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# Actor Hoffman gets his own john
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/actor-hoffman-gets-his-own-john/
- Published: 2008-08-02T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:27:09.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Hoffman rejected theater name dedication, opted for bathroom*

CITY — When actors dart backstage for a quick bathroom break at the Broad Stage, Santa Monica College’s new performing arts center, they might very well think of Dustin Hoffman.

While “Rain Man” wouldn’t be the typical thought to occupy one’s mind as they go about their business, it might be inevitable considering the bathroom behind the new Eli and Edythe Broad Stage was recently named in honor of the SMC alumn.

The simple, one-toilet bathroom was installed as part of the estimated $45 million undertaking, a suggestion by both Hoffman and the stage’s artistic director, Dale Franzen, to accommodate artists who at other venues would often have to scramble to find a wash closet during quick scene changes.

“We were joking how many times we would be in full costume running up a flight of stairs to the elevator to find a place to pee,” Franzen said. “He would tell me a story about how he would run all the way across the right side of the stage.”

66B,“I said to him, ‘you know, if we’re going to put an artist bathroom next to the stage, we’ll be the only stage in the world to put the artist first,’” she added.

The possibility of honoring the bathroom after Hoffman came up while he and Franzen were taking a walk through the theater about six months ago, the opera singer-turned-arts educator joking that she wanted to name it after herself.

Hoffman protested, saying he wanted his name on the bathroom, Franzen recalled.

The “Dustin Hoffman Throne” was born.

The actor told W Magazine in its August 2008 issue that the reason he chose to keep his name off the stage is because he didn’t want it to be his “funerary monument.”

“They wanted to name the theater after me,” Hoffman is quoted as saying in the magazine. “I said, ‘No Way. I want a toilet.’”

> “They wanted to name the theater after me,”

> “I said, ‘No Way. I want a toilet.’” — Hoffman is quoted as saying in the magazine

Hoffman, a Los Angeles native, has been deeply involved with the theater project since fundraising efforts launched nearly a decade ago, the idea for a new state-of-the-art performance space conceived during a dinner party at they home of Piedad Robertson, who was the president of SMC at the time. With construction now completed, the two-time Academy Award-winning actor remains involved, serving on The Broad Stage Board of Directors.

Long-time philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad joined fundraising efforts last year and in the spring donated $10 million to create an endowment for programming and arts education.

While Eli Broad, who founded two Fortunate 500 companies, including home builder KB Homes, wanted to name the venue after Hoffman, the actor simply refused, opting instead to affix his famous name to the John.

The performing arts center was designed by Santa Monica architect Renzo Zecchetto, whose design was honored by California Construction Magazine. The Broad Stage features a 499 seat theater, combining the intimacy that comes with a small space with the high-end acoustics of a large venue. The design was inspired by the horseshoe opera houses in Italy.

The project also includes the Edye Second Space, which is a black-box theater adjacent to The Broad Stage.

The stage’s inauguration will take place on Sept. 20 with a gala featuring a performance by singer Barbara Cook. The season will officially launch on Oct. 11, with opera star Frederica von Stade.

Jump hedline: Hoffman rejected theater dedication, opted for bathroom

Suggested pullquote: “I said to him, ‘you know, if we’re going to put an artist bathroom next to the stage, we’ll be the only stage in the world to put the artist first.’”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 2, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/080208.pdf?ref=smdp.com)