North Coast Rep
Comment: This is a very well reviewed theatre, but I cannot find independent coverage. Wikipedia is not a business directory or theatre guide, not matter how good the theatre is. For a Wikipedia article, two examples of others, independent others, have published comment about the theatre. This precludes interviews. SmokeyJoe (talk) 11:29, 20 July 2026 (UTC)
- Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest guideline, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Zugzwanging (talk) 18:49, 27 March 2026 (UTC)
North Coast Rep (also known as North Coast Repertory Theatre or NCRT) is a professional theatre company located in Solana Beach, California. The company produces 7 mainstage productions in its 194-seat theatre each season.[1] In addition, the theatre also produces an annual holiday show and programs Variety Nights, which can range from comedy to music to improv to magic to solo performance.[1]
The Theatre School at North Coast Rep serves as the educational branch of the theatre. Its programming includes camps, classes, workshops, productions, and outreach tours.[2]
History
North Coast Rep was founded in 1982 by Olive and Tom Blakistone.[3]
Olive Blakistone announced her retirement as artistic director of North Coast Rep in the summer of 1997. In January of the following year, Olive and the Board of Directors named Sean Murray the new artistic director.[4]
In April 2003, the theatre hired David Ellenstein as the third artistic director in the company's history.[5] Previously, Ellenstein had served as artistic director at the Los Angeles Repertory Theatre Company and the Arizona Jewish Theatre Company.[6] By 2005, North Coast Rep established itself as a professional theatre with a contract with the Actor's Equity Association.[6]
In September 2011, the theatre announced the appointment of Bill Kerlin as managing director. Kerlin's experience had included sixteen seasons as the Director of Administration at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida.
In May 2023, Ellenstein and Kerlin were announced as the next artistic director and managing director of Laguna Playhouse in Laguna Beach. The two would serve in the same capacity at both theatres.[7] As a part of the partnership, the theatres announced that they would also co-produce a few productions each season. The productions would originate at NCRT and then transfer with the same cast to Laguna Playhouse.[8] In December 2024, Kerlin resigned from his position at Laguna Playhouse to focus solely on his work at North Coast Rep,[9] and in September 2025, Ellenstein stepped down as artistic director at Laguna Playhouse "to pursue other life opportunities" while remaining in his position at North Coast Rep.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "About". North Coast Rep. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
- ↑ "The Theatre School at North Coast Rep About". Retrieved 2026-03-27.
- ↑ Churnin, Nancy (1993-02-06). "Directing a Mom-and-Pop Production : Theater: North Coast Repertory in Solana Beach offers eclectic fare in a homey atmosphere". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
- ↑ "CA's North Coast Rep Names Sean Murray New Artistic Director". Playbill. January 22, 1998. Retrieved 03/27/26. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ "New work, Broadway connections highlight San Diego theater in 2003". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2003-12-30. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Artistic director celebrates 10 years at Solana Beach theater". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2013-07-30. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
- ↑ Editors, American Theatre (2023-05-24). "David Ellenstein and Bill Kerlin to Lead Laguna Playhouse". Retrieved 2026-03-27.
- ↑ "North Coast Rep leadership team will now run Laguna Playhouse, as well". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
- ↑ Playhouse, Laguna (2024-12-17). "Bill Kerlin Steps Down as Managing Director of Laguna Playhouse". Culture OC. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
- ↑ "Laguna Playhouse's artistic director David Ellenstein announces departure". Orange County Register. 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2026-03-27.
This article "North Coast Rep" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:North Coast Rep. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
