Ojai Playhouse Announces Summer 2026 Programming With John C. Reilly, Marc Maron, Dr. Brown & More

May 22, 2026 — The historic Ojai Playhouse announces its Summer 2026 programming slate, spanning landmark film screenings, filmmaker appearances, new restorations, and an expanding lineup of live performance events that continue to position the venue as one of California’s most distinctive cultural gathering spaces. This summer’s season is anchored by a dynamic mix of contemporary performance, comedy, and cinema, including John C. Reilly’s intimate live show Mister Romantic, Marc Maron’s Yammering Into the Void Tour, and Dr. Brown’s internationally acclaimed silent comedy show BEFRDFGTH, underscoring the Playhouse’s emergence as a destination where film culture and live performance increasingly intersect inside a historic setting.

Added this year to the National Register of Historic Places, the Playhouse has become an epicenter for cultural activity in the Ojai Valley. In recent months, the venue has hosted a range of notable moments, including a private film marathon curated by Paul Thomas Anderson for Este Haim’s wedding celebration, a work-in-progress presentation of Desert Films by James Franco, a conversation with Fab 5 Freddy, and comedy performances from Kate Berlant and Neil Hamburger. The Playhouse also served as a co-presenter of Mike D’s surprise performance at the Ojai Women’s Club alongside Very Nice Person, which circulated widely online and helped launch the Beastie Boys member’s latest musical project.

Building on its reputation for immersive, cinephile-driven programming, the Playhouse will debut Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu beginning May 21, launching a season that blends contemporary spectacle with repertory cinema, artist-led events, and immersive theatrical experiences. A series of special documentary screenings and post-show conversations follows, including Disney Handcrafted (May 23) with director Leslie Iwerks and Disney Legend and Imagineer Bob Gurr, and Stolen Kingdom (May 26) with director Joshua Bailey, offering audiences behind-the-scenes insight into unique stories connected to the world of Disney.

Classic and cult cinema remain central to the Playhouse’s programming identity, including a new 4K restoration screening of Terminator 2: Judgment Day (May 23), followed by a curated run of John C. Reilly-starring films that further anchor its repertory focus: Hard Eight (35mm) on May 28, Magnolia on May 31, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story on June 1, and Chicago on June 2.

Those screenings lead into a special live engagement with John C. Reilly in Mister Romantic on June 5 (tickets still available) and 6 (sold out). Acclaimed by The New York Times as “wryly funny, sometimes tender and sad, but always sincere,” and described by Vanity Fair as “fiercely funny,” the vaudeville-inspired performance showcases Reilly alongside a crackerjack band of multi-Grammy-winning musicians Davíd Garza, Charles De Castro, David Piltch, and Gabe Witcher. Mister Romantic invites audiences into an intimate exploration of connection, humor, and emotional openness, marking a distinctive new chapter in Reilly’s celebrated career.

Comedy will take the spotlight this summer with Dr. Brown’s BEFRDFGTH (June 9, 10, and 13), the internationally acclaimed silent comedy work by performer Phil Burgers. Described by The Sunday Times as “a darkly comic masterpiece,” Dr. Brown’s meticulously constructed physical comedy has earned top honors at the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He is widely recognized for his silent, absurd, and physical comedy performances, often credited with reviving and modernizing the art of clowning. Marc Maron will also bring his Yammering Into the Void Tour to the Playhouse for two sold-out performances on July 31 and August 1, further cementing the venue’s emergence as a destination for boundary-pushing contemporary comedy and live performance.

Coinciding with this summer’s 80th Ojai Music Festival, the Playhouse will collaborate on a series of curated afternoon screenings selected by Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen: Wings of Desire (June 12), Fallen Leaves (June 13), and 2001: A Space Odyssey (June 14), extending the venue’s ongoing dialogue between film and music culture in partnership with one of the region’s most established cultural institutions.

With its expanding slate of film, live performance, and artist-driven programming, the Ojai Playhouse continues to evolve as both a repertory cinema and a cultural gathering space, bridging film history, contemporary comedy, and immersive live experiences under one roof.

Live Events and Performances

Fri, June 5, 2026 — 8:00 PM — John C. Reilly is Mister Romantic

Sat, June 6, 2026 — 8:00 PM — John C. Reilly is Mister Romantic

Tue, June 9, 2026 — 7:30 PM — Dr. Brown: BEFRDFGTH

Wed, June 10, 2026 — 7:30 PM — Dr. Brown: BEFRDFGTH

Sat, June 13, 2026 — 10:30 PM — Dr. Brown: BEFRDFGTH

Fri, July 31, 2026 — 8:00 PM — Marc Maron: Yammering Into the Void Tour

Sat, Aug 1, 2026 — 8:00 PM — Marc Maron: Yammering Into the Void Tour

Film Screenings

Thu, May 21, 2026 — 4:00 PM — Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Thu, May 21, 2026 — 7:00 PM — Blade Runner

Fri, May 22, 2026 — 1:00 PM — The Sheep Detectives

Fri, May 22, 2026 — 4:00 PM — Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Fri, May 22, 2026 — 6:45 PM — Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Fri, May 22, 2026 — 9:15 PM — Obsession

Sat, May 23, 2026 — 1:00 PM — Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (3D)

Sat, May 23, 2026 — 4:00 PM — Disneyland Handcrafted

Sat, May 23, 2026 — 7:15 PM — Terminator 2: Judgment Day (4K Remaster)

Sun, May 24, 2026 — 12:00 PM — Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Sun, May 24, 2026 — 3:00 PM — Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (3D)

Sun, May 24, 2026 — 5:30 PM — The Devil Wears Prada 2

Sun, May 24, 2026 — 7:45 PM — Tropic Thunder

Mon, May 25, 2026 — 12:00 PM — The Sheep Detectives

Mon, May 25, 2026 — 7:15 PM — Full Metal Jacket

Tue, May 26, 2026 — 4:15 PM — Ask E. Jean

Tue, May 26, 2026 — 7:00 PM — Stolen Kingdom (Q&A with director Joshua Bailey) 

Wed, May 27, 2026 — 6:45 PM — In Spite of Ourselves

Thu, May 28, 2026 — 7:00 PM — Hard Eight (35mm)

Fri, May 29, 2026 — 7:00 PM — I Love Boosters

Sat, May 30, 2026 — 3:00 PM — I Love Boosters

Sun, May 31, 2026 — 10:00 AM — Elemental: Reimagine Wildfire

Sun, May 31, 2026 — 3:30 PM — Magnolia

Sun, May 31, 2026 — 6:45 PM — I Love Boosters

Mon, June 1, 2026 — 7:00 PM — Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Tue, June 2, 2026 — 6:45 PM — Chicago

Wed, June 3, 2026 — 7:15 PM — 40 Years of Fuckin’ Up (NOFX Film)

Thu, June 4, 2026 — 4:00 PM — The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act

Thu, June 4, 2026 — 7:15 PM — 40 Years of Fuckin’ Up (NOFX Film)

Sun, June 7, 2026 — 2:15 PM — The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act

Sun, June 7, 2026 — 4:15 PM — Silent Friend

Sun, June 7, 2026 — 7:00 PM — Trainspotting (4K Remaster)

Fri, June 12, 2026 — 1:00 PM — Wings of Desire (In collaboration with The Ojai Music Festival)

Fri, June 12, 2026 — 9:15 PM — Backrooms

Sat, June 13, 2026 — 1:00 PM — Fallen Leaves (In collaboration with The Ojai Music Festival)

Sun, June 14, 2026 — 1:00 PM — 2001: A Space Odyssey (In collaboration with The Ojai Music Festival)

Sun, June 14, 2026 — 6:45 PM — Tuner

Tue, June 16, 2026 — 6:45 PM — Amores Perros (4K Remaster)

Wed, June 17, 2026 — 7:00 PM — Gregg Allman: The Music of My Soul

Fri, June 19, 2026 — 7:00 PM — Situations (Director + Actor Greg Vrotsos in person!) 

Fri, June 19, 2026 — 9:15 PM — Backrooms

Sun, June 21, 2026 — 4:00 PM — Time and Water

Sun, July 12, 2026 — 4:00 PM — Walk With Me (Post screening Q&A with filmmaker Heidi Levitt & neuroscientist + ucsb professor Ken Kosik)

Sun, July 12, 2026 — 7:00 PM — Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle

Sun, Aug 9, 2026 — 4:00 PM — Frequency: The Secret of Everything (Q&A with filmmaker Kaia Roman) 

ABOUT THE OJAI PLAYHOUSE

Nestled in the heart of Ojai, California—a renowned destination for arts, entertainment, and nature lovers—the Ojai Playhouse is a historic treasure that has stood since 1914 as one of the state’s earliest single-screen cinemas. After a decade-long closure, this cherished landmark was restored and reopened in November 2024, blending state-of-the-art amenities with its enduring charm. The revitalized 200-seat venue now features cutting-edge audio and visual technology, live performance capabilities, and carefully preserved architectural details that honor its century-long legacy. Offering a curated mix of first-run arthouse films, timeless classics, live events, and community gatherings, the Ojai Playhouse serves as a vibrant hub for film, arts, and connection—proudly celebrating Ojai’s rich artistic spirit and cultural heritage for locals and visitors alike.

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