Diversionary Theatre Announces 2011/2012 Season, Begins With Poster Boys

Diversionary Theatre has announced the company's 2011/2012 productions and presentations. The season will include the US premiere of Poster Boys; Marlowe's tale of intense passion and betrayal, Edward II; Learn to Be Latina, a deliciously irreverent satire about racial identity; the 2010 Off-Broadway hit, The Pride; and, Next Fall, the Tony Award-nominated story of faith and love.

"I am tremendously excited about the insightful, provocative and entertaining plays that make up the 2011/2012 Season," said Diversionary Theatre's recently appointed Executive Director, John Alexander. "Dan Kirsch (Diversionary's outgoing Executive and Artistic Director) and the Diversionary team have set-up a fantastic slate of offerings to launch the next generation of growth at the company. Each of these plays explores important themes of identity, faith and how and who we love in fresh and hugely entertaining ways that we are confident will get audiences talking."

In addition to the five announced feature productions, Diversionary will present four special presentations of new works including the annual Dance/Theatre presentation, a reading of a new play and the workshop of a new musical both commissioned by Diversionary as well as a full developmental production of a new musical to be announced soon.

Five-show subscription packages ranging from $124 to $250 are now available as well as tickets to the first show of the season, Poster Boys. Visit www.diversionary.org or call (619) 220-0097 for detailed pricing, schedule and order information.

The Diversionary Theatre Season includes:

Poster Boys
By Michele Riml
Directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg

A U.S. premiere comedy and co-production with MOXIE Theatre

An advertising executive's "diversity" campaign runs afoul of her subjects as well as the Catholic Church. She can handle that. What she can't handle is that one of the Poster Boys is her ex-fiancé. Poster Boys is a humorous look at love and the folly of modern marketing.

Performances of Poster Boys begin July 7 and run through July 31, 2011.

EDWARD II
By Christopher Marlowe
Directed by Richard Baird

An intense Elizabethan drama of passion and the struggle for power.

In Marlowe's intense and swiftly moving account Edward II forsakes everything for his passions and pays a tragic price at the hands of his conniving noblemen and Queen. As a young heir apparent watches the power struggles, will he learn ambition or to love "whom the world hates so?"

Performances of Edward II begin September 08, 2011.

LEARN TO BE LATINA
By Enrique Urueta

An explosively funny, entertainingly offensive, romantic comedy (with dance breaks).

Hanán is a beautiful and promising pop star, but her Lebanese heritage is a stumbling block. Rather than scrap her career, the record label decides to exploit her slightly Latina looks and package her as the next J.Lo. Anxious for stardom, Hanán surrenders to Latina Boot Camp. Be prepared to see every sacred cow slaughtered in this outrageous satire about fame, ethnicity and pop culture. For mature audiences with incredibly open minds!

Performances of Learn to Be Latina begin in November 2011

THE PRIDE
By Alexi Kaye Campbell
Directed by Glenn Paris

A complex love triangle driven by conflicting loyalties and passions.

In this recent Off-Broadway hit, three people are caught in a time warp that jumps from 1958 to the present and back in an erotic maelstrom of fantasy, repression and rebellion.

The Pride will play in early Spring 2012

NEXT FALL
By Geoffrey Nauffts

The Tony-nominated play about faith, devotion and unconditional love.

Luke is a devout Christian; Adam is an affirmed atheist. Despite the conflict and constant challenges from their friends and family, they build a life together until a tragic accident forces everyone to question what it means to "believe." Next Fall is a touching and unflinching look at the leap of faith required to love and be loved.

Next Fall will play in late Spring 2012.

Full creative teams and casting for all productions will be announced at later dates.

Special Presentations include:

DANCE/THEATRE 2012
Artistic Direction by
Peter G. Kalivas

New dance works inspired by past Diversionary productions.

GAY OLD GIRLS
By Zsa Zsa Gershick
A Diversionary Theatre Commission

A staged reading of Gershick's new play based on her prize-winning oral history of the same name - funny, moving, outrageous look at 20th century lesbian life and longing.

DORIAN
By Thomas Hodges
A Diversionary Theatre Commission

Based on the Oscar Wilde novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray," a tale about a young narcissistic Victorian gentleman who sells his soul to retain his youth.

These commissions made possible by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation.

A NEW MUSICAL

Diversionary is in negotiations to present the first full production of a new musical.

Full details and dates to be announced soon.

About Diversionary Theatre

Proud to be part of San Diego's thriving theatre community since 1986, Diversionary Theatre produces plays with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender themes that portray characters in their complexity and diversity.

 

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