Show Summary

TWIST!
July 9-August 9, 2009

A new musical based on Oliver Twist. Book and Lyrics by Gila Sand. Music by Paul Leschen with Gila Sand. Directed by and musical staging by James Vasquez; musical direction by Tim McKnight.  Diversionary’s cast features Jacob Caltrider as Twist, Tom Zohar as The Artful Dodger and David McBean as Fagin, with Andy Collins, Jackie Cuccaro, Tony Houck, Jimmy Latimer Jr., Amy Northcutt and Scott Striegel.  An official event of San Diego LGBT Pride.         

Music.  Dickens.  Bondage.   Dickens' famous tale re-imagines Oliver as an attractive young man searching for love.  A gender-bending dark comedy with Victorian erotica!  By turns outrageous and provocative, this unique retelling entertains with exquisite drag, arch wit, a bit of kink and a catchy set of new contemporary songs.  Yet the show remains surprisingly true to Oliver Twist, a coming-of-age tale of loneliness, craving, adventure, and finally, redemption. 

Twist was created by Gila Sand and composer Paul Leschen.  For the Diversionary production, Gila and Paul are excited to premiere new songs to Twist’s award nominated score.  Twist’s Drama Desk nomination came after nine performances off-off Broadway, in company with Broadway nominees Spring Awakening and Legally Blonde. The following workshop of Twist, at New York’s Midtown International Theatre Festival, garnered awards for Best Book, Lyrics & Music.  Visit www.themusicaltwist.com for more background and history of the show.    

Creative Team

James Vasquez	Jacob Caltrider	Andy Collins	Jackie Cuccaro
Tony Houck	Jimmy Latimer Jr.	David McBean	Amy Northcutt
	Scott Striegel	Tom Zohar

Press Photos

Tom Zohar (left) as The Artful Dodger and Jacob Caltrider as Twist. Photo credit: Daren Scott.	David McBean as Fagin. Photo by Daren Scott.
Tom Zohar as The Artful Dodger . Photo credit: Daren Scott.	Jacob Caltrider (left) and Andy Collins. Photo credit: Daren Scott.
Jacob Caltrider (left) as Twist and Tom Zohar as The Artful Dodger. Photo credit: Daren Scott.	David McBean (left) and Jacob Caltrider as Twist. Photo credit: Daren Scott.
Jacob Caltrider (left) as Twist, Tony Houck and David McBean. Photo credit: Daren Scott.	The cast of Twist. Photo credit: Daren Scott.
Jackie Cuccaro as Lady Downlow and Jacob Caltrider as Twist. Photo credit: Daren Scott.	Amy Northcutt as Nancy and Jacob Caltrider as Twist. Photo credit: Daren Scott.
Andy Collins as the Constable. Photo credit: Daren Scott.	Tom Zohar (left) as The Artful Dodger and David McBean as Fagin. Photo credit: Daren Scott.
Tom Zohar as The Artful Dodger. Photo credit: Daren Scott.	Tom Zohar (left) as The Artful Dodger and Jacob Caltrider as Twist. Photo credit: Daren Scott.
David McBean (left) as Fagin and Tom Zohar as The Artful Dodger. Photo credit: Daren Scott.	Jacob Caltrider (left) as Twist and Tony Houck as Mr. Bumble. Photo credit: Daren Scott.
Pictured (l-r): Tom Zohar, David McBean and Jacob Caltrider. Photo by Daren Scott.	David McBean as Fagin. Photo by Daren Scott.
Pictured (l-r): Tom Zohar, David McBean and Jacob Caltrider. Photo credit: Daren Scott.	Tom Zohar as The Artful Dodger. Photo credit: Daren Scott.
Jacob Caltrider (left) as Twist and Tom Zohar as The Artful Dodger. Photo credit: Daren Scott.	Jacob Caltrider as Twist. Photo credit: Daren Scott.

Press Release

New musical “Twist” to open Diversionary summer season

Diversionary Theatre will produce the new musical Twist as the first show of its 2009-2010 season, running July 9-August 9.  Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, Twistre-imagines Oliver Twist as a lonely, attractive young man searching for love, and discovering an outrageous London underworld.  Twistweaves dark comedy, Victorian erotica and gender-bending, along with a catchy new musical score into the power of Dickens’ famous tale.  The book and lyrics are by Gila Sand, music by Paul Leschen with Gila Sand, and additional music by Garrit Guadan.  James Vasquez will direct, and Tim McKnight will be music director. 

“We are very excited to continue our tradition of doing an inventive, new musical during the summer,” said Dan Kirsch, Diversionary’s Executive & Artistic Director.  “Twistis going to be lots of fun for our audience.”  Twist will be an official event of San Diego LGBT Pride (July 18-19). Diversionary’s season premiere sponsors for the 2009-2010 season are Wells Fargo and the Gay & Lesbian Times.

From the Workhouse to the Undertaker’s to the streets of London, Twist creates desire wherever he goes.  Encountering a flirtatious Artful Dodger, Twist is drawn into a lair of prostitutes and pickpockets, ruled over by Fagin, a stunning male dominatrix with a nasty temper.  “Dickens probably never imagined drag divas, bondage, shoe fetishes and dream ballets when he wrote Oliver Twist, and it is truly amusing to revisit the classic with these new--ahem--kinks added in.” – Broadwayworld.com.

Along with the provocative pleasures of Twist, audiences will find a compelling story of risk and redemption: “What makes Twist more than just another goofy gay, S&M, drag, gender-bending, fetishist romp (yeah, it's all in there) is a surprisingly solid grounding in the spirit of the Dickens original.  … Twist is basically just looking for a place where he can feel safe.  And putting that sort of heart into the piece, from beginning to end, grounds the entire production.” - Talkin’ Broadway.

Diversionary’s cast will feature Jacob Caltrider as Twist, Tom Zohar as The Artful Dodger and David McBean as Fagin, with Jackie Cuccaro, Andy Collins, Tony Houck, Jimmy Latimer Jr., Amy Northcutt and Scott Striegel. The creative team includes Kristin Ellert (Scenic Design), Jeannie Galioto (Costume Design), Stephen Sakowski (Lighting Design), Peter Herman (Wigs), David Medina (Properties), Fight Choreographer (George Ye), Sound Engineer (Stuart Holmes), Ryan Ford (Stage Manager), Tracy Pocket Van Wyk (Rehearsal Stage Manager) and Sondra Simms (Production Assistant). The house band is Tim McKnight (Keyboards), Nathan Hubbard (Percussion) and Jonathan Davis (Guitar).

Twist was created by Gila Sand and composer Paul Leschen.  For the Diversionary production, Gila and Paul are excited to premiere new songs to Twist’s award nominated score.  Twist’s Drama Desk nomination came after nine performances off-off Broadway, in company with Broadway nominees Spring Awakening and Legally Blonde. The following workshop of Twist, at New York’s Midtown International Theatre Festival, garnered awards for Best Book, Lyrics & Music.  Gila’s previous work has been seen at the New York International Fringe Festival (The Three of Clubs); Paul recently launched the successful debut of his new musical Bedbugs! in the 2008 New York Musical Festival.  Inquiries regarding Twistcan be directed to themusicaltwist@gmail.com. 

Director James Vasquez has been responsible for restaging the original choreography for The Old Globe Theatre's annual production of Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas for the last six years, served as Choreographer and Associate Director for Cygnet Theatre (A Little Night Music, Arcadia, and Pageant) and North Coast Repertory Theatre (Back to Bacharach and David). With his production company, Daisy 3 Pictures, James is the director and screenwriter of the indie hit, READY? OK!(distributed by Wolfe Releasing), which has played over 40 national and international film festivals, taking top honors at Seattle, North Carolina and San Diego Gay & Lesbian Film Fests.

Diversionary Theatre was started in 1986.  The mission of the theatre is to produce plays with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender themes that portray characters in their complexity and diversity both historically and contemporarily. 

Twist will preview on July 9 and 10, and open on Saturday, July 11 and run through Sunday, August 9.  Performance times are: Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday & Saturday at 8:00pm, Sunday at 2:00 & 7:00pm, and a Monday, July 27 performance at 7:30pm.  Season subscriptions are now available for Diversionary’s six-show 2009-2010 season.  Single tickets for Twist are now on sale.  For information, call the Diversionary box office at 619.220.0097 or log on to www.diversionary.org.
- END -

Financial support for Diversionary Theatre is provided in part by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture.

Reviews

sandiego.com
'Twist' at Diversionary Theatre

Dickens gets S&M twist
By JenniferChung Klam
Posted on Mon, Jul 13th, 2009

Gila Sand and Paul Leschen’s “Twist” may have more style than substance, but in its opening production of the 2009-’10 season, Diversionary Theatre works the musical’s assets with a terrific cast and outrageous costumes. The end result is a wild, campy romp that gives Victorian sexual sensibilities a good drubbing.

The musical is based on Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” but with a twist. Here our innocent young protagonist is at the age of consent, and isn’t so pure – he enjoys the physical punishment he receives at the hands of others. Good thing, because Twist seems to get thrashings everywhere he goes, from the workhouse to the undertaker’s to the mean and seedy streets of London. His young cohorts on the streets are hustlers as well as pickpockets, and Fagin is the cross-dressing queen of the thieving brood.

But “Twist” makes no commentary on the ill treatment of the poor. No grand statements about family. And certainly no moralizing. It’s all hedonistic fun, whether that means getting off on a lashing, dressing in drag or strapping on stilettos. “A little bit of what you like will do you good,” as the characters sing. Everyone, the musical seems to be saying, is a little twisted, and that’s OK.

Twist isn’t even looking for a family, so there’s no mystery of identity to get in the way of the real story, which is the love triangle between Twist, Fagin and The Artful Dodger. Diversionary and director James Vasquez have cast a trifecta of talent for the roles: Jacob Caltrider, David McBean and Tom Zohar.

Caltrider’s sweetly boyish features and lovely voice are perfectly suited for the role of Twist. McBean is stunning as usual in drag – barking ferociously as dominatrix Fagin while delicately balancing atop 6-inch stilettos. He evokes both Fagin’s deadly cruelty and humorous self-absorption. Zohar stretches his range, bringing a bad boy sexual energy to his role as the Dodger. His solo number, “Sucker,” which both is and isn’t (wink, wink) about Dodger’s candy fetish, is one of the show’s musical highlights.

Composer Leschen has crafted a score filled with mostly satisfying ballads, pop-rock and disco-tinged tunes, some of which are catchy enough to stick in the brain without being overly conventional. The band consists of musical director Tim McKnight on keyboards, Nathan Hubbard on percussion and Jonathan Davis on guitar. Sand’s book includes predictable gay humor, innuendos and double entendres, as well as the occasional unexpected zinger.

The supporting cast includes Tony Houck in two hilarious roles, first as the sadistic workhouse taskmaster and then as a cross-dressing member of Fagin’s gang. Amy Northcutt makes a fine Nancy, Andy Collins induces laughter as he slinks about the stage as the undertaker, and Jimmy Latimer fills a number of roles in the ensemble. Jackie Cuccaro, who plays dual roles as the undertaker’s wife and Lady Downlow, has a good feel for the comedy, though her singing is not as strong as the rest of this vocally muscular cast. Scott Striegel has the vocal range, though not the physicality, to play the violent brute Bill Sikes.

Now, about those costumes. Jeannie Galioto must have had a ball putting together the looks for this production. She lavishly combines Victorian fashion with steampunk, bondage, burlesque and goth sensibilities in loving detail. Pay close attention to the shoes, which might have been managed by shoe fetishist Lady Downlow herself. You’ll get a good look at them when Downlow’s wall of shoes is revealed, each item of footwear exhibited as if it were a museum piece.

Kristin Ellert’s set is an odd mix of industrial/urban strip club and 1950s wood-paneled Tiki room. And, oddly, it works for the musical’s shifting locales and past-meets-present feel. Stephen Sakowski’s lighting also contributes to the changing moods and locations. Director Vasquez keeps the pacing and scene changes quick, and Ellert’s sliding panels and hidden features certainly help in that regard.

While “Twist” may not boast a sturdy book, the enjoyable music and skillful cast in Diversionary’s production go a long way in making up for it. The musical’s celebratory take on individual fetishes, self-expression and self-acceptance complements the values of San Diego LGBT Pride, so it’s only fitting that “Twist” is an official event of the Pride Festival (July 18-19).

Jennifer Chung Klam is an editor at The Daily Transcript and a freelance arts and culture writer.
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Diversionary gives classic a saucy turn with 'Twist'

By James Hebert
Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. July 14, 2009

Traditionalists might get their knickers in a twist over the way Diversionary Theatre's new musical takes liberties with Dickens. And yet maybe the biggest surprise about this saucy and gently entertaining new take on “Oliver Twist” is its affection for old-fashioned values.

Writer-lyricist Gila Sand's “Twist,” a New York-bred show getting its local premiere in a slightly updated version, makes its title character a young man instead of an orphan kid and injects Dickens' (likewise older) gang of thieves with an enthusiasm for drag and various master-and-servant fixations. Its story loosely follows the original Oliver's journey from grim workhouse existence to the hard-knocks life on London's streets, where he eventually falls in with Fagin's crew of cons and pickpockets.

Yet despite the show's subversive ambitions, there's a sweetness to the way Twist (Jacob Caltrider) finds a sense of family with the likes of the Artful Dodger (a Mohawk-topped Tom Zohar) and Nancy (Amy Northcutt), members of the petty-crime gang led by the domineering Fagin (David McBean).

Though Jeannie Galioto's vivid and eye-popping costumes tend to emphasize the bristling studs and black patent leather, the show is largely played for laughs, with a game cast of solid singer-actors.

James Vasquez, who just closed “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (another drag-centric show) at Cygnet, directs with a blend of earnestness and spoof-itude that works more seamlessly than it might sound. While the show has a lot of fun sending up fussy Victorian fashions and hypocritically prim attitudes, “Twist” is not so much a satire as a kind of tarted-up, tuneful homage.

Music director and keyboardist Tim McKnight nimbly works through the rock-centric score by Sand, Paul Leschen and Garrit Guadan, performing in suitably severe-looking onstage “cages” with Jonathan Davis and percussionist Nathan Hubbard.

The sound tends toward the musical-theater generic at times, although tunes like Fagin's show-stopper, “I Always Come Out On Top,” and Twist and Dodger's upbeat duet, “Reflections,” give this versatile and well-cast ensemble a chance to strut their vocal chops along with their fine couture.

McBean is an elegantly appointed, posh-voiced wonder as Fagin. His deep, resonant singing and matchless way of arching an eyebrow help shift the show's center of gravity to his character, which seems entirely fitting (you get the sense Fagin would hate being in a show named after someone else). If much of “Twist” doesn't make a particularly deep impression, McBean's turn is one you're not likely to forget soon.

Caltrider has a suitably wholesome appeal as the ever-hopeful Oliver, matched up against the cheery cynicism of the versatile Zohar's street-savvy Dodger. Andy Collins brings a short but eye-catching turn as Mr. Sowerberry, a cartoonishly ghoulish undertaker who looks as though he just stepped out of a Bauhaus tribute band. Tony Houck (great in Diversionary's previous Dickens takeoff, “Scrooge in Rouge”) also has funny moments as the big-wigged workhouse bigwig Mr. Bumble and the gang member Charlie Bates, trussed up as a French maid.

As Nancy, Northcutt showcases sweet vocals and looks like a pink-pigtailed Japanese manga character. Jackie Cuccaro has a gentle touch as Twist's shoe-fetishizing benefactor, Lady Downlow (a cute twist on the original's Mr. Brownlow). Scott Striegel (chiefly as the menacing Bill Sykes) and Jimmy Latimer Jr. (Weasel and other roles) bring texture to the story and ensemble numbers.

“Twist” isn't quite the breakout musical that last year's Diversionary show “Yank!” (which also starred Zohar) became. And it has its share of contradictions – chief among them the fact Twist is a masochist who at times almost begs for punishment (this is where Oliver's classic “Please sir” line comes in), taking some sting out of our sympathy for the way he's treated.

It's maybe one twist too many, in a show that otherwise takes pains to offer up modest but genuine pleasures.

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San Diego Reader
by Jeff Smith
July 12, 2009

Charles Dickens's novel with a twist. Young Oliver roams Victorian England with a penchant for kink. As does everyone he meets in the London underworld, including the Artful Dodger in black leather, and long, auburn-haired Fagin, a gender-bending dominatrix. The world premiere musical - books and lyrics, Gila Sand, music by Paul Leschen and Sand - now at Diversionary has catchy songs (Fagin's "I Always Come Out On Top" and "Clothing Makes the Man" among them) and funny moments (as when Lady Downlow, played by Jackie Cuccaro, reveals her shoe fetish with epiphanic glee), but also a predictable sameness. Director James Vasquez relieves an essentially one-note show with his flair for theatricality. Jacob Caltrider's not-so-innocent Twist, Tom Zohar's surprisingly vulnerable Dodger, and Tony Houck's put-upon Charlie Bates enliven scenes, as does David McBean's regal, controlling Fagin (in seemingly knee-high black heels). McBean's asides are worth the price of admission. Worth a try.

This n That

A Twisted Raffle

During the run of Twist, we held a raffle to support both Diversionary's artistic programs and our permanent endowment. Thanks to all the businesses and individuals who donated artwork, theatre tickets, restaurant gift certifcates and more.

Item #	Category	Description	Donated by	$Value	Website
1	Artwork	John James Audubon handcolored lithograph of Texas lynx, female, Lynx rufus. Var maculatus, pl. XCII (by J.T. Bowen). 1846. Framed. Litho 21.5 x 27.4 in.	Phil Burns	1,800-3,500
2	Artwork	Linda Le Kinff Seriolighograph in color on paper, signed in the plate. "Robe du Soir" from 2005. Framed 30"x24"	Jonathan Dunn-Rankin	800
3     3a	Artwork     Services	Itzchak Tarkey Seriolithograph in color on paper, signed in the plate. "Indigo Chapeau" from 2002. Framed "25 x 25-3/8"   2 hour zoom whitening treatment	Jonathan Dunn-Rankin     Strober Dental	800       595	www.stroberdental.com
4   5	Theatre   Artwork	2 Opening Night Season Subs Stained glass rainbow flag	Diversionary Theatre   Philip m Katcher	383     250
6	Theatre	2 Season Subscriptions	ion theatre company	280	www.iontheatre.com
7	Cash	$250 Cash Prize	Diversionary Theatre	250	www.diversionary.org
8	Theatre	4 Theatre Tickets	San Diego Repertory Theatre	204	www.sdrep.org
9	Theatre	2 Theatre Tickets to "Sammy" and Out at the Globe pre-show reception on Thursday, Oct. 1	The Old Globe	180	www.theoldglobe.org
10	Cash	$150 Cash Prize	Diversionary Theatre	150	www.diversionary.org
11	Services	Gift Certificate for one Rolfing session	The Rolfing Studio	150	www.rolfingsandiego.com
12	Services	1 Portrait Session (Business or Casual Studio)	Premier Photography	145	www.premier-studio.com
13	Theatre	4 Theatre Tickets to "9 Parts of Desire"	Mo`olelo Performing Arts Company	140	www.moolelo.net
14	Services	One month of unlimited classes for two.	Bamboo Yoga and Bodywork Center	135	www.bambooyoga.com
15	Theatre	2 Theatre Tickets	La Jolla Playhouse	125	www.lajollaplayhouse.org
16	Services	3 Hours of Waiter/Bartendar Service	Bare Butler	120	www.barebutler.com
17     17a	Services     Services	3 Hours of Waiter/Bartendar Service 50-minute spa treatment	Bare Butler   Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa	120     115	www.barebutler.com     www.catamaranresort.com
18   18a	Artwork   Restaurant	Harvey Milk print by Julie Warren Gift Basket	Diversionary Theatre Starbucks	90   90	www.diversionary.org   www.starbucks.com
19	Theatre	4 Theatre Tickets	InnerMission Productions	80	www.innermissionproductions.org
20	Theatre	2 Theatre Tickets	North Coast Repertory Theatre	80	www.northcoastrep.org
21	Restaurant	$50 Gift Certificate	Adams Avenue Grill	50	www.adamsavenuegrill.com
22	Theatre	2 Theatre Tickets	Inukshuk Production Co.	50	www.inukshukproductions.com
23	Theatre	2 Theatre Tickets	Inukshuk Production Co.	50	www.inukshukproductions.com
24	Services	Personal Training Session	Sol Gym	50	www.leahfrancisfitness.com
25	Services	Personal Training Session	Sol Gym	50	www.leahfrancisfitness.com
26	Services	2 Haircuts	House of Hair	50
27	Services	2 Haircuts	House of Hair	50
28	Services	2 Haircuts	House of Hair	50
29	Services	2 Haircuts	House of Hair	50
30	Services	2 Haircuts	House of Hair	50
31	Services	2 Haircuts	House of Hair	50
32	Services	2 Haircuts	House of Hair	50
32	Services	2 Haircuts	House of Hair	50
33	Services	2 Haircuts	House of Hair	50
34	Services	2 Haircuts	House of Hair	50
35	Restaurant	Sunday Brunch	Urban Mo's	40	www.urbanmos.com
36	Restaurant	Sunday Brunch	Urban Mo's	40	www.urbanmos.com
37	Restaurant	Saturday Brunch	Baja Betty's	40	www.bajabettyssd.com
38	Restaurant	Saturday Brunch	Baja Betty's	40	www.bajabettyssd.com
39	Jewelry	2 Long Beads Earrings	Tochti Angel Arts	40	www.tochtliangel.com
40	Services	4 Zumba Workout Dance Classes	!Muevete! Dance Studio	40	www.tochtliangel.com
41	Restaurant	Three $10 Gift Certificate	Parkhouse Eatery	30	www.parkhouseeatery.com
42	Wine	1 bottle of Vihuela 2004 Syrah wine and $10 gift card	Splash Wine Lounge	26	www.asplashofwine.com
43	Restaurant	Breakfast or Lunch for 2	Mission Restaurant	25	www.themission1.signonsandiego.com
44	Wine	1 bottle of Vihuela 2005 Concierto del Rojo wine and $10 gift card	Splash Wine Lounge	25	www.asplashofwine.com
45	Services	$25 Gift Certificate	Phylum Floral	25	www.phylumfloral.com
46	Services	$25 Gift Certificate	Phylum Floral	25	www.phylumfloral.com
47	Services	Haircut	Jerry Hair	22	www.jerryhair.com
48	Services	Haircut	Jerry Hair	22	www.jerryhair.com
49	Services	Haircut	Jerry Hair	22	www.jerryhair.com
50	Services	Haircut	Jerry Hair	22	www.jerryhair.com
51	Services	Haircut	Jerry Hair	22	www.jerryhair.com
52	Services	Haircut	Jerry Hair	22	www.jerryhair.com
53	Services	Haircut	Jerry Hair	22	www.jerryhair.com
54	Services	Haircut	Jerry Hair	22	www.jerryhair.com
55	Services	Haircut	Jerry Hair	22	www.jerryhair.com
56	Services	Haircut	Jerry Hair	22	www.jerryhair.com
57	Restaurant	Two $10 Gift Certificate	Parkhouse Eatery	20	www.parkhouseeatery.com
58	Theatre	2 Theatre Tickets	Moxie Theatre	coming	www.moxietheatre.com
59	Theatre	2 Theatre Tickets	New Village Arts	coming	www.newvillagearts.org
60	Theatre	2 Theatre Tickets	Cygnet Theatre	coming	www.cygnettheatre.com
62	Restaurant	(coming)	Lei Lounge	coming	www.leilounge.com
63	Hotel	(coming)	Park Manor Suites	coming	www.parkmanorsuites.com
64	Restaurant	(coming)	Bourbon Street	coming	www.bourbonstreetsd.com
65	Crystal	2 Mikasa Skyline Votive (1 Green, 1 Clear)	Philip m Katcher	unknown
66	Crystal	2 Shannon Crystal Candle Holders	Philip m Katcher	unknown
67	Other	8 Garden Torches	Philip m Katcher	16
68	Crystal	4 Lenox Crystal Tulip Wine Glasses (Assorted Color Gems)	Philip m Katcher	72