Our Story
OUR MISSION
Musical theatre is the only truly American art form, other than Jazz. San Diego Musical Theatre, as the only local, year-round musical theatre organization in San Diego, is driven by a passion for musical theatre, a passion to celebrate this art form with others and a passion to pass this American tradition on to the next generation, by producing musicals that ignite the human spirit. San Diego Musical Theatre – Your local way to see Broadway Musicals
OUR HISTORY
San Diego Musical Theatre (SDMT) was founded by Erin and Gary Lewis on September 26, 2006, as a professional, non-profit, musical theatre organization that produces Broadway musicals. Erin and Gary grew up in San Diego where both of their families enjoyed attending local musical productions. When their daughter began performing at local theatres over 30 years ago, they soon discovered that they wanted to become more involved in San Diego’s theatrical community by volunteering their services, time, and resources.
Erin and Gary have owned and operated a successful Tupperware business for over 47 years and love what they do. After realizing in 2006 that San Diego could benefit from a local, year round, non-profit musical theatre organization, they decided that the time was right to add an exciting new adventure to their life — and San Diego Musical Theatre was born.
The inaugural production for SDMT… was an audience and critical success, winning the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle award for Outstanding Musical Direction
San Diego Musical Theatre (SDMT) was founded by Erin and Gary Lewis on September 26, 2006, as a professional, non-profit, musical theatre organization that produces Broadway musicals. Erin and Gary grew up in San Diego where both of their families enjoyed attending local musical productions. When their daughter began performing at local theatres over 35 years ago, they soon discovered that they wanted to become more involved in San Diego’s theatrical community by volunteering their services, time, and resources.
San Diego Musical Theatre, is a local, non-profit, professional musical theatre organization, in its sixteenth year of presenting Broadway style musical theatre. SDMT is the only year-round musical theatre organization in San Diego. SDMT provides a home for over 400 artists annually such as actors, directors, designers, musicians, and crew!
We are proud of our organization and the quality of musical theatre that we provide San Diego audiences. Starting with our first show, the Full Monty in 2007, San Diego Musical Theatre has produced over 50 musical theatre productions – many Regional Premieres and two World Premieres. The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle has recognized SDMT’s productions with many awards and award nominations for outstanding musical theatre productions, directors, choreographers, musical director and performers.
Musical theatre is the only truly American art form, other than Jazz. SDMT is driven by a passion for musical theatre, a passion to celebrate this art form with others and a passion to pass the American tradition on to the next generation. We strive to do just that through our productions as well as through our SDMT Academy (musical theatre education program) where we offer classes, workshops and camps in a safe and supportive environment, for youth and adults.
SDMT’s You Give. We Give. campaign is our way to give back to our community. SDMT chooses another local nonprofit organization, for each of our productions, and donates to that organization to support the work they do in our community. We are proud that since this campaign started, we have donated over $20,000 to other local non-profits to help with their missions.
SDMT continues to expand their presence in the local theatre community and offer San Diego audiences live entertainment of the highest caliber. San Diego Musical Theatre is your local way to see Broadway.
OUR AWARDS
San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Awards
- 2008 The Full Monty – Outstanding Musical Direction, Don LeMaster
- 2011 Dreamgirls – Outstanding Resident Musical
- 2011 Dreamgirls – Outstanding Male Performer, Tonex
- 2013 The Sound of Music – Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Victoria Strong
- 2013 The Sound of Music – Outstanding Musical Direction, Don LeMaster
- 2014 Next to Normal – Outstanding Young Actor, Lindsay Joan
- 2014 Next to Normal – Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Bets Malone
- 2015 La Cage aux Folles – Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Robert J. Townsend
- 2015 La Cage aux Folles – Outstanding featured Performance in a Musical, James Vasquez
- 2016 Ragtime – Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Carolyn Agan
- 2016 Ragtime – Outstanding Musical Direction, Don LeMaster
- 2018 Hairspray – Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Eboni Muse
- 2018 Hairspray – Outstanding Choreography, Jill Gorrie
- 2018 Young Frankenstein – Actor of the Year, Kevin Hafso Koppman
- 2022 Catch Me If You Can – Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Beau Brians
- 2022 In the Heights – Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Sebastian Montenegro
- 2022 Actor of the Year- Berto Fernández: Catch Me If You Can and In the Heights
Patte Awards
- 2011 Dreamgirls – Outstanding Resident Musical and Outstanding Male Performer
San Diego Bravo Awards
- 2012 Spirit Award
- 2013 Producers of the Year
SDTCC Nominations
- A Chorus Line – Outstanding Musical Direction
- White Christmas – Outstanding Costume Design
- Chicago – Outstanding Choreography
- Chicago – Outstanding Featured Male Performer
- Annie Get Your Gun – Outstanding Leading Female Performer
- Next to Normal – Outstanding Resident Musical
- Next to Normal – Outstanding Direction of a Musical
- Next to Normal – Outstanding Musical Direction
- West Side Story – Outstanding Featured Performer, Female
- Singin’ in the Rain – Outstanding Choreography
- Ragtime – Outstanding Featured Performance, Female
- Ragtime – Outstanding Resident Musical
- Billy Elliot – Outstanding Resident Musical
- Billy Elliot – Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
- Damn Yankees – Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
- Damn Yankees – Outstanding Choreography
- South Pacific – Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male
- Hairspray – Outstanding Musical Direction
- Hairspray – Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Female
- Hairspray – Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical, Male
- Hairspray – Outstanding Choreography
- Hairspray – Outstanding Resident Musical
- Young Frankenstein – Outstanding Direction of a Musical
- Young Frankenstein – Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Male
- Young Frankenstein – Outstanding Resident Musical
- Crazy For You – Outstanding Choreography
- Sister Act – Outstanding Choreography
- Sister Act – Outstanding Featured Performance In A Musical
- A Christmas Story – Outstanding Choreography
- Catch Me If You Can – Outstanding Direction of a Musical
- In the Heights – Outstanding Direction of a Musical
- Catch Me If You Can – Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
- Catch Me If You Can – Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
- In the Heights – Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
