Christopher Ashley, the longtime artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse, will take over as artistic director of Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway.
He will begin his tenure in July 2026 for the 2027-2028 season. Scott Ellis, current interim artistic director, will continue in the role for the 2025-2026 season, and Ellis will work with Ashley on the 2026-2027 season, as Ashley fulfills prior commitments at La Jolla.
Ellis was named interim artistic director of the nonprofit theater company after Todd Haimes died in April 2023, after holding the position for close to 40 years and growing the theater company into one of the largest not-for-profit theaters in the U.S., with three Broadway theaters and two Off-Broadway.
Roundabout’s American Airlines Theater, its main Broadway house, was renamed after Haimes in 2024.
Ashley comes to the role after leading La Jolla Playhouse, another nonprofit giant based in San Diego, since 2007. While there, Ashley directed Come From Away, which later transferred to Broadway for a successful run, and premiering new works, including The Outsiders, which recently won the Tony Award for best musical, and working with artists such as Tina Landau, Lisa Sanaye Dring, Joe Iconis, Sonya Tayeh, Anna Deveare Smith, Kimber Lee and Charlayne Woodard. In total, 22 shows from La Jolla Playhouse transferred to Broadway under his tenure.
His Broadway directing credits also include Diana, Memphis, Xanadu, Leap of Faith, Escape to Margaritaville, All Shook Up and The Rocky Horror Show.
“I am honored and exhilarated to step into the role of Artistic Director at Roundabout Theater Company. Under Todd Haimes’ leadership, Roundabout has become a home for an extraordinary array of artists, working in five beautiful theaters on and off Broadway. I look forward to collaborating with Scott Ellis on programming the 2026-27 season and joining Sydney Beers, Chris Nave and the superb staff full time in July 2026. As we navigate this moment of immense change in the American theater, I hope that Roundabout can be a town square, where urgent questions can be investigated, the joy of live theater can be shared, and we can together find community and hope,” Ashley said.
Roundabout’s productions have won 38 Tony Awards, including for A Soldier’s Play, She Loves Me, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The Humans, Anything Goes, The Importance of Being Earnest, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, The 39 Steps, The Pajama Game, Assassins, Nine, Little Me, Side Man, Cabaret, A View from the Bridge, Anna Christie and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg.
Ashley is the latest new nonprofit leader named to Broadway, after decades of the same leadership at Broadway’s four major nonprofit companies. This month, Lear deBessonet was named new artistic director of Lincoln Center Theater, succeeding André Bishop after his 33-year tenure. Evan Cabnet, who was artistic director of Lincoln Center Theater’s LCT3, was recently named as new artistic director of Second Stage Theater, replacing Carole Rothman after a 45-year career. Lynne Meadow remains in place at Manhattan Theatre Cub.
Roundabout will next search for a managing director to work with Ashley.
