Seasoned actor and director Jessica Stone will take over for Christopher Ashley, who is leaving LJP after 18 years for New York City\u2019s Roundabout Theatre Company.<\/a><\/p>\n Stone has worked in theater for the past 30 years, first as an actor with Broadway credits including \u201cGrease,\u201d \u201cAnything Goes,\u201d \u201cThe Odd Couple,\u201d and \u201cHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.\u201d<\/p>\n Fifteen years ago, she pivoted to directing. This move to artistic director is her next pivot.<\/p>\n In a YouTube video introducing herself to LJP\u2019s audience, Stone said, \u201cI\u2019m honored to be a part of this place with its reputation for audacious theater\u2026 I look forward to reexamining, and maybe even redefining what audacious theater means.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n San Diego is familiar with Stone\u2019s work, even as she has spent the past six years directing on Broadway. Before that, she directed multiple shows at The Old Globe, starting with \u201cVanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike\u201d in 2014, the world premiere of \u201cKen Ludwig\u2019s Robin Hood!\u201d in 2017 and Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cAs You Like It\u201d in 2019.<\/p>\n Most recently, the national tour of musical \u201cKimberly Akimbo\u201d had its west coast premiere at Broadway San Diego in 2024<\/a>. Stone directed the tour and its counterpart on Broadway, for which she was Tony nominated as best director. Although she did not win, \u201cKimberly Akimbo\u201d won the Tony Award for best musical in 2023.<\/p>\n A year later, Stone was back at the Tony\u2019s for her direction of \u201cWater for Elephants,\u201d which will tour in San Diego in August 2026. She was beat out by Danya Taymor for her direction of \u201cThe Outsiders,\u201d the Best Musical winner<\/a> which originated at LJP<\/a> before moving to Broadway.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Outsiders\u201d multiple wins put LJP\u2019s Tony count up to 42 from the 37 shows the regional theater has sent to Broadway. Founded in 1947, LJP focuses on what\u2019s next for American theater and is known for its development of plays and musicals.<\/p>\n \u201cJoining 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 theater can be \u2013 is thrilling to me,\u201d Stone said in a press release, going on to describe La Jolla Playhouse as one of the foremost theaters in the country.<\/p>\n \u201cI am honored to be a part of its storied history.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Jessica Stone and Debby Bucholz make up La Jolla Playhouse\u2019s first all-woman leadership team. (Photo by Erica Joan\/La Jolla Playhouse)<\/p>\n