What is Sledgehammer?

Photo from The Devil's River

Raw   Powerful   Visceral   Adventurous  

Over the past 21 years, Sledgehammer Theatre has emerged as a nationally recognized company known for intense dedication to the development of new American voices in theatre.

Sledgehammer has created, performed and presented:

  • over 60 new theatrical events
  • 22 world premieres
  • eight west coast premiers

Sledgehammer Theatre functions as a regional center for the creation of new theatrical events. The company provides an environment for the exploration of theatrical forms; a laboratory for established and emerging artists; and an arena for public participation in the immediacy of new and provocative American theatre.

The company's work is distinguished for adventurous excellence and numerous artistic achievements; the repertoire is routinely recognized for spectacular use of space and design, prolific new play development, and vibrant performances.

Sledgehammer spent most of their early years as urban gypsies alternating between sites ranging from San Diego's Old Carnation Milk Factory and a variety of now-abandoned or destroyed warehouses to San Diego's Old Globe Theatre and New York's Whitney Museum of American Art. Notable past productions include:

  • The world premiere of Berzerkergäng
  • Erik Ehn's No Time Like The Present (acclaimed world premiere at the Whitney Museum in New York and in San Diego)
  • the entire U.S. Highway Love Slaves trilogy
  • Mac Wellman's 7 Blow jobs (this political satire about sex and scandal in Washington, D.C. premiered in 1991, and was featured on the February 1999 cover of American Theatre magazine)
  • Charles Mee's The War To End War (directed by Matthew Wilder, co-produced with California Repertory Theatre)
  • Furious Blood by Kelly Stuart
  • an uncut, five hour Hamlet
  • an unconventional Sweet Charity (in association with Evoke Dance Theatre)
  • The Frankenstein Project(also performed at the NET conference in San Francisco)
  • The Universal Monster Show (world premiere ensemble event)
  • A Knife in the Heart (award winning world premiere by Susan Yankowitz)
  • A/Wake, a Theatre Deinstallation(world premiere event closing St. Cecilia's Playhouse)

The company's work has been produced for radio with San Diego's NPR affiliate, KPBS-FM. New media programming also includes the San Diego edition of D.Film, an international film festival celebrating an explosive new wave of distinctive film and video works created with desktop technology.

Numerous honors include:

  • Back Stage West Garland Awards for Excellence in West Coast Theatre
  • San Diego Theatre Critics Circle for Outstanding Achievement for site-specific work and lighting design, "...in the creative carving of theatre out of the void..."
  • Outstanding Scenic and Lighting Design from LA Drama-Logue
  • KPBS/Patté Awards for outstanding Design, Direction, Performance and Production
  • A variety of "best of the year" lists in the San Diego Union-Tribune, Orange County Weekly and other local publications.

Sledgehammer Theatre is a 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation. We receive funding from various supporting organizations and people like you. Thank you.