LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE
announces its
2025-2026 SEASON OF SHOWS!
The Tony Award-Winning Musical –
“A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER,”
A World Premiere Play – “BESIDE MYSELF,”
Spend An Extraordinary Evening with an Iconic President with
“EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND,”
A Neil Simon Classic – “LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR,”
A Humorous, Hard-Boiled World Premiere Mystery – “THE MALTESE FALCON,”
& The Award-Winning and Thought-Provoking “RED”
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is thrilled to announce its 2025-2026 season of shows! An unforgettable season that opens with the Tony award-winning musical,
A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER; followed by a world premiere comedy from the writer of our audience favorite The Angel Next Door, BESIDE MYSELF; next, on the heels of our critically acclaimed production of Eleanor, we are thrilled to bring you the life of another historic political icon, Tony-Winner John Rubinstein starring in EISENHOWER:THIS PIECE OF GROUND; then enjoy an evening of hilarity with one of Neil Simon’s funniest plays, LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR; followed by a second world premiere as we invite you to spend an evening with detective Sam Spade as he searches for the mystery that is THE MALTESE FALCON; finally, we close the season with the award-winning play about artist Mark Rothko and an exploration on the art of making art in the award-winning and thought-provoking, RED.
A special bonus event this season will be bringing back our annual holiday Panto, with the first holiday Panto we ever produced, the enchanting A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS; we’ll also have two Youth and Education program productions, and more to be announced!
Comments Artistic Director David Ellenstein “I am so excited by our upcoming season. A lineup of productions filled with joy, laughter, pathos, history, and art! I am always a fan of presenting a wide variety of theatrical offerings, and our upcoming season will bring a new and different adventure for our subscribers and audiences each time they attend.”
THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE 2025-2026 SEASON:
The Tony Award-Winning Musical of Love, Laughter, and Larceny!
A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE
TO LOVE AND MURDER
September 17 – October 5, 2025 (Press Opening September 21 at 5:30pm)
Book by Robert L. Freedman
Music and Lyrics by Steven Lutvak
Based on a Novel By Roy Horniman
Directed by Noelle Marion
Experience the Tony Award-winning musical that’s a perfect blend of comedy, intrigue, and an unforgettable score! Follow the charming Monty Navarro on a hilariously dark journey to inherit a fortune—by eliminating his eight relatives who stand in his way. With music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak and book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman, this show features witty dialogue, surprising twists, and a cast of quirky characters. A tale of love, betrayal, and murder, this crowd-pleasing performance will keep you laughing, gasping, and thoroughly entertained!
A WORLD PREMIERE PLAY!
BESIDE MYSELF
October 29 – November 16, 2025 (Press Opening November 2 at 5:30pm)
By Paul Slade Smith
Directed by David Ellenstein
Gemma is at her breaking point – stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed. A new medical procedure promises to change all that, giving her a fresh start. But when the “new” Gemma shows up, the original Gemma is still there. Now, with two versions of herself to contend with, Gemma must learn to navigate life, with all its messiness, while figuring out how to keep being herself. From the creator of The Angel Next Door, Paul Slade Smith’s latest comedy is an uproarious journey into the messy, hilarious, and sometimes painful process of trying to reinvent yourself while still being… well, you.
WHERE HISTORY MEETS THE HEART OF AMERICA…
EISENHOWER:
THIS PIECE OF GROUND
January 14 –February 1, 2026 (Press Opening January 18, 2026 at 5:30pm)
Written by Richard Hellesen
Directed by Peter Ellenstein
This groundbreaking solo performance by Tony Award winner, John Rubinstein, brings the 34thpresident, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s remarkable life to the stage in an extraordinary way. Through captivating storytelling and deep historical insight, the performance immerses audiences in Eisenhower’s personal reflections on leadership, war, and peace. With emotional depth and powerful nuance, it unpacks the complexities of a man who shaped the course of history during one of America’s most pivotal eras. A must-see theatrical experience!
BEHIND EVERY LAUGH IS A LITTLE CHAOS!
LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR
March 4 – March 22, 2026 (Press Opening March 8 at 5:30pm)
By Neil Simon
Directed by Andrew Barnicle
From illustrious playwright Neil Simon, Laughter on the 23rd Floor is a boisterously merry and fast-paced comedy set behind the scenes of a 1950s television sitcom. Inspired by Simon’s own experiences as a writer for Sid Caeser’s Your Show of Shows, the play captures the chaos, creativity, and comedic genius of a group of writers.
With unforgettable characters and a nostalgic look at the golden age of television, this uproarious production is a celebration of collaboration and the art of laughter. Don’t miss out on this hilarious behind-the-scenes journey!
A HUMOROUS HARD-BOILED WORLD PREMIERE MYSTERY!
THE MALTESE FALCON
April 15 – May 3, 2026 (Press Opening April 19 at 5:30pm)
By Matthew Salazar-Thompson
Directed by Todd Nielsen
Brace yourself for an unforgettable night with The Maltese Falcon! This stage adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s iconic noir novel brings the classic tale of intrigue, betrayal, and danger to life. Detective Sam Spade is once again thrust into a high stakes search for the priceless statue, navigating a web of lies, shifting alliances, and unexpected twists. With clever banter and fast-paced action, this production perfectly balances suspense and mystery, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
ART, PASSION, AND THE PRICE OF CREATION…
RED
June 10 – June 28, 2026 (Press Opening June 14 at 5:30pm)
By John Logan
Directed by David Ellenstein
In this gripping and thought-provoking play, a famed artist confronts the price of artistic genius and personal sacrifice. Set in the studio of abstract expressionist Mark Rothko, the story follows his turbulent relationship with a young assistant, as they clash over the meaning of art, ambition, and legacy. Ever wondered what it truly takes to create a masterpiece?
“An extremely intelligent play of ideas, dealing with such lofty concepts as the purpose of art, cultural trendiness, commerce versus aesthetics and much more.” – NY1
Season subscriptions are now on sale. Six show early bird season packages range from $245.00 – $483.00 (prior to April 25); Six show season packages range from $258.00 – $519.00 (on sale April 25, not including opening night subsciptions) and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-2787. Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229. Prices subject to change. The box office is open Tuesdays – Sundays: 12pm to 4pm; Mondays open 2 hours prior to show time and until 15 minutes after curtain. Open until showtime on all performance days.
For more information on all shows and programming visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com. LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
Founded in 1920, the historic Laguna Playhouse (David Ellenstein, Artistic Director) is one of the oldest continuously operating not-for-profit theatres on the West Coast and is proud to be an active participant in the celebrated Laguna Beach arts community. From classic plays and musical comedies to the current off-Broadway smash, cutting edge and traditional music exhibitions, dance festivals and stand-up comedy performances, Laguna Playhouse brings the magical experience of the performing arts direct to over 80,000 patrons each season.
Laguna Playhouse educational programming includes year-round classes, productions by and for children and teens (Youth Theatre) and is one of the few companies in the region that offer a curriculum-based professional theatre-touring program, TheatreReach, which aligns with the California State Standards for literature, history and performing arts curriculum.
Laguna Playhouse has been recognized for the past five years as one of Orange County Register’s “Best of OC” in the category of Live Theatre. The Laguna Playhouse has featured many talented performers on stage, including Ed Asner, Leslie Caron, Hershey Felder, Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith, Val Kilmer, Gregory Harrison, Dan Lauria, Hal Linden, Wendie Malick, Rita Rudner, Peter Strauss, Jobeth Williams, Joely Fisher, Charles Shaughnessy, French Stewart, Loretta Swit, and Bette Davis.
Learn What’s Going On at www.lagunaplayhouse.com.
