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San Diego Concert Venues
La Jolla Playhouse is the other San Diego theater that sends shows to Broadway — Come From Away, Jersey Boys, and dozens more started here. Sitting on the UCSD campus, it pairs adventurous new work with the occasional big-name revival, and it's one of the few places you can see a future Tony winner for under $60.
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Quick answer: Parking is in UCSD's Gilman/Price Center structures — $8–$16 for evening events; buy a permit from the kiosks or use the app. The Mandell Weiss mainstage is intimate; center rows D–K are ideal. Tickets $25–$95, with meaningful discounts for students, military, and under-35s.
2910 La Jolla Village Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037
We don't have confirmed La Jolla Playhouse dates on the calendar right now. This room books on short notice, so check the box office listings below — the full season posts there first.
Confirmed dates at other rooms while La Jolla Playhouse's calendar fills in.
UCSD campus structures near the theater district (Gilman Parking Structure is the usual target) charge $8–$16 for evening parking via kiosk or the ParkMobile app. Night-of availability is rarely a problem. Surface lots near the theater are permit-only during the day but open up evenings.
What parking costs
$8–$16 campus structure
Transit & rideshare
The UC San Diego Blue Line trolley extension made this genuinely transit-accessible: ride the Blue Line to UC San Diego Health La Jolla or UCSD Central Campus station, then a 10–15 minute walk or campus shuttle. MTS buses serve La Jolla Village Drive.
Mandell Weiss Theatre: center rows D–K — a 492-seat house where the middle is perfect.
Potiker Theatre: flexible black-box configuration; center of the main bank of seats is the default best.
For thrust or in-the-round configurations, front rows are worth it — the Playhouse stages aggressively close work.
Avoid extreme side seats for musicals; choreography reads best head-on.
Bag policy
Relaxed theater policy — no outside food or drink in the theaters, bags subject to check at the house manager's discretion. Small and civilized; you won't hit arena-style security theater here.
Food & drink inside
Lobby bars serve wine, beer, and snacks pre-show and at intermission. The surrounding UTC area (5 minutes) has the full range of chain and independent restaurants; the UCSD campus itself has limited evening options.
All within a short walk or drive of La Jolla Playhouse.
Eddie V's La Jolla
Upscale seafood and steaks at UTC — the special-occasion pre-show move.
Regents Pizzeria
Local favorite near campus — fast, good, parkable.
Bluefin Sushi
Solid sushi 5 minutes from the theater.
La Jolla Village
If you're making a day of it, the village's restaurants are 10 minutes west.
What this room books: World-premiere plays and musicals, Broadway-bound tryouts, Page To Stage new-work festival, WOW (Without Walls) immersive festival.
The Playhouse's world premieres are the draw — seeing a show here before it hits Broadway (and reading the Times review after) is a specific San Diego pleasure.
Under-35 tickets and student/military discounts are substantial. Always check the discount page before paying full price.
The Without Walls (WOW) festival stages immersive shows all over the city — a different animal and worth trying once.
Page To Stage workshop productions are cheap, raw, and occasionally historic — you watch shows find themselves.
Combine with a La Jolla afternoon: Cove, seals, sunset, then the show.
Sending shows to Broadway — more than 35 productions, including Come From Away and Jersey Boys, premiered here. It's a Tony Award-winning regional theater on the UCSD campus known for world-premiere plays and musicals.
UCSD campus structures near the theater (Gilman Parking Structure is the usual choice) charge $8–$16 for evening parking, paid at kiosks or via ParkMobile. The Blue Line trolley to the UCSD area stations is a workable alternative.
Single tickets typically run $25–$95. Students, military, and under-35 buyers get significant discounts, and Page To Stage workshop productions are cheaper still. Subscriptions offer the best per-show price.
The Playhouse's biennial WOW festival stages immersive, site-specific theater in non-traditional spaces all over San Diego — warehouses, streets, beaches. It's a separate ticketed event from the mainstage season.
The Observatory North Park
North Park · ~1,100 standing
The Casbah
Middletown / Little Italy edge · ~200 standing
Gallagher Square at Petco Park
East Village / Downtown · Up to ~45,000 (stadium shows)
The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Embarcadero / Downtown waterfront · ~10,000 (3,500 fixed seats + lawn)
North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Chula Vista (South Bay) · ~20,500 (10,000 reserved + lawn)
Belly Up Tavern
Solana Beach (North County) · ~600
La Jolla neighborhood guide
Restaurants, hotels and things to do around the venue.
Parking guide for this area
Rates, free windows and where to actually leave the car.
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Published by the Sandi Spots Editorial team at Sleep Coast LLC. Guides combine local perspective and source research. Check the individual guide for firsthand observations and follow official links to confirm current details.