San Diego State University's DEAR HARVEY Chosen To Participate In The Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival

The San Diego State University School of Theatre, Television, and Film's September production of Dear Harvey has been selected to participate in the Southwest Regional Finals for the Kennedy Center's American College Theatre Festival being held in St. George, Utah in early February. If the show does well in Utah, the production will move to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in April!

Originally commissioned by Diversionary Theatre, Patricia Loughrey's original play Dear Harvey had its world premiere at Diversionary in April 2009. Diversionary Theatre is the nation's 3rd oldest continuously producing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender theatre. The commission for the play was underwritten in part by The James Irvine Foundation New Connections Fund and community member Carlos Malamud. Dear Harvey has original music by Thomas Hodges, uses historical photos of Harvey Milk by Daniel Nicoletta, and was first directed by Diversionary's Executive & Artistic Director, Dan Kirsch.

Drawn from over thirty interviews conducted by Patricia Loughrey, Dear Harvey recounts the achievements and vision of the first openly gay man elected to a major public office in the United States. A drag queen, a State Senator, an international gay rights activist, a nineteen-year-old composer... the play weaves these voices and more with the personal and political writings of Harvey Milk to paint a portrait of a leader, and a vision for equality. Supported by photos from Milk's friends and family, Dear Harvey celebrates the stories not found in history books: stories of a love that reached beyond fear.

The SDSU production was directed by Peter Cirino and featured John Alspaugh, Shane Blackburn, Crystal Brandan, Emily Davenport, Ken Hodges, Courtney Howard, Diahann McCrary, Kristin McReddie, Bailey Neill, Anthony Simone, Derek Smith, Jon Wat, Berlyn Wieland and Jacqui Yawn. The show played to sold- out, standing ovation crowds during its run at SDSU.

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents. Through state, regional, and national festivals, KCACTF participants celebrate the creative process, see one another's work, and share experiences and insights within the community of theater artists. The KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, criticism, directing, and design. You can find more information about KCACTF at www.kcactf-8.org/index.html and more information about the regional festival in Utah at www.kennedy-center.org/education/actf/

Patricia Loughrey's script for Dear Harvey is entered in the Michael Kanin Playwriting Awards Program and is under consideration for the David Mark Cohen Award, the Rosa Parks Playwriting Award, the Paula Vogel Award and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival National Student Playwriting Award.

Three SDSU students are up for Irene Ryan acting awards for their roles in Dear Harvey: Anthony Simone for his portrayal of Nicole Murray-Ramirez; Derek Smith for his portrayal of Cleve Jones; and Diahann McCrary for her portrayal of Dottie Wine. Three members of the production have received Meritorious Achievement Awards: Thomas Hodges for Musical Score; Lauren Beck for Dramaturgy; and Lila "Lace" Flores for Lighting Design.

SDSU is now fundraising to get the production to Utah. A tax-deductible donation of $457 will completely underwrite one actor's expense for the entire week of the regional festival, including hotel, registration fees, acting workshops, transportation, and a few meals. There are 14 actors and two stage managers traveling to Utah. If you would like to help send this production to Utah, please call Jay Sheehan at SDSU at 619-594-4990 or email him at JSheehan@mail.sdsu.edu". 

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