La Jolla Playhouse’s 2026-27 season to include three world premiere musicals

La Jolla Playhouse’s 2026-27 season will include four world premiere productions, as well as the West Coast premiere of Branden Jacob-Jenkins’ political family drama “Purpose,” which won both the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play.

The six-show lineup, announced Tuesday, is the final season planned by 18-year Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, who will step down at the end of this year to become artistic leader of New York City’s prestigious Roundabout Theatre Company.

Ashley described the upcoming season as a compilation of passion projects that he shares with the Playhouse’s Artistic Producing Director Eric Keen-Louie and the rest of the theater’s artistic staff.

“These six shows are wildly individual and bold and unexpected and they all really have heart in very transparent, accessible and bold ways,” Ashley said. “A huge piece of my heart will always remain at La Jolla Playhouse, and I look forward to celebrating the triumphs of this upcoming season, and all the incredible seasons to come.”

The 2026 season will kick off in May, following the annual WOW Festival of site-specific events on the UCSD campus April 23-26. Ashley said the university’s recent completion of its Theatre District Living & Learning Neighborhood next door to the Playhouse has created all kinds of “new nooks and crannies and locations and vistas” to stage the site-specific arts, theater, music, dance, visual art and puppetry event.

Subscriptions for the 2026-27 season are now on sale at lajollaplayhouse.org.

“Purpose” by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins: Winner of this year’s Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for best play, “Purpose” is about the Jasper family, whose members have been pillars of Black American society for decades, including civil rights leaders, celebrity pastors and congressmen. When the youngest son returns home with an uninvited friend, long-buried secrets and tensions threaten to topple their empire. San Diego’s own Delicia Turner Sonnenberg will direct the production in its West Coast premiere. Ashley describes “Purpose” as a “really stunning play about the sort of moment we’re living through now. I love how much every play of Branden’s is completely fresh territory and you feel the voice of the author in every word.” May/June.

“The Monsters” by Ngozi Anyanwu: A West Coast premiere co-produced by Berkeley Repertory Theatre, “Monsters” is the story of Lil, a young woman obsessed with the art and strength of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Determined to make her own way in the sport, she arrives unexpectedly on the doorstep of her brother, Big, an MMA star on the local circuit, who she hasn’t spoken to in years. Playwright Anyanwu is a graduate of UCSD’s acting program and the play is directed by Tamilla Woodard. Ashley described “Monsters” as a sibling drama about “this world of people whose jobs and whole lives are focused in movement and combat. June.

“The Family Album” by Sam Chanse, MILCK, AG and Jess McLeod: This world premiere musical was inspired by the 2017 survivor journey song “Quiet” co-written by MILCK (Connie K. Lim) and AG (Adrianne Gonzalez), as well as the personal journey of bookwriter Sam Chanse. Jess McLeod co-conceived the story and concept. MILCK and AG wrote the score. In “The Family Album,” singer-songwriter Mia Bing is desperate to break through in the music industry but just when gets her big break, she’s called home where she’s once again the “disappointing” daughter of her Asian immigrant parents, still haunted by an unresolved secret. Ashley described “The Family Album” as “funny, poignant, original and about finding your voice and using it for change.” July/August.

“A Black-billed Cuckoo” by Mat Smart: This world premiere play will be the 13th play to move from the Playhouse’s DNA New Work Series to the mainstage. Smart is a graduate of the UCSD MFA playwriting program and the author of the Playhouse’s 2017 world premiere black comedy “Kill Local,” which also came out of the DNA series. It’s the story of Ruth, a bird-watcher in Brooklyn who has spent years hoping to spot an elusive cuckoo. Over the course of 24 hours, some members of a bird-watching club spot the rare bird but others don’t. The play will be directed by Shelley Butler. Ashley described the play as about “healing, wonder and how to move on after missing out.” September/October.

“Grim” by Joey Orton, Brad Silnutzer, Petro AP and Scott Hoying: This world premiere musical comedy is about Diana, the daughter of the Grim Reaper, who is passing the job on to his daughter so he can retire. But her suitability for the job falters when she falls in love with a dorky human named Josh, as well as humanity, the Earth and the Department of Motor Vehicles. The irreverent musical features a book by Joey Orton and Brad Silnutzer, the comedy/writing duo best known for their play “The Fast & The Furious: A Musical Parody.” Music and lyrics are by singer/songwriter Petro AP and Scott Hoying (of the a cappella group Pentatonix), Orton and Silnutzer. It will be directed by Sammi Cannold (Broadway’s “How to Dance in Ohio”). Ashley said “Grim” has “one of the most exciting scores of the year.” October/November.

“Particle Fever” by David Henry Hwang, Bear McCreary and Zoe Sarnak: Inspred by the 2013 film documentary of the same name by Mark Levinson and David Kaplan, this world premiere musical will tell the story of how 10,000 international scientists came together for the launch of the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland, and the amazing scientific discoveries it yielded in its initial round of experiments. It will feature a book by David Henry Hwang (“M. Butterfly,” “Yellow Face,” “Golden Child”) and score by film and television composer Bear McCreary (“Godzilla: King of Monsters”) and Zoe Sarnak (“The Lonely Few”). It will be directed by Leigh Silverman (“Suffs”). Ashley described it as a story about “what humankind is capable of when we work together. The world of science and theater should make for a beautiful production.” February/March 2027.