The Young Swan
What’s in a name? Cygnet Theatre’s is a nod to the Swan Theatre, which rivaled William Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in Elizabethan London. Once a fledgling company with aspirations of being on par with San Diego’s Old Globe, the theater built on that rivalry, calling itself Cygnet, a young swan.
Taking Flight
Cygnet Theatre started out in 2003 in a 165-seat house in Rolando. It moved to Old Town five years later and underwent a renovation thanks to a $1 million capital campaign. The 246-seat theater added the Elaine Lipinsky Patio in 2012.
Spreading Its Wings
Cygnet’s seasons feature classics and musicals mixed with local premieres and fresh artistic voices. Its productions reach over 40,000 people each year.
One Hundred Shows
A Christmas Carol (November 29 to December 24) will mark Cygnet’s 100th production and its fifth year performing the classic Dickens tale. Its special effects use innovative little touches like crinkling cellophane to mimic the sound of walking through snow.
By the Numbers
Cygnet’s shows feature anywhere from one to more than 20 actors who rehearse for four to six weeks before opening night. The company has 25 artistic and administrative employees and scores of volunteers who sew costumes, show guests to their seats, and help out around the set.
Helping Heroes
Through Cygnet Serves, members of the military can see A Christmas Carol for free. Tickets to other shows are $20.
Emerging Artists
Young artists seeking their first job need look no further. Cygnet partners with San Diego State University to allow graduate students the chance to work alongside professionals, and has hired several after graduation. Cygnet also recruits students and recent graduates of the University of North Carolina School of Arts in Winston-Salem as paid performers