To connect with JCompany, like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Mission Statement
JCompany Youth Theatre is San Diego’s leading youth theatre program, garnering local and national attention with its award-winning productions, providing a foundation for young artists to train and develop their creative potential, and giving them the opportunity to express themselves through the dramatic arts.
About
JCompany Youth Theatre is a nationally recognized, award-winning youth theatre located at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, in La Jolla, California. Guided and inspired by seasoned professionals in the theatre industry, JCompany provides performing arts opportunities to children 4 through 18, regardless of gender, religion, ethnic background, sexual orientation or economic status. Part of JCompany's uniqueness comes from the idea of not only creating future artists but guiding future humans. Through the simple pillars of Focus, Willingness, Appreciation, Professionalism, Empathy, Respect & Support; JCompany's goal for each young artist is not the theatrical term of a "Triple Threat.", but a Quadruple Threat: Acting, Singing, Dancing, Compassion.
History
Founded in 1993 by Founding Artistic Director Becky Cherlin Baird and Founding Executive Producer, Melissa Garfield Bartell, JCompany is recognized as one of Southern California’s leading family-based youth theatre companies. JCompany’s professionally mounted performances are based out of the David & Dorothea Garfield Theatre, a 495-seat state of the art theatre facility located at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS in La Jolla, California.
View a full list of prior productions.
Since 2006, JCompany has been under the artistic direction of Joey Landwehr. A renowned leader in theatre, Joey was recognized by the City of San Diego when it proclaimed October 18th, 2016 Joey Landwehr Day.
Artistic Director: Joey Landwehr
Joey Landwehr, (TONY Award Nomination – Inaugural Excellence In Theatre Education Award) (PROCLAMATION – Oct. 18th is officially JOEY LANDWEHR DAY in San Diego County in honor of Joey’s dedication to the theatrical arts) is the proud Artistic Director for JCompany Youth Theatre (2006-present) as well as Artistic Director for the SAN DIEGO CENTER FOR JEWISH CULTURE.
Joey moved to San Diego after being a professional actor and director in New York City working on and off Broadway, national tours, regional theatre and directing and soloing at Carnegie Hall. Joey received his MFA in acting and directing from The Ohio State University and has studied under such theatrical luminaries as Betty Buckley, Marcel Marceau, Francis Sternhagen, Uta Hagen, Anne Bogart, Patti LuPone, F. Murray Abraham, Twila Tharpe and has had the great privilege of working with such greats as Ben Vereen, Phyllis Diller, Sam Harris, Harvey Fierstein, Cyndi Lauper, Kristin Chenoweth, Victoria Mallory, Joel Grey, Kaye Ballard, Michael Feinstein, Betty Buckley & Howard Keel.
Joey has worked in all medias of entertainment and is a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the Director’s Guild of America (DGA), and Americans for the Arts (AFTA).
2003-2006 Joey worked for the San Diego Performing Arts League as Membership and Community Development Director. From 2006-2015 he served as resident staging director & choreographer for the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus under the baton of Gary Holt; and from 2014 to the present Joey serves as Artistic Director for the Ben Vereen Awards, renamed the Broadway San Diego Awards - a part of the Nederlander Organization. Joey has won over 50 awards for his work with young artists in San Diego; including a special creativity award for shaving his head with his lead in THE KING AND I, Yul Brynner style, gaining over $10,000.00 for Rady Children’s Hospital, Cancer Unit. Earning him the title Joey “Do Anything For The Arts” Landwehr. In 2007 he received the “40 Under 40” Award from San Diego Metropolitan Magazine for outstanding leadership in the arts and in 2011 was also honored as the San Diego Newsmaker of the year in the Arts. In 2015 Joey was nominated, by the great Ben Vereen, for the Inaugural Excellence In Theatre Education TONY Award; in 2016 Joey was further recognized when the city of San Diego proclaimed October 18th Joey Landwehr Day.
Joey has directed well over 100 productions. At JCompany alone he has artistically directed: RUMPELSTILTSKIN IS MY NAME, OLIVER! (x2), YOURS, ANNE, DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (x2), THE STORY OF HANSEL AND GRETEL, DISNEY’S THE JUNGLE BOOK, ELTON JOHN AND TIM RICE’S AIDA, DISNEY’S 101 DALMATIANS, POCAHONTAS (San Diego Premiere), INTO THE WOODS, FIREFLIES: THE STORY OF THE ARTISTS OF TEREZIN - FEATURING THE ORIGINAL CHILDREN’S OPERA BRUNDIBAR (World Premiere). RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S SOUTH PACIFIC, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S THE KING AND I, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S THE SOUND OF MUSIC, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, 13 – A NEW MUSICAL, THE WIZARD OF OZ (Munchkin cast of the national tour), CHILDREN OF EDEN (Also playing the role of The Father), DISNEY’S MULAN, **THE WHO’S TOMMY, **THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, **XANADU, FUNNY GIRL, YENTL (World Premiere), GYPSY, HELLO, DOLLY, SHREK – THE MUSICAL, DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE WIZARD OF OZ, DISNEY’S TARZAN, DISNEY’S PETER PAN, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, ANNIE, WEST SIDE STORY, RENT, A VERY POTTER MUSICAL, PHANTOM, DISNEY’S MARY POPPINS, SEUSSICAL, ANNIE WARBUCKS, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. TITANIC – THE MUSICAL, WICKED, URINETOWN, DISNEY’S ALADDIN, THE WIZ, WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, RAGTIME, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, ROMEO & JULIET, MAMMA MIA, TICK, TICK… BOOM!, CHESS, DISNEY’S THE LION KING, LES MISERABLES, DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, HAIRSPRAY, DISNEY’S FROZEN, DISNEY’S THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, DISNEY’S NEWSIES, DREAMWORK’S MADAGASCAR, 1776 (THE ALL FEMALE VERSION), TWO BY TWO, HAMILTON, DISNEY’S MY SON PINOCCHIO, MAMMA MIA!, MATILDA (x2) (Also playing the role of Doctor), MERGIRL SAVES THE WAVES, SOLDIER AND THE TIME TRAVELER, JUST SO STORIES, STORY THEATRE, MAGIC IN THE ATTIC (x2), MACBETH, TWELFTH NIGHT, SNOOPY!!! – THE MUSICAL, YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN, RENT, HANNAH SENESH – THE MISSION HOME, THE ODD POTATO, GREASE, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, DISNEY’S IN THIS TOGETHER, WE ARE WITNESSES, CHICAGO, MONTY PYHON’S SPAMALOT, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, MEAN GIRLS, WE WILL ROCK YOU, WONDERLAND, PETER PAN AND WENDY, DISNEY’S MOANA, SOMETHING ROTTEN!
**In partnership with La Jolla Playhouse