Ornate theater interior with a red stage curtain and rows of empty velvet seats before a performance

San Diego Theaters: The Complete Guide to Live Stages

Name: Sandi Spots
Address: San Diego, CA, US
Price range: Free

San Diego is one of the strongest regional theater towns in the country — two Tony-winning houses, a Broadway touring series, and a deep bench of neighborhood companies. Here's every stage worth knowing.

Last updated August 29, 2026

Quick answer

San Diego's major theaters are The Old Globe in Balboa Park (three stages, Tony Award for regional theatre, Shakespeare outdoors each summer), La Jolla Playhouse at UC San Diego (a Broadway incubator — Jersey Boys, Come From Away and Memphis all started there), and Broadway San Diego, which brings national touring musicals to the San Diego Civic Theatre downtown. Mid-size companies include Cygnet Theatre in Liberty Station, North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach, Lamb's Players Theatre in Coronado, Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista, Diversionary Theatre in University Heights (one of the country's oldest LGBTQ theaters), New Village Arts in Carlsbad and San Diego Repertory Theatre. Tickets typically run $25–$60 at neighborhood houses and $60–$175 for touring Broadway; most companies offer rush, under-30, student and military discounts.

San Diego theaters at a glance

Theater	Area	Known for	Typical ticket
The Old Globe	Balboa Park	Classics, new work, Summer Shakespeare	$35–$110
La Jolla Playhouse	UC San Diego / La Jolla	Broadway-bound premieres, WOW Festival	$35–$105
Broadway San Diego (Civic Theatre)	Downtown	National touring musicals	$60–$175
Cygnet Theatre	Liberty Station	Contemporary plays and musicals	$35–$75
North Coast Repertory	Solana Beach	Intimate professional plays	$30–$70
Lamb's Players Theatre	Coronado	Family-friendly seasons, Festival of Christmas	$30–$80
Moonlight Amphitheatre	Vista	Outdoor summer musicals, lawn seating	$20–$65
Diversionary Theatre	University Heights	LGBTQ+ stories	$25–$55
New Village Arts	Carlsbad Village	Bold small-cast work	$25–$55
The Roustabouts / OnStage / Scripps Ranch	Countywide	New plays and community theater	$20–$40

The big three

If you only see one show, it's almost certainly at one of these.

The Old Globe

Balboa Park, 1363 Old Globe Way · Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre

Three stages inside Balboa Park: the 600-seat Old Globe Theatre, the intimate Sheryl and Harvey White arena stage, and the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, where the Summer Shakespeare Festival plays under the eucalyptus. Seasons mix Shakespeare, world premieres and a hugely popular Grinch musical every November–December.

Local tip: Park in the Balboa Park lots off Old Globe Way or Alcazar and walk five minutes — arrive 45 minutes early on weekends.

La Jolla Playhouse

UC San Diego campus, 2910 La Jolla Village Dr · Broadway incubator

Founded by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and Mel Ferrer, and now the launchpad for a remarkable number of Broadway hits — Jersey Boys, Come From Away, Memphis, Diana and more. Three theaters plus the WOW Festival of site-specific, immersive work. This is where to go if you want to see a show before New York does.

Local tip: Park in the Gilman Parking Structure; the Playhouse validates or sells event parking on show nights.

Broadway San Diego at the Civic Theatre

Downtown, 1100 Third Ave · 2,967 seats

The touring Broadway series — Hamilton, Wicked, The Lion King, Book of Mormon and each season's newest tours — plays the San Diego Civic Theatre downtown. Season subscriptions go on sale in spring; single tickets usually release a few months before each run.

Local tip: Ace Parking garages around Civic Center Plaza are cheapest pre-paid online; the Trolley's Civic Center station is a block away.

Mid-size and neighborhood companies

Smaller houses, sharper prices, and often the most interesting programming in town.

Cygnet Theatre

Liberty Station, Point Loma · New Joan B. Kroc Theatre

Cygnet's home in Liberty Station's arts district pairs ambitious musicals and contemporary plays with a walkable pre-show dining scene at Liberty Public Market.

North Coast Repertory Theatre

Solana Beach · Under 200 seats

An intimate professional house in a North County strip-mall setting that consistently punches far above its size, with strong casts and a loyal subscriber base.

Lamb's Players Theatre

Coronado · Plus dinner theater

A resident company in a historic Coronado building, known for polished, family-appropriate seasons and the annual Festival of Christmas. Their American Rhythm Live cabaret is a separate downtown-adjacent offering.

Moonlight Amphitheatre

Brengle Terrace Park, Vista · Outdoor, summer season

Big outdoor musicals under the stars from June through September. Bring a low chair or blanket for lawn seating and a jacket — North County nights cool off fast.

Local tip: Lawn tickets are the best theater value in the county; picnics are welcome.

Diversionary Theatre

University Heights · Third-oldest LGBTQ theater in the U.S.

A small, essential company producing queer stories year-round, with a rooftop cabaret space and easy walk to Park Boulevard restaurants.

New Village Arts

Carlsbad Village · North County coastal

A scrappy, well-run company in downtown Carlsbad with a gallery and bar attached — an easy pairing with dinner in the village and a beach walk beforehand.

Scripps Ranch Theatre, OnStage Playhouse & The Roustabouts

Scripps Ranch / Chula Vista / countywide · Community and new work

Scripps Ranch Theatre runs an Out on a Limb new-play festival, OnStage Playhouse is South Bay's longest-running community theater in Chula Vista, and The Roustabouts Theatre Co. develops new plays in rented venues around town.

Coronado Playhouse & Star Theatre Oceanside

Coronado / Oceanside · Community theater

Two long-running community houses with low ticket prices and full musical seasons — Coronado Playhouse sits bayside near the ferry landing; Oceanside's Star Theatre is a restored 1956 movie house downtown.

Historic and multi-use stages

Not resident theater companies, but the rooms where touring plays, comedy and concerts land.

Balboa Theatre

Downtown, 868 Fourth Ave · 1924, 1,300 seats

A restored Spanish Renaissance jewel box downtown hosting touring plays, dance, comedy and concerts. One of the best-sounding mid-size rooms in San Diego.

Spreckels Theatre

Downtown, 121 Broadway · 1912

The oldest commercial theater in San Diego and a National Register building — touring shows, tributes and rentals, with gorgeous original detail inside.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido

Escondido · North County inland

A 1,500-seat concert hall plus a 400-seat theater and museum, running Broadway tours, dance and family shows for inland North County.

Poway Center for the Performing Arts

Poway · 800 seats

Poway OnStage's presenting series plus community productions, with free parking — the easiest theater night in North County inland.

Tickets, discounts and showtimes

• Most companies run Wednesday–Sunday with 7:30 or 8 pm evening curtains and 2 pm matinees on weekends.
• Under-30, student, military and educator discounts are widely offered — bring ID to the box office.
• Rush tickets (day-of, often $20–$35) are the cheapest way into The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse.
• Broadway San Diego runs digital lotteries for some tours; check the show's official page the week of.
• Balboa Park and Liberty Station parking is free but fills early; budget 20 extra minutes on weekends.
• Dress is casual here — nice jeans are fine at every theater in the county.

Frequently asked

What are the best theaters in San Diego?

The Old Globe in Balboa Park and La Jolla Playhouse at UC San Diego are the two nationally recognized houses — both have won the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Broadway San Diego at the Civic Theatre brings the big touring musicals. For smaller, cheaper nights out, Cygnet Theatre in Liberty Station, North Coast Rep in Solana Beach, Lamb's Players in Coronado and Diversionary in University Heights are the standouts.

Where do Broadway touring shows play in San Diego?

At the San Diego Civic Theatre downtown (1100 Third Ave), presented by Broadway San Diego. It seats about 2,967 people and hosts the national tours of shows like Hamilton, Wicked and The Lion King.

How much are theater tickets in San Diego?

Neighborhood and mid-size companies generally run $25–$60. The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse run roughly $35–$110 depending on seat and night. Touring Broadway at the Civic Theatre typically runs $60–$175, more for premium seats to a hit tour.

Is there outdoor theater in San Diego?

Yes. The Old Globe's Lowell Davies Festival Theatre hosts the Summer Shakespeare Festival outdoors in Balboa Park, and Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista stages big outdoor musicals June through September with lawn seating.

What plays started in San Diego before Broadway?

La Jolla Playhouse originated Jersey Boys, Come From Away, Memphis, The Who's Tommy and Diana, among others. The Old Globe has sent work to Broadway too, including The Full Monty and Allegiance.

Where should I park for theater in San Diego?

Balboa Park lots near Old Globe Way for The Old Globe (free), the Gilman Parking Structure for La Jolla Playhouse, pre-paid Ace Parking garages near Civic Center Plaza for the Civic Theatre and Balboa Theatre, and free surface lots at Liberty Station, Solana Beach, Vista and Poway.

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