1. La Jolla Playhouse

    1. La Jolla Playhouse

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    La Jolla, CA

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    La Jolla Playhouse

    4.5 (162 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 6:00 PM

    La Jolla Playhouse Photos

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    Excellent two-handed
    Grace R.

    Consistently one of the best theater venues in San Diego. They attract some of the most interesting pieces, showcasing up-and-coming and established talent. Every seat is a good seat! Highly recommend subscribing bc the parking and discounted rates for additional tickets are worth it! Folks are nice and unpretentious while knowledgeable and refined. Always leave feeling thoughtful and entertained.

    Deb N.

    Wow tonight's treat was The Monsters. I didn't really know what to expect and sometimes that's the joy of the theater you come away so pleasantly fulfilled. This production brought about so many emotions from laughter to tears to understanding family dynamics. I can't say this is such a physical show within the first two minutes I thought wow I don't think I could do a Burpee let alone do multiple Burpee and continue like I wasn't out of breath Fast moving 100% engaging a trip to the La Jolla Playhouse to catch this one

    View from the balcony AA seats
    Wendy G.

    Very enjoyable first time at La Jolla Playhouse for a Sunday afternoon performance of The Heart. The theater was clean, spacious, well ventilated and staffed with friendly ushers. BF and I were stoked to get balcony seats at the top - lots of legroom, birds eye view and no getting up and down when others arrive. The Heart was an excellent original play, and we especially liked the vocals of the main nurse and the organ donation requesting doctor. The play felt contemporary and local, set in San Diego and with a fun electronic soundtrack that riffed well off the heartbeat thematic element. There was a packed house of elders at this performance, but no noise or other disturbances, the stage lighting was great, and we had a wonderful time doing something different and supporting local theater.

    Lobby bar and snack bar
    Rhondi S.

    Came to see The Recipe, a play of Julia Childs life and career. The La Jolla playhouse is a nice setting, not a bad seat in the house, even the upstairs balcony. Great acoustics, comfortable seating and a lobby bar with beer, wine and cocktails. Friendly staff that is helpful and courteous. Parking structure a few blocks away that is convenient. We typically see 4-5 plays a year and have never been disappointed.

    Linda L.

    If I could give a higher rating, I most definitely would! The entire staff is extremely friendly, especially the box office! I had physical tickets to Sasha Velour show but I left them at home in LA. I called a couple hours before the show and they were able to reprint them for me to pick up at the box office. Super friendly! The bathrooms were pretty clean and the space felt intimate and the seats were cushy. They had free parking at one of the UCSD parking structures with a shuttle that takes you to the venue. If not, it's also a short, leisurely walk there that takes about 7-9 minutes.

    Laura P.

    It was a great experience attending a play here. It was my first visit and I will definitely come back. There were many friendly smiling staff members to assist and provide directions where to go. The parking and shuttle was so easy and seamless. The play was excellent as expected. The theatre lived up to their stellar reputation with this show. I can't wait to come back!

    Cari A.

    Last night I saw Redwood at the Potiker theater. It is amazing that such well known artists such as Idina Menzel have made appearances at this playhouse. Pros: -free parking/shuttle services to the event -tickets range in price which helps people at different price points. There were even people who were in the standing section for Redwood, which I had no idea was even an option. Cons: -be careful of where you choose your seat. I sat in the balcony seat AA 210 and couldn't see 1/3 of the stage so at times I could only hear what was happening. I'm a little surprised that these seats were offered.

    Interior, pre-show.  Perfectly-sloped seating so everyone has great views.
    Craig W.

    The La Jolla Playhouse is a live theater venue which, while small, has a big reputation for sending plays to Broadway. They don't all become hits in NYC but a substantial number have succeeded. The acoustics are very good. The sight lines are superb. The theater seating is perfectly sloped so you could see the stage even if Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sat in front of you. Well done, designers. There's a parking structure about a ten minute walk away. Easy peasy. This little theater has a big reputation and for good reason.

    Morena G.

    First time for us going to this theater. What a phenomenal performance! The actors and music were outstanding. I highly recommend this musical to anyone who is a Johnny Cash fan. I was very impressed.

    Stage from the entrance to the seating area

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    1 year ago

    Love the Playhouse most plays here are fantastic except for Indian Princess what a bummer. Worst play I've ever seen.

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    1 year ago

    Wonderful from start to finish, saw the wonderful play Indian Princessess and laughed so hard.

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - La Jolla Playhouse

    Review Highlights - La Jolla Playhouse

    The three different theatres, Weiss Theatre, The Forum, and the Potiker Theatre provide such a wonderful variety of entertaining plays.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    ArtPower at UC San Diego

    ArtPower at UC San Diego

    3.0(4 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    I have not been able to go to a show because they won't return emails or calls with a question…read moreabout a handicap spouse. Artpower is so lameI don't recommend anyone going to any of their shows. I called UCSD Mandeville Center and they even said we don't work with Artpower anymore, They they did not leave a telephone number to contact and never return their attempts for communication either either.

    World-class performing artists spanning many genre and media make for an impressive season each new…read moreyear. Many performances are accompanied by pre- and post-performance talks, "tasting" and classes. The artistic director clearly favors chamber music (enough quartets already!) and may be catering to the La Jolla crowd. But each seasons there are a few surprises adding flavor with dance companies, satirists (David Sedaris is a regular), and traditional and world music. As with any arts company, they are at the mercy of benefactors' preferences, but more variety would definitely help to move ArtPower to premier status. The venues are all about the UC San Diego campus depending on the scope and popularity of performance. Mandeville Auditorium is perfectly tuned for classical music. The Loft @ UCSD leaves something to be desired. The price tags again favor the La Jolla crowd for season support but on a show here and there it is worth the splurge UCSD students can get a special and well-discounted ticket rate.

    RIMAC Arena

    RIMAC Arena

    2.5(31 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    RIMAC arena is a high tech gymnasium that is good for volleyball games and other indoor court…read moresports. We saw UCSD take on UCLA in volleyball. UCSD won in three sets. There is a ticket fee for all non students. The small arena has a large screen scoreboard that is paired up with a loud sound system for music. It's very entertaining and fun during the breaks. They have a "block party" for every UCSD block and the staff throws free t shirts into the stands. There is one small snack stand for sodas, nachos, pretzels and typical sports food. It was staffed with two people. There is no beer or wine served here so get ready for Gatorade. The arena is a nice volleyball venue where 200-300 spectators watched the game very comfortably. It was fun with music and the great announcer.

    Eh. I've never…read morereally been a fan of seeing shows at Rimac Arena. I mean, when you wanna check out a hot show and you're REALLY excited about it... it's hard to get upset about the venue. You just wanna catch the performance. This was the case last night for the big Flight of the Conchords show at UCSD. Been wanting to see those cats for years, and finally, they brought their tour through San Diego. The show could have been at the Miramar Landfill for all I cared... I just wanted to see the best musical comedy duo since Tenacious D up close and personal, and it happened to be on this particular college campus. The show was great, but I despise the layout of Rimac. It's primarily used to house the UCSD basketball teams (both men and women), and it doubles as a large concert venue for bands and artists with a big draw. Unfortunately, the space yields some terrible acoustics. I don't think shows were necessarily top of mind during construction of this venue, and it's apparent by the vast amount of metal pillars and various other adornments that cause the sound to bounce all over the place. I think they could spend some of that trust fund loot to throw some egg crates on the walls to absorb the sound, but that's just me. You know when you see a show in a gymnasium, and for a moment, you totally forget that you're in some sweaty sports venue? Well, that's not the case here. You're well aware that you're in a basketball arena, for sure. You really have to commend the staff at UCSD for doing so many great things for the students enrolled here, though. Seems like they have a different music festival going on every month (Sungod, for example). However, I just wish they could warm up the arena somehow. It'd be like doing yoga in the middle of Time's Square. Sure, the yoga would awesome... but it'd be really tough to get the full experience because you're in the middle of a bustling intersection. Like that yoga comparison, it's hard to fully get into 'show mode' here. But coming full circle, sometimes you have to make sacrifices to see some of your favorite bands. It's unfortunate that our city doesn't have more 'real' music venues in town for an act of this caliber. Uncomfortable bench seating in a college sports hall hardly does the trick for me.

    Photos
    RIMAC Arena
    RIMAC Arena - Howell!!

    Howell!!

    RIMAC Arena - Go Howell #8!!

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    Go Howell #8!!

    Mandeville Auditorium

    Mandeville Auditorium

    3.1(7 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    well...been here many times over the years…read more.. 1st i went to UCSD for 4 1/2 years and earned a minor in Theater...so yup spent some time in here 2nd....some the famous Chun perform in the Nutcracker in 2017 3rd...my daughter competed in her 1st ever dance competition this month. stage is big backstage is spacious lots of dressing room space bathrooms are large and clean. lobby is a bit small great food options just a short walk away, if you're stuck here all day.

    The seats here are comfortable and there is enough leg room in between each level of seating. I…read moreused to go to UCSD, so I have visions of taking tests when I come here, which are never fun. It may be difficult to find the theatre if you've never been to UCSD before, so it might help to print out the campus map before going and go early in order to find parking. The north side of campus (near La Jolla Village Drive, by Revelle College) has ample parking if you're going to the theatre here on the weekend which provides free parking. The acoustics here are great. La Jolla Symphony performs here (as do other various performers), and the place is terrific for that. Not a bad seat in the house for acoustics. When I used to attend UCSD I would go here to listen to various performers. The one that sticks in my mind - where I sat all the way in the back was when a visiting quartet played Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings... one of the most amazing pieces ever. It was so beautifully played that it almost made me cry. The theatre was able to create a beautiful echo in which helped evoking those emotions (and let me tell you I don't cry easily...). During intermission you can go outside and grab yourself a snack, coffee (if you are having trouble staying awake) as there is a little coffee kiosk directly outside. The Box Office and the Will Call area are inside the building, across from where you walk into the theatre. Great little place. Would definitely recommend this theatre.

    Photos
    Mandeville Auditorium  - Lea Delaria and 3 piece jazz band with Bowie covers, comedy and truth telling!

    Lea Delaria and 3 piece jazz band with Bowie covers, comedy and truth telling!

    Mandeville Auditorium
    Mandeville Auditorium  - Art Power event!

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    Art Power event!

    La Jolla Playhouse - theater - Updated July 2026

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