Cygnet Theatre takes center stage at The Joan, San Diego’s new performing arts landmark

San Diego County now has two state-of-the-art live performance spaces at Arts District Liberty Station in Point Loma, thanks to a public-private partnership. Officially named The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center, it was nicknamed “The Joan” in honor of the late philanthropist. The couple, longtime patrons of the arts, gave $10 million to support the project. They attended the groundbreaking two years ago, but unfortunately, Joan passed away before she could see its completion.

The Joan opened in mid-September with a ribbon cutting that included Irwin Jacobs, Mayor Todd Gloria, and other dignitaries followed by a flurry of festive parties and performances.

Cygnet Theatre, founded in 2003, now has a new home in Building 178. The historic part of that building was originally constructed in 1942, although changes were made over the years until the former Naval Training Center was decommissioned in the late 1990s, according to Lisa Johnson, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Arts District Liberty Station. Founded in 2000, the Arts District’s goal is to enrich the lives of San Diegans by repurposing 18 of the 26 historic buildings, with 8 more to go. 

“It already had a history as a place of gathering,” notes Bill Schmidt, Cygnet’s Executive Director. “It once housed the base exchange, with a store, disco, bowling alley, and more for the military community.” It is now home to The Joseph W. Clayes III Theater, a 280-seat proscenium theater, and The Dottie Studio, a 150-seat studio named for philanthropist Dorothea Laub.

So now, The Joan will continue as a gathering place, albeit with a new “cast”: producers, directors, actors, musicians, set designers, makeup artists, lighting professionals, and audiences from all over San Diego County. “The campus is beautiful and a true hub of activity in San Diego,” Schmidt continues. “It’s centrally located, easy to access from anywhere in the county, and has plentiful parking — something that can often be a barrier for audiences. Liberty Station is the perfect antidote to another night at home, binge-watching Netflix. It’s a destination for people who want to be engaged, active, and inspired. The creative energy is everywhere, making it a natural fit for live theater, art, and dance.”

In its previous longtime home in Old Town, Cygnet’s operations including offices, rehearsal, and theater spaces were spread out. “Now, with everything under one roof, we’ve been able to streamline operations. Another exciting feature is having two distinct theater spaces instead of just one: a large mainstage and a flexible studio theater. This versatility will give us the ability to expand our programming in new and exciting ways,” adds Schmidt.

Johnson says both public and private funding made the move to Liberty Station possible. It included $10 million from the State of California, $687,000 from The National Parks Service, a small grant from San Diego County, tax credits, conventional financing, and partnering with “private developers who have vision and financial resources to repurpose our buildings and then operate them as a long-term tenant for us.” So far, the project has raised 86 percent of its $43.5 million fundraising goal.

Performances of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies runs through October 5. This year also includes the comedy Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike (October 8 to November 2), a fresh twist on the classic A Christmas Carol (November 26 to December 28), and A Magical Holiday: Christmas at The Joan (December 10 to 28). 

Next year’s schedule includes Somewhere Over the Border (February 18 to March 15); The Lehman Trilogy (March 25 to April 19), a drama which won a 2022 Tony Award for Best Play; and The SpongeBob Musical (June 10 to July 5). Cygnet also plans to invite San Diego Ballet and other dance groups to perform at The Joan. “They have quite a mix of programs,” says Jacobs. “You want to attract a variety of audiences.” 619.337.1525, cygnettheatre.org