Coming Soon: Performing arts center ‘The Joan’ takes shape, sets opening date at Liberty Station

The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center will serve as Cygnet Theatre’s new home, debuting just before fall 2025.

A rendering of a stage and seats at a new performance venue in San Diego.

A rendering of the main stage at The Joan.

Rendering via The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center

Spotlight, on. A new, $43.5 million performing arts venue dubbed “The Joan” will debut at Liberty Station on Sept. 10, 2025. We’ve rounded up the latest renderings + details — let’s pull back the curtain.

  • The Joan — nicknamed for late philanthropist Joan Jacobs — is being built at Liberty Station’s renovated + restored Naval Building 178.
  • It’ll serve as the new home of Cygnet Theatre. The company recently released its 2025-2026 schedule at the space, which kicks off with musical “Follies” running from Wednesday, Sept. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 5. Subscription packages go on sale in March.
  • The project is a collaboration between the NTC Foundation and Cygnet, but other local organizations will be welcome to use the space.
  • The venue will feature two performance spaces — a theater that seats 280+ and “The Dottie,” a 150-seat flexible studio space named after philanthropist Dorothea Laub.
  • As of January 2025, the project is at 86% of its fundraising goal — donations will help get it across the finish line.

To better visualize The Joan, check out this cool flythrough video.

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