La Jolla Playhouse appoints new artistic director

One of San Diego’s premier theaters, La Jolla Playhouse, will have a new artistic director in early 2026, the theater announced Tuesday.

Seasoned actor and director Jessica Stone will take over for Christopher Ashley, who is leaving LJP after 18 years for New York City’s Roundabout Theatre Company.

Stone has worked in theater for the past 30 years, first as an actor with Broadway credits including “Grease,” “Anything Goes,” “The Odd Couple,” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”

Fifteen years ago, she pivoted to directing. This move to artistic director is her next pivot.

In a YouTube video introducing herself to LJP’s audience, Stone said, “I’m honored to be a part of this place with its reputation for audacious theater… I look forward to reexamining, and maybe even redefining what audacious theater means.”

San Diego is familiar with Stone’s work, even as she has spent the past six years directing on Broadway. Before that, she directed multiple shows at The Old Globe, starting with “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” in 2014, the world premiere of “Ken Ludwig’s Robin Hood!” in 2017 and Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” in 2019.

Most recently, the national tour of musical “Kimberly Akimbo” had its west coast premiere at Broadway San Diego in 2024. Stone directed the tour and its counterpart on Broadway, for which she was Tony nominated as best director. Although she did not win, “Kimberly Akimbo” won the Tony Award for best musical in 2023.

A year later, Stone was back at the Tony’s for her direction of “Water for Elephants,” which will tour in San Diego in August 2026. She was beat out by Danya Taymor for her direction of “The Outsiders,” the Best Musical winner which originated at LJP before moving to Broadway.

“The Outsiders” multiple wins put LJP’s Tony count up to 42 from the 37 shows the regional theater has sent to Broadway. Founded in 1947, LJP focuses on what’s next for American theater and is known for its development of plays and musicals.

“Joining this resoundingly successful company, one that has local and national reach, one that is a home for new work, one that cares deeply about cultivating new audiences, one that believes in educational and community outreach, and one that pushes the boundaries of what theater can be – is thrilling to me,” Stone said in a press release, going on to describe La Jolla Playhouse as one of the foremost theaters in the country.

“I am honored to be a part of its storied history.”

Alongside board chair Denise Bevers and managing director Debby Bucholz, Stone’s appointment marks the first all-woman leadership team at LJP, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Bevers was part of the search committee that selected Stone. She said Stone’s directorial credits, collaborative leadership style, and passion for bold, compelling theater made her the ideal choice.

Bucholz said she cannot think of a better partner to co-lead LJP with and that the staff are looking forward to working with her.

“Jessica’s artistic vision is truly exhilarating,” Bucholz said in the appointment announcement. “She has a deep understanding of the Playhouse culture and our commitment to being a safe harbor for the development of exciting new work.”