Sean Penn and Nick Nolte in The Late Henry Moss. photo by David Allen.

Magic Theatre History

Having just celebrated its 40th Anniversary Season, Magic Theatre is one of the most prominent theatres in the nation solely dedicated to development and production of new plays. The mission of Magic Theatre is to give voice to playwrights, both emerging and established, and to develop and promote the work of theatre artists. Magic Theatre engages audiences in intimate, professional productions that speak to contemporary issues with originality and wit, a sense of urgency and adventure.

Founded by John Lion in 1967 at the Steppenwolf Bar in Berkeley, Magic Theatre’s history includes premieres of over 200 new works. The theatre’s name derives from the novel Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse, in which the central character is invited to attend an:

"Anarchist Evening at the Magic Theatre
For Madmen Only
Price of Admission Your Mind."

The roster of writers whose works have premiered at the Magic reads like a “Who’s Who of the American Theatre,” including Sam Shepard (playwright in residence 1975-83), David Mamet, Michael McClure, Nilo Cruz, Rebecca Gilman, Charles Mee, Anne Bogart, Neena Beber, John Robin Baitz, Edna O’Brien, Joseph Chaikin, Claire Chafee, John O’Keefe, Maria Irene Fornes, Michelle Carter, and Jose Rivera.

Magic Theatre plays and playwrights have won four Pulitzer Prizes for Drama (Sam Shepard, David Mamet, Paula Vogel, Nilo Cruz) and ten Obie Awards (Off-Broadway, NY), including Best New Play for Fool for Love and Buried Child by Sam Shepard and Josephine the Mouse Singer by Michael McClure. This season Michelle Carter won her second PEN-West Award for Drama, for Ted Kaczynski Killed People with Bombs, having won two years earlier for Hillary and Soon-Yi Shop for Ties. Other awards include the Kennedy Center Award, numerous Bay Area Critics Circle Awards, the Los Angeles Drama-Logue Award, and the NAACP Image Award.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Chris Smith and Managing Director David Jobin, Magic Theatre is also instrumental in the development of works in the Bay Area and beyond, with its Sloan Foundation Science & Technology Initiative (now in its second three-year cycle, the program is developing and commissioning over 25 new works), Magic/Z Space New Works Initiative (also in its second three-year program, a consortium of fourteen Bay Area theatres commissioning, developing and producing 18 new plays), Martha Heasley Cox Raw Play Series, New Voices West Workshop Productions, education programs Young California Writers Project and Launch Pad amongst others.

Magic Theatre is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) arts organization, supported by ticket revenue, grants from local and national agencies, as well as hundreds of individual and corporate donors.

highlights

1967

• John Lion, a Graduate student at U.C. Berkeley working under the tutelage of Professor Jan Kott, directs Ionesco's THE LESSON at the Steppenwolf Bar.
• The company names itself "Magic Theatre" from the scene in Herman Hesse's novel, STEPPENWOLF, where the central character Harry Haller is invited to attend an:
  "Anarchist Evening at the Magic Theatre
  For Madmen Only
  Price of Admission Your Mind"

1969

• Michael McClure writes THE CHERUB and MEAT POEM for the Magic Theatre, beginning an 11-year artistic relationship that establishes the Magic as an important center for the creation and performance of new American plays.

1971

• The Magic produces it's first Sam Shepard play, the West Coast Premiere of LA TURISTA

1974

• McClure's most famous work, THE BEARD, and his longest running hit GORF. premiere at the Magic. Both are directed by John Lion.

1975

• Sam Shepard joins the Magic as its Playwright in Residence.

1977

• Martin Esslin, internationally renowned scholar and critic, joins the Magic as its Dramaturg. The Magic becomes the first theatre in America to establish this position.
• The Magic Theatre moves to San Francisco's historic Fort Mason Center.
• Alan and Bean Finneran's SOON 3 and Jock Reynold's HOSPITAL premiere at the Magic, introducing the new form known as "performance art" to the Bay Area.

1978

• Sam Shepard's BURIED CHILD receives its world premiere at the Magic under the direction of Robert Woodruff.
• The Magic premiers Sam Shepard and Joseph Chaikin's award-winning collaboration, TONGUES.

1979

• BURIED CHILD wins the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play runs for more than one year Off-Broadway; in subsequent seasons it receives more than 400 productions around the world.
• John Lion receives the first award given for Achievement in Theatre by the San Francisco Arts Commission, and a special commendation from the Mayor.

1980

• Shepard's TRUE WEST, directed by Robert Woodruff, receives its world premiere at the Magic. The production enjoys an extended commercial run.

1982

• The Magic Theatre is nominated for a Tony Award as best Regional Theatre in America.
• The Magic premieres STUCK and SANDCASTLES by Adele Edling Shank.

1983

• Shepard’s FOOL FOR LOVE starring Ed Harris and Kathy Baker, makes its debut at the Magic. The production is transferred to New York's Circle Repertory Theatre, where it garners critical acclaim and numerous Obies, including Best New Play.

1984

• Lynne Kaufman's first play, THE COUCH, is premiered by the Magic and receives the Will Glickman Award for Best New play.

1985

• Tom Strelich's NEON PSALMS, another Magic world premiere, receives the prestigious CBS/FDG New Play Award.
• Murray Mednick's SCAR, starring Ed Harris and Amy Madigan receives its world premiere at the Magic.

1986

• John Lion and the Magic Theatre receive the highest honor given by the Dramatists Guild. A national panel of theatre artists, critics and scholars bestows the Margo Jones Award, citing the Magic's "significant contribution to the dramatic art through the production of new plays."
• The Magic premieres Alan Bowne’s SHARON AND BILLY, directed by Albert Takazauckas.

1988

• The Magic revives FOOL FOR LOVE, which is featured at the Singapore Festival of the Arts.
• John Lion directs A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN, in honor of the Eugene O'Neill centenary. The production runs for 165 performances, becoming the longest-running play in the history of the Magic Theatre.

1993

• The Magic inaugurates a two-part Educational Outreach program, consisting of the Magic Learning Project and the Young California Writers Project. Both use theatre as a catalyst for learning in all parts of the high school curriculum.
• After it's initial three week run, Claire Chafee's WHY WE HAVE A BODY, directed by Jayne Wenger, extends for an additional six months.

1994

• The Magic opens PLAYLAND by Athol Fugard, directed by Benny Sato Ambush, on the night of Nelson Mandela's inauguration

1996

• PIECES OF THE QUILT, conceived of by noted Magic actor Sean San Jose Blackman, a stunning collection of short, new plays which both celebrate and mourn those living with or who have perished from AIDS, opens at the Magic.

1997

• The Magic opens it 30th Anniversary Season with Sam Shepard's TRUE WEST

2000

• The Magic premieres Late Henry Moss, written and directed by Sam Shepard, starring Nick Nolte, Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, and Cheech Marin.

2002

• Anne Bogart conceives and directs the paired plays Bob and Room.  
• Award-winning choreographer Joe Goode writes, directs, and choreographs Body Familiar. 

2003

• Chris Smith becomes Magic Theatre's fifth Artistic Director. 
• The Magic premieres acclaimed Irish novelist Edna O’Brien’s Triptych.  David Mamet directs the world premiere of his play Dr. Faustus.  Both productions are extended and break box office records.

2004

• The Magic premieres the musical The Opposite of Sex starring Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba and an all-star Broadway cast. 
• Chris Smith directs the world premiere of Charles Grodin's The Right Kind of People.

2006

• Acclaimed puppet artist Basil Twist directs Paula Vogel's The Long Christmas Ride Home with choreography by Joe Goode. 
• The Magic premieres Moving Right Along, written and directed by Elaine May, starring Marlo Thomas.

2008

• Loretta Greco becomes Magic Theatre's sixth Artistic Director.