{"id":12734,"date":"2025-10-19T13:38:24","date_gmt":"2025-10-19T13:38:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/12734\/"},"modified":"2025-10-19T13:38:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-19T13:38:24","slug":"the-old-globes-90-year-history-timeline-san-diego-union-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/12734\/","title":{"rendered":"The Old Globe\u2019s 90-year history timeline \u2013 San Diego Union-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Old Globe, San Diego\u2019s oldest and largest theater, turned 90 years old in May 2025. With an annual budget of $40 million, it\u2019s the county\u2019s second-larget arts nonprofit after the San Diego Symphony. And through its work, it provides entertainment to 250,000 people each year.<\/p>\n

But did you know the Old Globe\u2019s story? It started in 1935 with pared-down plays by William Shakespeare in Balboa Park. Here\u2019s the Old Globe\u2019s historical timeline.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

May 29, 1935 \u2014 Co-directors B. Iden Payne and Thomas Wood Stephens present the first performance of William Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cThe Taming of the Shrew,\u201d trimmed to 50 minutes and performed by 24 actors, in the newly constructed Globe Theater, a drum-shaped, 650-seat open-air \u201cMerrie England\u201d-style theater on opening day of the California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park. The players continued to perform through November of that year, and again during the Expo\u2019s second and final year, from Feb. 12-Sept. 9, 1936.<\/p>\n

1937 \u2014 Community support encourages the formation of the San Diego Community Players, who perform year-round at the newly renamed The Old Globe Theatre (which now has a roof and proscenium arch stage). Their first production is John Van Druten\u2019s \u201cThe Distaff Side,\u201d featuring 21-year-old San Diego actor Craig Noel.<\/p>\n

April 23, 1940 \u2014 Noel, now an in-demand stage director, is appointed founding director of the Globe.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The original company of Shakespeare actors who performed at the Globe Theatre as part of the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"Actors<\/p>\n

Actors on The Globe Theatre stage in Balboa Park in 1935. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A 1949 portrait of Craig Noel, the artistic director of The Old Globe. Here he\u2019s holding the script for \u201cJohn Loves Mary,\u201d a play he directed there that year. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"LLongtime<\/p>\n

LLongtime old Globe board chairman Lowell Davies, left, and artistic director Craig Noel. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The cast of The Old Globe\u2019s 1953 play \u201cMister Roberts,\u201d which sold 25,000 tickets during its sold-out 13 week run, creating a financial windfall for the theater. Many of the cast members were real Navy men. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"Priscilla<\/p>\n

Priscilla Lawson a Queen Elizabeth at The Old Globe\u2019s 1959 San Diego National Shakespeare Festival. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

In 1959, The Old Globe hired professional actors for its Shakespeare festival, including Stephen Joyce, left, and Joyce Ebert in \u201cRomeo and Juliet.\u201d This production featured the first Old Globe Equity acting company, which was the first fully unionized Actors\u2019 Equity company in California. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"Marion<\/p>\n

Marion Ross as Olivia in The Old Globe\u2019s 1949 inaugural Shakespeare Festival production of \u201cTwelfth Night.\u201d (Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"Construction<\/p>\n

Construction under way on the Cassius Carter Centre Stage at The Old Globe in 1969. The arena-style theater was rebuilt and modernized in 2009 and renamed the Sheryl & Harvey White Theatre. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Globe artistic director Craig Noel, at right with shovel, during construction of the Cassius Carter Centre Stage in 1969. The in-the-round theater is now the Sheryl & Harvey White Theatre. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"Fire<\/p>\n

Fire crews attempt to douse the flames at The Old Globe Theatre after it was set ablaze by an arsonist in 1978. The theater was destroyed. It reopened four years later. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Globe artistic director Craig Noel, left, and future artistic director Jack O\u2019Brien during the rebuilding of The Old Globe following an arson fire in March 1978. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"Queen<\/p>\n

Queen Elizabeth II visits The Old Globe Theatre after it reopened in 1983. She dedicated a new sculpture of Shakespeare, which is on display in the theater\u2019s upper lobby. She is pictured here with then-Globe Board President James S. Milch and wife Estelle Milch. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Globe Managing Director Tom Hall, left, and Artistic Director Jack O\u2019Brien accept the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre on behalf of The Old Globe during the Tony Awards ceremony in New York\u2019s Gershwin Theatre on June 3, 1984. (Associated Press)\n<\/p>\n

\"Composer<\/p>\n

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, left, and bookwriter\/director James Lapine in rehearsals at The Old Globe for the world premiere of the musical \u201cInto the Woods in 1986. (J. P. Weiss)\n<\/p>\n

\"Actors<\/p>\n

Actors Victor Garber as Macbeth and Joan McMurtrey as Lady Macbeth in The Old Globe\u2019s 1996 production of \u201cMacbeth.\u201d (Ken Howard)\n<\/p>\n

\"Vanessa<\/p>\n

Vanessa A. Hudgens as Cindy-Lou Who and Guy Paul as the Grinch in The Old Globe\u2019s inaugural 1998 production of \u201cDr. Seuss\u2019s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!\u201d The \u201cGrinch\u201d musical is now in its 27th year. (Ken Howard)\n<\/p>\n

\"Broadway<\/p>\n

Broadway legend Chita Rivera performs in the world premiere of \u201cChita Rivera: The Dancer\u2019s Life\u201d at The Old Globe in 2005. (Craig Schwartz)\n<\/p>\n

\"Heather<\/p>\n

Heather Ayers, left, Ken Barnett and Jefferson Mays in the Old Globe\u2019s world premiere 2013 musical \u201cA Gentleman\u2019s Guide to Love and Murder,\u201d which went on to win Best Musical at the Tony Awards in 2014. (Henry DiRocco)\n<\/p>\n

\"Carmen<\/p>\n

Carmen Cusack, center, in The Old Globe\u2019s 2014 world premiere musical \u201cBright Star.\u201d It opened on Broadway the following year. (Joan Marcus)\n<\/p>\n

\"Eden<\/p>\n

Eden Espinosa in the Old Globe\u2019s world premiere musical \u201cRain\u201d in 2016. (Jim Cox)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A scene from The Old Globe\u2019s 2017 production of Steve Martin\u2019s \u201cPicasso at the Lapin Agile.\u201d (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

\"Matt<\/p>\n

Matt Doyle, center, with the cast of The Old Globe\u2019s world premiere musical \u201cThe Heart of Rock & Roll\u201d in 2018. It made its Broadway premiere in 2024. (Jim Cox)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A Celebrating Community Voices reading at The Old Globe\u2019s Powers New Voices Festival in 2019. (Rich Soublet II)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Old Globe artistic director Barry Edelstein, left, and projection designer Caite Hevner during rehearsals for The Old Globe\u2019s \u201cHenry 6\u201d in 2024. The two-play adaptation of William Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cHenry VI\u201d plays was written by and directed by Edelstein. (Rich Soublet II)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A scene from the musical \u201cHair,\u201d the first production presented by The Old Globe when it reopened its outdoor festival theater in Aug. 2021 after a 17-month COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. (Jim Cox)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein (l) and Old Globe Managing Director Tim Shields (r) at the Old Globe on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (Nelvin C. Cepeda \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein (r) and Old Globe Managing Director Tim Shields (l) at the Old Globe on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (Nelvin C. Cepeda \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein (r) and Old Globe Managing Director Tim Shields (l) at the Old Globe on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (Nelvin C. Cepeda \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The walkway leading to The Old Globe campus in Balboa Park on Oct. 3, 2025. (Nelvin C. Cepeda \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A view of Copley Plaza on The Old Globe campus in Balboa Park on Oct. 3, 2025. (Nelvin C. Cepeda \/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 31<\/p>\n

The original company of Shakespeare actors who performed at the Globe Theatre as part of the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park. (The Old Globe)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

November 1941 \u2014 Noel, 25, resigns to move to Hollywood where he plans to work as an assistant director and talent scout for 20th Century Fox.<\/p>\n

Dec. 8, 1941 \u2014 The day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. enters World War II. Balboa Park buildings are immediately requisitioned by the Navy, including the Globe, which becomes a wartime lecture hall.<\/p>\n

1944 \u2014 Noel is drafted into the U.S. Army and serves in combat in the Philippines. Afer the war, he serves in the J U.S. occupational force in Japan, directing entertainment for overseas troops.<\/p>\n

\u00a0August 1947 \u2014 The Old Globe reopens in Balboa Park with now artistic director Craig Noel back at the helm. The first production is William Saroyan\u2019s \u201cThe Time of Your Life.\u201d<\/p>\n

1949 \u2014 The Globe launches its first San Diego National Shakespeare Festival in conjunction with San Diego State College (later renamed San Diego State University). The Globe becomes the fest\u2019s sole producer five years later.<\/p>\n

1953 \u2014 Landmark production of \u201cMister Roberts\u201d sells out 13-week engagement and creates a windfall for the theater.<\/p>\n

1959 \u2014 The first Equity actors are hired to perform in the annual Shakespeare festival, beginning the Globe\u2019s transition toward becoming a professional theater.<\/p>\n

1965 \u2014 New administrative offices, technical, rehearsal and storage facilities are completed.<\/p>\n

1969 \u2014 The Falstaff Tavern is remodeled to create the 225-seat Cassius Carter Centre Stage, a new in-the-round arena-style theater, adding a second stage to the Globe campus.<\/p>\n

1978 \u2014 An arson fire destroys the 43-year-old Globe Theatre on March 8 (the arsonist was never caught, but a firebug had set several blazes in the park that winter). The Globe quickly reorganizes, moving ongoing productions to other theaters around town and builds a 620-seat outdoor Festival Theatre in just 52 days. The Shakespeare festival opens on the new outdoor stage June 16 with \u201cHenry V.\u201d<\/p>\n

1981 \u2014 Craig Noel appoints the succession team of Jack O\u2019Brien as artistic director and Tom Hall as managing director, but stays on for an additional 22 years as an executive producer.<\/p>\n

1982 \u2014 Four years after the fire, the Old Globe Theatre reopens on Jan. 5. This year also marks the company\u2019s first winter season with Equity actors.<\/p>\n

Jan. 18, 1983 \u2014 O\u2019Brien\u2019s production of Thornton Wilder\u2019s \u201cThe Skin of Our Teeth\u201d is telecast live on PBS stations, bringing national attention to the Globe. On Feb. 26, Queen Elizabeth visits the theater to unveil a Shakespeare bust.<\/p>\n

1984 \u2014 O\u2019Brien\u2019s revival of the musical \u201cKiss Me, Kate\u201d breaks attendance records and draws national acclaim. The company is awarded a Special Tony Award for Outstanding Achievement by a Regional Theatre.<\/p>\n

Oct. 29, 1984 \u2014 The outdoor festival theater is destroyed by fire (apparently ignited by a cooking fire caused by transients living under the stage).<\/p>\n

1985 \u2014 The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, a new outdoor stage named after the Globe\u2019s volunteer board president from 1945-1976, opens on June 7 with O\u2019Brien\u2019s \u201cA Midsummer Night\u2019s Dream.\u201d On July 26, the Globe opens its 500th production, \u201cRichard III\u201d directed by John Houseman.<\/p>\n

1986 \u2014 The Globe produces the world premiere of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine\u2019s \u201cInto the Woods,\u201d the first of 27 Old Globe-born shows that will transfer to Broadway by 2025.<\/p>\n

1987 \u2014 The Old Globe and the University of San Diego launch the Shiley Graduate Theatre Program. The prestigious MFA program provides full tuition to 14 students for a two-year term.<\/p>\n

1989 \u2014 The Globe presents the U.S. premiere of Maly Drama Theatre of Leningrad\u2019s \u201cBrothers and Sisters,\u201d a risky financial gambit that paid off with huge ticket sales.<\/p>\n

1993 \u2014 O\u2019Brien\u2019s \u201cDamn Yankees\u201d revival premieres at the Globe, move to Broadway in 1994 and goes on a national tour in 1995.<\/p>\n

1994 \u2014 Sheldon Epps hired as associate artistic director, prior to becoming the Pasadena Playhouse artistic director in 1997.<\/p>\n

1998 \u2014 The \u201cDr. Seuss\u2019s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!\u201d musical premieres and becomes an annual holiday tradition that continues to this day.<\/p>\n

2000 \u2014 O\u2019Brien directs Tom Stoppard\u2019s translation of Chekhov\u2019s \u201cThe Seagull\u201d and world premiere of David Yazbek\u2019s \u201cThe Full Monty,\u201d which moves to Broadway that same year. Tom Hall steps down as managing director and is replaced by Doug Evans, whose idea to modernize the theater\u2019s name from The Old Globe to The Globe is quickly rescinded.<\/p>\n

2001 \u2014 With O\u2019Brien often away directing in New York and London, Karen Carpenter is appointed associate artistic director, the first woman appointed to a top leadership position at the Globe (she left in 2005).<\/p>\n

2002 \u2014 Lou Spisto is named executive director of the Globe, a position that will eventually grow to include virtually all management, production and artistic responsibilities. Yugoslavian-born director Darko Tresnjak debuts with an award-winning festival production of Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cPericles.\u201d<\/p>\n

2003 -\u2014 O\u2019Brien wins his first of three directorial Tony Awards for the Broadway musical \u201cHairspray.\u201d In 2024, he will also receive a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award.<\/p>\n

2005 -\u2014 Jerry Patch, widely regarded as the top developer of new plays in the country, is hired as resident artistic director. The longtime South Coast Rep staffer brings in edgy new plays that win multiple critics\u2019 awards, but will leave for Manhattan Theatre Club in 2008.<\/p>\n

2006 \u2014 Tresnjak stages William Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cTitus Andronicus\u201d for the first time in Globe history.<\/p>\n

2007 -\u2014 Craig Noel, now 90, receives the National Medal of Arts from Pres. George Bush. O\u2019Brien officially retires as artistic director. Patch and Tresnjak are appointed co-artistic directors but both will leave within a few years. The Old Globe relocates its scenery and prop production workshops offsite to a new warehouse in Southeast San Diego, allowing all technical departments, including those left behind in Balboa Park, to expand.<\/p>\n

2009 \u2014 The Old Globe unveils its redesigned campus with the opening of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, which includes the modernized Sheryl & Harvey White Theatre (formerly the Cassius Carter Centre Stage), the Cohn Education Center and Hattox Hall.<\/p>\n

2009 \u2014\u00a0Adrian Noble, who spent more than 20 years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, is named the artistic director of the Globe\u2019s Shakespeare Festival. He will stay for three years. The Old Globe launches a theater education program in Southeast San Diego.<\/p>\n

2010 \u2014 Craig Noel dies on April 3 at the age of 94. The Globe celebrates its 75th anniversary.<\/p>\n

2012 \u2014 Barry Edelstein, director of the Shakespeare Initiative at The Public Theater in Manhattan from 2008 to 2012, is hired as the Globe\u2019s new artistic director.<\/p>\n

2013 \u2014 The Old Globe launches its Powers New Voices Festival, a weekend of readings of new American plays by professional playwrights, as well as short works by San Diego playwrights.<\/p>\n

2014 \u2014 To replicate the touring Shakespeare programs he oversaw in New York City, Edelstein launches Globe For All, which brings free Shakespeare performances to libraries, community centers, gyms and other venues for four weeks each fall.<\/p>\n

2015 \u2014 Under the leadership of Freedome Bradley-Ballentine, the Old Globe creates its Department of Arts Engagement, with the goal of making the Old Globe accessible to all and expanding outreach into San Diego communities. A new parking garage built by the San Diego Zoo behind the Old Globe opens, offering nearby paid evening parking for the first time.<\/p>\n

2016 \u2014 The Old Globe launches its AXIS Events series, offering a year-round program of nine free public events on its campus, including\u00a0 Dia de los Muertos, Pride and Juneteenth celebrations.<\/p>\n

2017 \u2014 Timothy J. Shields, who brings four decades of nonprofit theater administrative experience to the Globe, is hired as its new managing director.<\/p>\n

2018 \u2014The Old Globe stages the world premiere of the Huey Lewis and the News jukebox musical \u201cThe Heart of Rock and Roll.\u201d In 2024, it will become the 27th show the Globe sent to Broadway since the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical \u201cInto the Woods\u201d in 1987.<\/p>\n

2020 \u2014 The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 shutters theaters nationwide. The Old Globe continues engaging San Diegans virtually with online performances, play-writing workshops and other initiatives. It also creates a Social Justice Roadmap in collaboration with San Diego communities of color.<\/p>\n

2021 \u2014 The outdoor Festival Theatre reopens June 4, 2021, with a production of the musical \u201cHair.\u201d Both indoor theaters reopen in September.<\/p>\n

2024 \u2014 Thanks to a multimillion-dollar gift from philanthropist Roy Cockrum, The Old Globe stages Barry Edelstein\u2019s two-play adaptation of William Shakespeare\u2019s \u201cHenry 6.\u201d With more than 1,000 community members involved, it will be the largest production in Globe history. And with this production the Globe has finally produced all of Shakespeare\u2019s plays.<\/p>\n

2025 \u2014 Kim Montelibano Heil, with more than 20 years of theater administrative experience, is named associated artistic director at The Old Globe. On Oct. 6, The Old Globe\u2019s Technical Center in Southeast San Diego is renamed in honor of longtime community leader Rosemary Pope.The Old Globe marks its 90th anniversary by announcing plans to present an alternate Spanish-language version of its popular \u201cDr. Seuss\u2019s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!\u201d musical. The first musical reading will take place in November. Managing Director Timothy J. Shields announces plan to retire in 2026 once a successor is named.<\/p>\n

Originally Published: October 19, 2025 at 5:59 AM PDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Old Globe, San Diego\u2019s oldest and largest theater, turned 90 years old in May 2025. With an…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12735,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[4549,7,967,181,74,84,76,75,1058,420,1696],"class_list":{"0":"post-12734","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-diego","8":"tag-balboa-park","9":"tag-california","10":"tag-entertainment","11":"tag-latest-headlines","12":"tag-san-diego","13":"tag-san-diego-county","14":"tag-san-diego-headlines","15":"tag-san-diego-news","16":"tag-theater","17":"tag-things-to-do","18":"tag-top-stories-sdut"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12734\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}