J. Scott Lapp

has been working in the theatre business for over 33 years performing in over 100 shows in and around San Diego County. He is an award-winning Director and Producer with over 130 productions under his belt, having worked across the United States as well as Internationally in London, Denmark, Japan and Canada. He is an alumnus of the Directors Lab West, a proud member of the SDC and a 2011 SDC Emerging Artist. He is the recipient of the 2022 Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Direction for his production of Witnesses.

Recent directorial projects include the U.S. premiere of a reimagined production of Bonnie & Clyde at the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura, California. The San Diego Premiere of the best-selling novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time that earned rave reviews from the SDUT, BroadwayWorld and more. The world premiere of Bottle Shock! The Musical that played the Center Theater last summer, and the world premiere of Witnesses, which won the 2022 Craig Noel Award for Outstanding New Production.

He also served as the Associate Director on the world premiere West End production of Dreamwork's The Prince of Egypt that can now be viewed on BroadwayHD and various streaming services. He recently directed a remount of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time at the Lewis Family Playhouse in January 2025. Current projects include the 2025 revival of Murder for Two that will play Tokyo and a number of other Japanese cities this fall.
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Associate/Assistant Directing credits include Broadway: Bonnie & Clyde; International: The Prince of Egypt (West End, Fredericia Teater); National Tour: Murder for Two, Xanadu (La Jolla Playhouse, National Tour); Off-Broadway: Murder For Two (New World Stages, Second Stage); Regional: The Prince of Egypt (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley), Rain (Old Globe), Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Paper Mill Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse), Into the Woods (Old Globe), Secondhand Lions (5th Ave), Somewhere in Time (PCS), Good People (Old Globe), A Room With A View (Old Globe), Somewhere (Old Globe), Bonnie & Clyde (NY Workshop, La Jolla Playhouse, Asolo Repertory), Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin (La Jolla Playhouse), and workshops of The Prince of Egypt, Upstaged, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Somewhere in Time, The John Birch Society Musical, Secondhand Lions, Leap of Faith, A Room With A View, Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion, The Weathermen and Restoration.
Selected directing credits include International: Murder for Two (Japan, Calgary), Regional: Bonnie & Clyde, the musical (U.S. Premiere), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (San Diego Premiere), Bottle Shock! The Musical (World Premiere), Witnesses (World Premiere), Once, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Concert (CCAE Theatricals), Disney's Mary Poppins, Freaky Friday (Moonlight Amphitheater), The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Farmers Alley), Minnie's Boys (Musical Theatre Guild), The Bridges of Madison County (Public Theatre San Antonio), Godspell, Disenchanted, First Date (Prima Theatre), Little Women, Peter and The Starcatcher, Chess, Carousel, Spring Awakening, Urinetown the Musical (Barn Stage Company), Sweeney Todd (North Carolina Summer Rep), Hairspray, First Date (San Diego Musical Theatre), Murder for Two: Christmas Edition (Bucks County), Murder for Two (Bristol Riverside Theater, NC Theatre, The Cape Playhouse, Saint Michael’s Playhouse, Red Barn Theatre, Farmers Alley), Zapata! The Musical (New York), Murder for Two (Denver, Pittsburgh), The Untitled John Mayer Project (World Premiere), The Temporary Man, Footloose and Sondheim Unplugged. He has worked for several major regional theaters including 5th Avenue, Arizona Theatre Company, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse, Denver Center Theatre Company, The Cape Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse, NC Theatre, the Old Globe, Paper Mill Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO, Portland Center Stage, Saint Michael’s Playhouse, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley and others. He is a recipient of Noel Craig, PAMTA, Inland Theatre League, Patté, National Youth Theatre, Billy & Director’s Choice awards.