La Jolla Playhouse uplifts veterans and their families through access to the arts
by Jill Spear
Today, the La Jolla Playhouse offers a number of Military and Veterans Programs—collectively known as the theater’s MVP Initiative—providing free or affordable art experiences to enhance the quality of life for veterans and military families. But getting these programs started required a years-long, committed effort by playhouse staff partnering with members of the military community.
“I think the work we do in the military community is truly impactful. I don’t know of any other theater doing it this way.” says Debby Buchholz, Managing Director of the Playhouse.
“All of the work we do is driven by the community,” says Jacole Kitchen, Director of Arts Engagement and in-house Casting Director at La Jolla Playhouse. The Playhouse’s goal is to be inclusive, and San Diego County is home to more than 100,000 active-duty service members and 240,000 veterans according to census data, making it one of the largest concentrations of military personnel in the country.
“I think the work we do in
Debby Buchholz, Managing Director, La Jolla Playhouse
the military community is truly impactful. I don’t know of any other theater doing it this way.”
La Jolla Playhouse began developing relationships with San Diego military families 15 years ago. The Playhouse also created a board position for a member of the military community. That seat is currently held by Ray Flores, an officer for the San Diego Office of Military and Veterans Affairs.
Over time, La Jolla Playhouse has received multiple grants, funding the development of a variety of programs for military and veteran families. Kitchen—whose father won a Purple Heart serving in Vietnam—leads the MVP Initiative at the Playhouse.
The Playhouse MVP Initiatives include Military Nights Out, which provides free tickets to Playhouse productions along with a complimentary catered dinner before the show.
Blue Star Theatre Tickets are available for most shows, giving still more military families the chance to experience live theater at just $25 per ticket. Working with VetTix, La Jolla Playhouse also provides complimentary tickets to the military community when seats are available.
The WOW Festival—a four-day interactive art experience that the Playhouse produces annually in San Diego —is free to attend and has special offerings for military families. The Performance Outreach Program (POP) Tour, a new play produced each year for elementary school age children performs at military bases and at schools with military children throughout San Diego.
For students with family in the military, scholarships are available for the Young Performers Conservatory program, a program that enables young people to gain theater experience in preparation for college and a possible career in the arts.
Writers participating in the Veterans Playwriting Workshop learn the craft of playwriting with the help of teaching artists who are veterans themselves. Gill Sotu, an award-winning poet, playwright and Navy veteran, helms the course. Veteran Shairi Engle wrote her first play through the workshop. It went on to win the Bridge Award for Playwriting in 2020 an award given to emerging writers of exceptional talent who served in the military.
For more information on La Jolla Playhouse Military and Veterans Programs, visit lajollaplayhouse.org/military-veterans-programs/.
