Laguna Playhouse Picks Successor to Artistic Director

Andrew Barnicle, head of theater at United States International University in San Diego, has been named artistic director of Laguna Playhouse to succeed Douglas Rowe, who retires June 30.

Playhouse Executive Director Richard A. Stein said Barnicle, 39, was selected last week by the Playhouse board of directors from six candidates and was signed Monday to a one-year contract, effective July 1.

The five other finalists, chosen from an initial pool of 120 candidates, included three from Los Angeles, one from Laguna Beach and one from New York, Stein said.

Barnicle lives in Oceanside and is expected to retain his residence there.

The artistic director’s post pays an annual salary of about $40,000, according to a knowledgeable Playhouse source who asked not to be named. Stein would not confirm or deny that figure. Barnicle could not be reached.

Stein said Barnicle staged San Diego area premieres of “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” “Sherlock’s Last Case” and “Torch Song Trilogy,” all at North Coast Repertory. “He has the vision, drive and personality that is going to inspire us as we move forward,” Stein said.

In the meantime, however, plans for a Playhouse drama festival this summer have been shelved.

“It became clear that there were a couple of key funding sources we were too late to apply for,” Stein said. He added that the festival might be produced in 1992 when Barnicle will have had time to organize it.