THE STORY THAT DEFINED A GENERATION. AN UNMISSABLE WORLD PREMIERE.

In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, the hardened hearts and aching souls of Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade and their chosen family of ‘outsiders’ are in a fight for survival and a quest for purpose in a world that may never accept them. A story of the bonds that brothers share and the hopes we all hold on to, this gripping new musical reinvigorates the timeless tale of ‘haves and have nots’, of protecting what’s yours and fighting for what could be.

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to be student-centered, faculty- and staff-focused, and community-oriented,” says Kollar Smith. “Our programming will reflect and balance these three priorities. Our debut events gave us a chance to provide a sneak peek at the venue before construction was complete in October. We produced seven different events in 10 days across multiple disciplines.”

Those events included concerts by Death Cab for Cutie and Indonesian singer and songwriter Niki; a celebration with the full San Diego Symphony; a Día de los Muertos performance presented by ArtPower; a drag show produced in partnership with UCSD colleges and the LGBT+ Center featuring favorites from RuPaul’s Drag Race alongside local drag queens; a free Community Day in partnership with La Jolla Playhouse, Animal Cracker Conspiracy and the Young

Lions Jazz and Blacktronika, a free music festival featuring innovators of color in the electronic music industry.

“The debut events were a great snapshot of what’s to come, and we can’t wait to share what’s next,” Kollar Smith adds. “Having two weeks of events prior to construction completion taught us lessons that are helping us refine our operational model. We received great feedback from our guests and look forward to creating an exceptional experience for everyone who joins us at the amphitheater.”

Kollar Smith sees the Epstein Family Amphitheater as a key addition to the changing arts landscape in San Diego, with the opening of new venues like The Rady Shell and The Conrad in La Jolla. “As a native San Diegan, I am proud to have been raised in and be a product of one of the most vibrant and collaborative arts and culture communities in the world,” she says. “The addition of each of these beautiful new venues, as well as the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center at NTC, provides us as leaders with greater opportunities to innovate and diversify the arts offerings of our region. As part of a university with a history of seeing beyond and breaking boundaries, we can’t wait to build unexpected partnerships on and off campus. We will be intentional about identifying barriers to individuals engaging with the arts; so that we can lead the way in removing those barriers and create a space for the next generation of art makers, administrators and supporters.”

In keeping with a more casual atmosphere, there will be food vendors just outside the amphitheater, and water stations inside. And although lawn chairs aren’t permitted, personal seat cushions, blankets, or flat seating are. Some upcoming events have already been announced, such as the Atamira Dance Company’s “Te Wheke” on April 5; and the Dream House Quartet, featuring superstars Katia and Marielle Labèque on pianos and composerinstrumentalists David Chalmin and Bryce Dessner, on April 26. Both are part of UCSD’s respected ArtPower season. In June, the amphitheater will host Mainly Mozart’s prestigious All-Star Orchestra Festival.

“We look forward to announcing a spring and summer season followed by our first full season of programming at the Epstein Family Amphitheater,” Kollar Smith says. “It will include headliners, community partnerships, cultural and community events, dance performances, theater, family offerings, film nights and more.”

For more information about the venue and tickets, visit amphitheater.ucsd.edu