Thursday the galleries stay open late and offer food, drinks and local music, as well as fine art.
Del Mar Fairgrounds (858/755-1161)
Thru 7/5: The Del Mar Fair: San Diego County Fair is honoring the 100th Birthday of San Diego's beloved Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel with a "Seussentennial Celebration"
Four Seasons Resort Aviara (760/603-3773)
Thru 7/23: Summer Jazz Concert Series, 6pm- 8pm, $50 per person, per concert or $200 for all five concerts, four-course dinner are $150 per person, inclusive of concert, wine with each course, tax, gratuity and valet parking, dinner and concert at 6pm.
Horton Grand Theater (619/234-9583)
Ongoing: Triple Espresso, Days and times vary, $33.50-$36.50
Humphrey's Concerts by the Bay (619/224-3577)
7/15: Petula Clark
7/16: Etta James
7/30: Don Rickels and Joan Rivers
La Jolla Art Association Gallery
8/9-8/22:. The Seduction of Color. An art exhibit with five award-winning artists. 858/459-3001
Lambs Players Theater (619/437-0600)
7/2 -9/12. Art. A tony award winning comedy about three friends and their quest to define art. Times vary.
La Jolla PLayhouse (858/550-1010)
Thru 8/1: Continental Divide.
Museum of Photographic Arts (619/238-7559)
Thru 8/15: Exhibit: Robert Weingarten, Los Angeles photographer
The Old Globe Theater (619/23-GLOBE)
7/10-8/1: Lucky Duck
Thru-9/25: Summer Shakespeare Festival: Antony and Cleopatra, As You Like It and The Two Noble Kinsmen, Days, time, prices vary
San Diego Civic Theater (619/570-1100)
7/6-7/18: Hairspray. $34-$78.
San Diego Museum of Art (619/232-7931)
Thru 9/6: Exhibit- St. Peter and the Vatican: The Legacy of the Popes
San Diego Symphony (619/235-0804)
7/9-7/10: David Clayton-Thomas with Blood, Sweat and Tears & The Association
7/16-7/17: John Pizzarelli Trio
7/23-7/24: The Mickey & Judy Show
7/30-7/31: Viva Italia
Theater in Old Town. ((619/688-2494)
Thru 8/: I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.
$25-$40.
Trios Gallery (858/793-6040)
7/15-8/15: Summertime, a collection of paintings by Dulce Maria Rivas and Adriana Lobo of Aguascalientes, Mexico. Free to public.