Edwin Lester

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Edwin Lester (March 30, 1895 – December 13, 1990) was an American theatre director, impresario, and producer who founded and led the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera (LACLO) in 1938. He also co-founded the San Francisco Civic Light Opera in 1939 with Homer Curran. Under his leadership, LACLO produced its own shows and brought Broadway productions to California with their original casts. Notable works include Song of Norway (1944), Magdalena (1948), Kismet (1953), Peter Pan (1954), and Gigi (1973). The company helped popularize light opera in Los Angeles with a grand opera feel.

Lester was born in New York City. As a child he sang professionally and later briefly worked as a concert pianist. He moved to California to work for Sid Grauman at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, staging lavish prologues in the late 1920s. In the early 1930s he worked as a talent manager. In 1938 he founded the LACLO with the motto “Light Opera in the Grand Opera manner.” The first season opened with Blossom Time, in English, starring John Charles Thomas and Francia White, followed by three more sold-out shows: The Student Prince, Romberg's The New Moon, and Roberta. The company also presented touring Broadway productions.

Lester retired as general director and producer in 1976 but remained on the boards until the San Francisco company closed in 1980 and the LACLO closed in 1987. He died in Beverly Hills at the age of 95.