The Old Globe
A professional nonprofit theatre company and three-theatre performing-arts complex in San Diego's Balboa Park.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Old Globe is a professional nonprofit theatre company based in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. Its name derives from the Globe Theatre in London and from the temporary Globe structure built for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. Although the original exposition building was intended to be temporary, its popularity led local supporters to preserve it and convert it into a year-round performing-arts venue. The organization subsequently developed from a tourist-oriented presenter of shortened Shakespeare adaptations into one of the major regional theatres in the United States. The company presents plays and musicals across a regular summer and winter program, producing approximately 15 shows annually when seasons, special presentations, and related programming are considered. Its work encompasses Shakespeare, modern drama, new plays, musicals, adaptations, family programming, and productions that may later receive wider national attention. Productions originating at the theatre have collectively received substantial Broadway recognition, including nine Tony Awards and nearly 60 nominations, according to the theatre's reference material. The Old Globe operates three principal performance spaces within the Simon Edison Centre for the Performing Arts. The Old Globe Theatre is a fully enclosed 600-seat venue with the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage. The Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre is a 250-seat theatre in the round completed in 2009 and located within the Karen and Donald Cohn Education Center. The Lowell Davies Festival Theatre is a 605-seat outdoor venue used particularly for summer productions and Shakespeare programming. The Old Globe Theatre and the White Theatre form part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. The company's history is closely associated with Craig Noel, who joined the organization as an actor, became its general director in 1939, and returned to leadership after the United States Navy's wartime occupation of Balboa Park ended. Noel helped establish the summer Shakespeare tradition in 1949 and remained an influential artistic and executive figure for more than five decades. Other important leaders include Jack O'Brien, who became artistic director in 1981, and Barry Edelstein, who was appointed artistic director in 2012. The theatre has survived major disruptions. The main Globe Theatre was destroyed by arson in 1978, but an outdoor festival stage was built quickly enough for the season to continue. The replacement theatre reopened in 1981. A second arson attack damaged the festival stage in 1984; after reconstruction, the venue became the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. Despite these incidents, the Shakespeare festival and the company's broader repertory program continued. The Old Globe received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1984 and remains an active producing institution, education partner, and cultural anchor in San Diego.
History
The Old Globe originated as an exposition theatre in Balboa Park. Built in 1935 for the California Pacific International Exposition, it was designed by Richard Requa as an adaptation of a theatre created for Chicago's Century of Progress exposition. That earlier structure had itself drawn on the Globe Theatre in London, giving the San Diego venue its name and Shakespearean association. The exposition building had an open centre and covered seating areas, and it presented abbreviated Shakespeare performances, many lasting less than an hour and aimed partly at visitors to the fair. The public response encouraged local supporters to preserve the building after the exposition. A nonprofit group called the San Diego Community Theatre leased the structure from the city, upgraded it to meet building requirements, roofed over the performance area, and began producing full-length plays. The Globe Players, associated with theatre director Thomas Wood Stevens, continued to use Shakespeare adaptations as an attraction while the organization established a more durable operating model. Luther Kennett served as the first director in 1937, and the remodeled venue opened on December 2 of that year with John Van Druten's The Distaff Side. Craig Noel became one of the institution's defining figures. Initially involved as an actor, he was appointed general director in 1939. During the Second World War, the United States Navy took over buildings throughout Balboa Park, including the theatre. The company remained active by presenting one-act plays at other San Diego locations. When civilian use returned in 1947, Noel resumed leadership and began shaping the Globe into a professional producing theatre. In 1949 he established the summer Shakespeare festival in collaboration with the University of San Diego. The festival became a central annual tradition, continuing in nearly every summer thereafter; 1953 was an exception, when the company presented Mister Roberts instead. The company expanded its educational and youth work in the early 1950s. The San Diego Junior Theater Wing began in 1951 with adventurous productions for younger audiences. It eventually became part of the city's Park and Recreation Department after outgrowing the Globe. The theatre also developed a strong design and production infrastructure. From 1955 through 1978, Peggy Kellner designed more than 200 productions, including costumes and scenery. The physical complex changed substantially during the following decades. A theatre in the round, initially called the Cassius Carter Centre Stage, opened in 1969 in a space previously used as the Falstaff Tavern restaurant. This venue was rebuilt in 2009 and renamed the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre. In March 1978, an arson fire destroyed the principal Globe Theatre. The company responded by constructing an outdoor festival stage quickly enough to preserve that year's production schedule. The main theatre was rebuilt and reopened in 1981. In the same year, Jack O'Brien became artistic director while Noel moved into the role of executive producer. The outdoor stage suffered another arson attack in 1984. After reconstruction, it became the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. The three venues are now collectively identified as the Simon Edison Centre for the Performing Arts. The main theatre and White Theatre are associated with the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, while the White Theatre is situated within the Karen and Donald Cohn Education Center. The Old Globe also participated in bilingual and cross-institutional theatre. Teatro Meta, founded by Craig Noel and Jorge Huerta and co-sponsored by the Old Globe, the University of California, San Diego, and Southwestern College, presented its first production in 1982 before becoming independent in 1987. The organization's national profile grew through its Shakespeare festival, regional productions, and the transfer of work to Broadway. In 1984 it received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Productions originating at the theatre have subsequently accumulated nine Tony Awards and nearly 60 nominations. Barry Edelstein became artistic director in 2012. The Old Globe continues to operate as a professional theatre company presenting plays, musicals, classical works, new writing, education programs, and seasonal productions in its San Diego venues.
- 2012
Barry Edelstein becomes artistic director
[1]Edelstein assumed artistic leadership as the company continued its regional, Shakespearean, contemporary, and new-work programming.
- 2009
Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre completed
[1]The former Cassius Carter venue was rebuilt and reopened as a 250-seat theatre in the round.
- 1984
Regional theatre Tony Award and festival-stage rebuilding
[1]The Old Globe received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, while the festival stage was rebuilt after an arson attack.
- 1982
Teatro Meta presents its first production
[1]The bilingual company Teatro Meta, co-sponsored by the Old Globe and two educational institutions, began producing work.
- 1981
Rebuilt main theatre reopens
[1]The principal theatre reopened after reconstruction, while Jack O'Brien became artistic director and Craig Noel became executive producer.
- 1978
Main theatre destroyed by arson
[1]The original Globe Theatre was destroyed by fire, and an outdoor stage was built to maintain the season.
- 1969
Cassius Carter Centre Stage opens
[1]A theatre in the round was added in the former Falstaff Tavern space; it was later rebuilt as the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre.
- 1951
Junior Theater Wing begins
[1]The organization introduced a youth-focused theatre wing offering challenging plays for children and young performers.
- 1949
Summer Shakespeare Festival begins
[1]The company launched its recurring summer Shakespeare program with the University of San Diego's drama department.
- 1939
Craig Noel becomes general director
[1]Noel assumed a leadership role that would shape the company's artistic development for more than five decades.
Products and positioning
A major American regional theatre combining Shakespeare and classical repertory with contemporary drama, musicals, new-work development, education, and large-scale summer festival performance.
Mainstage theatre · 1935
The Old Globe Theatre
The 600-seat enclosed flagship venue is the principal performance space in the complex. It presents large-scale plays and musicals, including classical and contemporary work, and contains the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage. The theatre was rebuilt after the original structure was destroyed by arson in 1978 and reopened in 1981.
Theatre in the round · 2009
Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre
A 250-seat intimate theatre in the round, the White Theatre supports productions that benefit from close audience proximity and flexible staging. It occupies the venue historically known as the Cassius Carter Centre Stage, which opened in 1969 and was rebuilt and renamed in 2009. The theatre is part of the education and performance facilities in the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.
Outdoor festival theatre · 1978
Lowell Davies Festival Theatre
The 605-seat outdoor venue is used especially for summer productions and Shakespeare programming. It developed from the temporary festival stage built after the 1978 destruction of the main theatre. Following damage from a second arson attack in 1984, the stage was rebuilt and eventually named the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
Seasonal theatre festival · 1949
Summer Shakespeare Festival
The Old Globe's summer Shakespeare program began in 1949 through a partnership with the University of San Diego's drama department. It became one of the institution's signature traditions, presenting Shakespeare and related classical work in a festival setting and continuing in nearly every summer since its creation.
New-work development
New plays and musicals
The company develops and produces contemporary plays, musicals, and adaptations alongside Shakespeare and other classics. Its regional production model has enabled work originating in San Diego to reach Broadway, where Old Globe-originated productions have collectively received nine Tony Awards and nearly 60 nominations according to the cited reference.
Controversies
1984
Arson damages the festival stage
A second arson incident damaged the outdoor festival stage. The venue was rebuilt and later became the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
1978
Arson destroys the main Globe Theatre
An arson fire destroyed the principal theatre in March 1978. The organization responded by constructing an outdoor festival stage so scheduled productions could continue.
Marketing campaigns
- 1982Teatro Meta
United States
The Old Globe co-sponsored the launch of Teatro Meta, a bilingual theatre company founded by Craig Noel and Jorge Huerta in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego, and Southwestern College.
Outcome. Teatro Meta presented its first production in 1982 and became independent in 1987.
- 1949Summer Shakespeare Festival
United States
A recurring summer festival established with the University of San Diego's drama department, combining the Old Globe's Shakespearean identity with seasonal cultural tourism and repertory production.
Outcome. It became one of the company's longest-running traditions and a central part of its public identity.
Brand decisions
2009
Rebuild and rename the centre-stage venueGeneration changeBackground
The theatre in the round that opened as the Cassius Carter Centre Stage in 1969 required redevelopment.
Action taken
The venue was rebuilt as the 250-seat Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre.
Aftermath
The rebuilt venue became part of the modern multi-theatre complex and its education-centre facilities.
1981
Rebuild the principal theatreStrategyBackground
The original Globe Theatre had been destroyed in the 1978 fire.
Action taken
The company rebuilt the main venue and reopened it in 1981 while reorganizing leadership between Jack O'Brien and Craig Noel.
Aftermath
The rebuilt theatre restored an enclosed flagship venue and supported the company's subsequent growth as a major regional theatre.
1978
Continue the season with an outdoor stageStrategyBackground
The main theatre had been destroyed by arson shortly before the 1978 season.
Action taken
The company rapidly constructed a temporary outdoor festival stage and proceeded with the planned season.
Aftermath
The outdoor venue became a lasting part of the complex after later rebuilding and was ultimately named the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.
Recent events
- 2012
Barry Edelstein appointed artistic director[1]
Leadership change
Barry Edelstein became artistic director, continuing the company's long-term emphasis on Shakespeare, contemporary work, and theatre development.
- 1984
Old Globe receives Tony Award for regional theatre[1]
Other
The company received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre, recognizing its national standing among American regional theatres.
- 1949
Craig Noel launches the summer Shakespeare tradition[1]
Campaign
The Old Globe began its recurring summer Shakespeare festival in partnership with the University of San Diego's drama department.
- 1937
Old Globe Theatre opens after 1937 remodeling[1]
Other
The remodeled theatre reopened with John Van Druten's The Distaff Side, marking the transition from exposition structure to a more permanent theatrical venue.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/the-old-globe · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled