San Diego Repertory Theatre
The San Diego Repertory Theatre was developed out of Indian Magique, a street theater group of actors/writers/directors/producers some of whom were fellow theater graduates from USIU. Founded initially in 1972 by Christopher R, a year later Indian Magique became San Diego's most famous street theater. Its original members included Christopher R, John William See, Hugh Monahan, Ralph Steadman, Wayne (Bernard) Baldan, Sally Brown, Frank Muir, Alan Aimes, J. Michael, Francine Lembie and Sam Woodhouse. Rehearsing in the loft of the old Spreckels Building in San Diego, California, the troupe initially performed on the weekends in the Zoro Garden's amphitheater located in Balboa Park. These performances included their original shows "Corn Dogs On Parade and the original comedia "Peepee's Revenge". Both of these shows were presented at the Los Angeles Theater Festival receiving raucous standing ovations. When the group's head writer, John William See left the group in 1974, Indian Magique began relying on outside material. By 1975 they were performing Sees's one act play "Tag" for high school assemblies in the greater San Diego area, mentored the respective high school theater students and performed "The Duchess of Malfi" which toured California. In 1976, Sam Woodhouse and Douglas Jacobs, established the Rep in its first home, the Sixth Avenue Playhouse. In 1980, the company reunited two of the original Indian Magicians when presenting the World Premier of John William See's "The Lady Cries Murder" directed by Christopher R. The production was voted the best play of the year by the San Diego Tribune and its popularity allowed the Rep to achieve the status as one of San Diego's premiere theaters. From that point on the San Diego Repertory would present 19 premieres and 12 West Coast premieres of plays such as American Buffalo and K2. The company's world premieres included Gold!, a project developed by the company (which included Whoopi Goldberg).
In 1986, the San Diego Repertory Theater moved to the new Lyceum Theatre in Horton Plaza, where the company assumed the duty of Resident Manager of the Lyceum complex, which provides services to other arts and community organizations. The Lyceum Gallery holds art exhibitions in conjunction with the theater that usually run the length of the productions. In a single year, 350-400 performances are presented in the theaters, with an annual attendance of over 150,000 people. Of these events, two-thirds are co-productions between the Rep and more than 40 community organizations.