Arts Off Broadway is a community theatre unique to San Diego's North County in that it sprung from roots as a youth theatre, exploded with success as a community theatre and then reinstituted its youth program so that entire families can enjoy theatrical experiences together in an environment that nurtures creativity and positive values.

In the spring of 2001, Escondido residents Don & Marie Verger (in the photo above) purchased property, which became the home of an after-school arts education program. "Hansel & Gretel" became the program's first production, followed by "Cinderella", "The Wizard of Oz", and a long string of successful shows, which filled theatres throughout the Escondido, Poway and Valley Center areas.

In spring of 2008, Arts Off Broadway was officially launched as a community theatre with a production featuring an adult cast, "Little Shop of Horrors", at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido (CCAE). Productions at the CCAE that followed include "Kiss Me Kate", "Peter Pan", "Urinetown" (which commanded an encore performance), "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat", which featured both an adult and youth cast. We also provide separate but similiar projects like the Summer of Sondheim which included an adult production of Sweeney Todd with a junior version of Into the Woods. With 16 shows in just three short years, AOB continues to have live orchestras and patrons that keep coming back for more!