| Jan. 12, 1981 |
Jack O'Brien named artistic director; Tom Hall, managing director; Craig Noel becomes executive producer of The Old Globe. |
| Jan. 5, 1982 |
Official dedication ceremonies for new Old Globe follow two-year rebuilding period. |
| Jan. 14, 1982 |
Official inaugural opening performance, of Shakespeare's As You Like It, directed by Craig Noel. First professional (Actors' Equity) company to be employed during winter season in 45-year history of the Old Globe. |
| Jan. 18, 1983 |
Thornton Wilder's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Skin of Our Teeth, directed by Jack O'Brien, is telecast live by satellite from the Old Globe stage to open second season of PBS' "American Playhouse." First PBS telecast of a live theatrical stage production. |
| Feb. 26, 1983 |
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, visits The Old Globe, unveiling sculpture of William Shakespeare in bronze by Roy Paul Madsen and installed permanently in theatre lobby. |
| Jan. 12, 1984 |
First musical produced in new Old Globe, Kiss Me, Kate, conceived and directed by Jack O'Brien. Acclaimed production attracts national media attention, record-breaking attendance. |
| Mar. 1984 |
Winter season subscriptions total 27,512 and, combined with summer season ticket sales top $1 million. Winter and summer subscriptions total 40,833, giving The Old Globe largest subscription base of any not-for-profit regional theatre. |
| April 1984 |
The Old Globe production of Simon Gray's Quartermaine's Terms becomes the first winter-season touring production, playing four-week engagement at San Francisco's Marine's Memorial Theatre. |
| June 3, 1984 |
The Old Globe receives Special Tony Award for outstanding achievement by a regional theatre, presented for "notable past achievements and its continuing dedication to theatre artistry." |
| June 13, 1984 |
Local PBS affiliate, KPBS-TV, premieres a documentary of the Old Globe's 50 years of production. Theatre officials plan a series of events to celebrate 1985, the Year of Jubilee. |
| Oct. 29, 1984 |
The Festival Stage is completely destroyed by early morning fire, later determined to be arson. The Old Globe board of directors meets in emergency session and vows to rebuild theatre in time for June 1985 Festival Season. Theatre to be rededicated Lowell Davies Festival Theatre in honor of the late Mr. Davies, who was for 40 years a board officer. |
| Mar. 6, 1985 |
Ground breaking for Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. |
| June 7, 1985 |
Lowell Davies Festival Theatre opens with A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Jack O'Brien. |
| July 26, 1985 |
500th production by The Old Globe opens: Shakespeare's Richard III, directed by John Houseman. |
| Dec. 1986 |
The Old Globe produces the world premiere of Into the Woods, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book and direction by James Lapine. |
| Jan. 1987 |
San Diego Mayor Maureen O'Connor proclaimed 1987 "The Year of Craig Noel" in honor of the 50th anniversary of the executive producer's association with the Old Globe. |
| Nov. 1987 |
Into the Woods opens on Broadway. |
| 1988 |
Four productions premiered at The Old Globe -- Neil Simon's Rumors, Stephen Metcalfe's Emily, A.R. Gurney's Another Antigone and The Cocktail Hour -- open in New York. |
| Oct. 22, 1989 |
The Old Globe presents the U.S. premiere of Maly Drama Theatre of Leningrad's Brothers and Sisters as part of San Diego Arts Festival: Treasures of the Soviet Union. |
