Diversionary's Production of THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR to Make Off-Broadway Debut This Spring

Diversionary was proud to produce the The World Premiere of Jonathan Larson Award-winning musical THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR by Tim Rosser and Charlie Sohne as the finale to their 30th Anniversary season. Abingdon Theatre Company has just has announced the show's inclusion in their 2016-17 Season at the June Havoc Theatre, Off-Broadway in NYC.

Tony Speciale directed the show at Diversionary in May of 2015 and has chosen to include the musical as a part of his first fully programmed season as Abingdon's Artistic Director.

Abingdon will produce the show in April - May of 2017, almost a year to the date after it made its World Premiere in San Diego.

Diversionary Theatre is pleased to announce that THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR will make its New York City debut after being developed and produced as a part of the historic theatre's 30th Anniversary Season. While onstage at Diversionary, the show received high praise for its inspiring and ambitious story from both critics and audience members. Reviewers called the show "Significant," "First-Rate" and "Eye-Opening."
Says Diversionary's Executive Artistic Director, Matt M. Morrow:
"BOY was the heart of Diversionary's 30th Season. We were fortunate to be able to develop and produce this important new work last season, and I'm thrilled it will have a continued life in New York City. These brave emerging writers have deftly crafted a compelling story about a dark, clandestine tradition and the transcendent power human spirit. Abingdon Theatre and Tony Speciale's commitment to new work is inspiring and an ideal next home for this groundbreaking new musical."
THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR will be in good company with the rest of Abingdon's next season: it will launch in January with the World Premiere of THE MOTHER OF INVENTION, a new play by Oscar winner and LGBT Activist James Lecesne and directed by Tony Speciale. In March, Anne Bogart's CHESS MATCH will be co-produced with Siti Company. Bogart is the founder of SITI, and is well known for her work on the ensemble-building technique known as "Viewpoints."
The highly anticipated New York Premiere of THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR will close out Abingdon's season just as it was the finale at Diversionary.

THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR tells the love story of Paiman and Feda, two young boys trapped in the Afghanistan tradition of Bacha Bazi, where wealthy men purchase boys from poor families, train them as dancers, and parade them at parties as their property. This contemporary fable reveals a country teetering on collapse, torn between yesterday and tomorrow, and the indomitable strength of the human spirit.
"Sohne's eye-opening book and his equally enlightening lyrics combine with Rosser's exquisite melodies to tell a contemporary gay love story - one that entertains, captivates, and moves in equal measure..."

-StageSceneLA

Tim Rosser (Composer) and Charlie Sohne (Book &Lyricist) began the show's development at the Lark Play Development Center, and were able to further develop the show while in San Diego at Diversionary.
The Union-Tribune called the show "Solid, subtle, sad and often inspiring work that's smartly staged." Jazz 88 remarked that "The story takes some unexpected turns, as will your emotional response to it. You won't see a musical like this again anytime soon." The San Diego Free Press called it simply, "Extraordinary."

Rosser and Sohne were the recipients of the 2015 Jonathan Larson Award and ASCAP's 2015 Mary Rodgers/Lorenz Hart Award. THE BOY WHO DANCED ON AIR was featured in the 2013 National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Annual Festival of New Musicals and was a 2013 Rodgers Award Nominee.