San Diego Repertory Theatre

The San Diego Repertory Theatre is a performing arts company in San Diego, California.

The company grew 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 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, mentoring theatre students at the respective high schools, and performing The Duchess of Malfi which toured California.

In 1976, Sam Woodhouse and D. W. Jacobs established the Rep in its first home, the Sixth Avenue Playhouse. Woodhouse and Jacobs remain the company's co-directors, with Woodhouse as artistic director and Jacobs as producing director. In 1980, the company reunited two of the original Indian Magicians when presenting the world premiere 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 during this period included Gold! - a production which included Whoopi Goldberg, a founding member of the company.

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