MERRY ME

Low-Cost Previews: May 15 – 23

First Friday for the Military: May 16 , 7:00 PM
Complimentary tickets for active duty and veterans.

GSA/Youth Nights: May 16, 7:00 PM & May 23, 7:00 PM
Free tickets for students.

Pre-Show Event — Backstage Thursday: Director’s Happy Hour: TBD
Join the Director and other members of the Merry Me artistic team in the Clark Cabaret for a chance to chat before the show! Pre-show event begins at 6pm, performance at 7pm.

Opening Night: May 24, 7:00 PM

Pre-Show Event — Backstage Thursday: Designer Spotlight:  May 29, 6:00 PM
Join us in Clark Cabaret before the show to meet the Design Team and hear the influences and process involved. A fun pre-show experience! The pre-show event starts at 6:00pm before the 7pm performance

Pay-What-You-Will & Industry Night: June 2nd, 7:00 PM

Daily: Before and after performances
Come to the show early to enjoy our Clark Cabaret, open one hour before the show time and will remain open after the show.

LT. SHANE HORNE
Winne Beasley (she/they): Winnie Beasley is an actor, writer, solo performance artist, educator, and afro-futurist based in San Diego, CA. They are thrilled to be making their Diversionary Theatre debut. Winnie studied theatre at Columbia College Chicago and is currently a teaching artist throughout the San Diego area. Past credits include: Stop, Kiss (The Cuckoo’s Theatre Project), Dog Act (CCC), 12 Ophelias (The Martin), And We Danced (Soulkiss Theatre), and Game Night (Soulkiss Theatre). When they aren’t acting, you can surely find them somewhere telling an inappropriate joke or writing one down. She hopes you enjoy the show and get your merries! 

DR. JESS O’NOPE
Andréa Agosto (they/them/she): Andréa is so excited to be returning to the stage at Diversionary Theatre! Andréa is a theatre artist, educator, director, playwright, and voice over actor. An award winning filmmaker (Kansas City Film Fest) and actor (International Model & Talent Association), Andréa loves telling stories. They have written Codewswitchin’ is Conscious (Powers New Voices Festival) and QuickChange (Black Lady Showcase 2022). Agosto was a part of the cohort the for 2024 Classical Directing Fellowship and The Old Globe. They’ve Associate Directed As You Like it, Comedy of Errors (The Old Globe), Assistant Directed Henry V (The Old Globe), Co-Directed Straight (Loud Fridge), and directed the following: Cleopatra, Notes on Killing Seven Oversight Management, and Economic Stability Board Members (MOXIE), Buckets (Diversionary) Game of Tiaras, 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse (Falcon Players), and more. Their stage credits include: High Table, A Kind of Weather, Bull in a China Shop, Cardboard Piano, Homos, or Everyone in America (Diversionary), Mud Row (Cygnet), Pleasure Trials, Dance Nation (MOXIE), You Can’t Take it With You (Lamb’s Players), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (FUSION), and Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters (The Coterie). Follow them on Instagram and TikTok: @andreariquena or visit their website www.andreaagosto.com for more info.

MRS. SAPPH MEMNON
Mak Shealy (she/they): Mak is a writer and performer originally from a field in South Carolina and now based in Los Angeles & New York. Mak’s plays, screenplays and pilots are nerdy, muscular, darkly comic stories usually centered on rural life, queer relationships and the thin line between life and afterlife.

Mak is stoked to be making their Diversionary Debut! 

You can watch Mak onscreen in the queer rom com, The Holiday Club or in Love Life (HBO Max). They recently toured their debut solo show LEAKY (a digestive traumady) on both coasts and wrapped two short films, “Jealous Cat” and “Two Buttons. SideSmirk. Nose Kiss.” 

BFA: New York University

PVT. WILLY EMNON
Coleman Ray Clark (he/him/his): Coleman Ray Clark is a theatremaker/collaborator, often on new plays and musicals, who loves taking risks and trying new things. He’s a director who sometimes designs, acts, and produces. His work is often highly collaborative, inventive, and full of love. Various work and affiliations include Manhattan Theater Club, Classic Stage Company, The 24 Hour Plays, CCAE Theatricals, Cygnet Theatre, TheatreSquared, and 101 Productions. He is an artistic leader of The What Co. (@thewhatco), an experimentation ground for new work. He’s thrilled to make his return to acting at Diversionary. Much love to Sherri, Chris, Bailey, and his puppy Nino. @colemanrayclark.

GEN. AGA MEMNON
Troy Tinker-Elliot (he/him/his): This is Troy’s second appearance here at Diversionary. His First was in October, as “Older Trevor” in “Midnight at the Never Get.”

He has performed in Memphis, Cleveland, Orlando and Las Vegas. Favorite roles include Bialystok in “The Producers” and Tito in “Lend Me a Tenor.” He also toured for 20 years as narrator for the Lipizzaner Stallions Coliseum show.

MRS. CLYTEMNESTRA MEMNON
Jacquelyn Ritz* (she/her/hers): Jacquelyn is delighted to make her Diversionary debut in Merry Me.  Local regional credits include the title character in Annabella in July, Bloomsday, How the Other Half Loves, Chapter Two, and Fallen Angels (North Coast Repertory), The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, a 2024 Craig Noel nominee for Outstanding New Musical (Lamb’s Players) and the Baroness in La Jolla Playhouse’s Lempicka directed by Rachel Chavkin.  She performed at the Kennedy Center in Stephen Sondheim’s Bounce directed by Harold Prince.  She is the voice of Madame Blueberry (and others) in VeggieTales. AEA and SAG/AFTRA. More info at www.JacquelynRitz.com

THE ANGEL
Micheal Amira Temple (she/they): Micheal Amira Temple is a theater practitioner and educator interested in using theatre arts as a tool for discovery, connection, healing, and self- actualization. Her work has a strong focus on community, self- advocacy, and joy! Amira currently works as a teaching artist with Imagine Brave Spaces and The Old Globe bringing theatre to particularly vulnerable populations. She has also worked with Backyard Renaissance, Oceanside Theatre Company, Loud Fridge Theatre Company, Blindspot Collective, Coronado Playhouse, Prague Shakespeare Company, and more as an actor, facilitator, writer, and director. She thanks you for coming to support artists and their work, and hopes you enjoy yourself tonight!

PLAYWRIGHT
Hansol Jung: Playwright. Merry Me (New York Theater Workshop) Wolf Play (Soho Rep & Ma-Yi), Wild Goose Dreams (Public Theater & La Jolla Playhouse), Romeo and Juliet (NAATCO) Cardboard Piano (Actors Theatre of Louisville, Humana Festival), Among the Dead (Ma-Yi Theatre), and No More Sad Things (Sideshow & Boise Contemporary). TV & Film: Pachinko (Apple+) Tales of the City (Netflix) including development with Amazon Studios, Apple + TV, Ink Factory, Fifth Season Production and Kindred Spirit. She is a proud member of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab, NYTW’s Usual Suspects, and the New Class of Kilroys. MFA: Yale. @chokkie

DIRECTOR
Vanessa Stalling: Vanessa is thrilled to be making her Diversionary debut! She is the director and adaptor of the Jeff Award winning play United Flight 232 and Head of Directing at UC San Diego’s Department of Theatre & Dance. She was an Associate Artistic Director of Redmoon Theater, a Company Member of The House Theatre, and a Michael Maggio Fellow at The Goodman Theatre. Vanessa’s directing credits include The Roommate (Center Rep), Photograph 51 and Fen (The Court Theatre); A Shayna Maidel and The Lehman Trilogy (Timeline Theatre); Unconditional (The Fountain Theatre); The Wolves and Roe (Goodman Theatre); The Great Leap (Asolo Rep); several public and private Redmoon Theatre events including ephemeral performances at President Obama’s White House Halloween celebrations.

Associate Director
Jenny Case (she/her/hers): Jenny has over 22 years of experience in working in the non-profit theatre sector, including 10 years as the Associate General Manager of La Jolla Playhouse. She also served as Producer for the Playhouse’s WithOut Walls Festival and other immersive theatre pieces performed throughout San Diego as well as line produced many of the La Jolla Playhouse’s New York musical developmental workshops including Escape to Margaritaville, Hands on a Hardbody, Bonnie and Clyde, Little Miss Sunshine, Crybaby, and many others. Currently, Jenny is working with Sharon Wheatley (Come From Away) to develop Wheatley’s book “Drive” for the stage. Jenny serves on the National Alliance for Musical Theatre Membership Committee as well as the selection panel for grants through NAMT’s Innovation and Exploration Fund.

Stage Manager
Shannon Humiston (she/her/hers): Shannon Humiston is excited to be returning to Diversionary for Merry Me. She is a Kansas City native who now calls San Diego home. Select credits include Head Over Heels, Eighty-Sixed (Diversionary Theatre), Stroll Thru Shushan (San Diego REP), Hairspray (Kansas City Starlight Theatre), King Lear (Saratoga Shakespeare Company), and Avenue Q (Nebraska Repertory Theatre). When she is not in the theatre, she can be found working with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as an entertainment manager for their many seasonal and special events. She would like to thank her parents, brother, her partner, and the Frentrops for all their support and always encouraging her to chase her dreams.

Sound Design, Composer
Padra Crisafulli (they/them/theirs): creates theatrical experiences as a sound designer, composer, director, and generative artist. Their work has been heard and/or seen at the La Jolla Playhouse, the Park Avenue Armory, the National Museum of Serbia, the Prague Quadrennial, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. They are the winner of Triangle Rainbow Theatre and the Riant’s Best Director Award, as well as a Hæth Grant recipient through Possum Creek Games. They are currently an MFA candidate in sound design at UC San Diego. BFA in directing, Carnegie Mellon University. Look at the donut, not the hole. padracrisa.com

Lighting Design 
Annelise Salazar: Annelise is happy to return to Diversionary Theatre. Elsewhere: Mother of the Maid (MOXIE); Desert Rock Garden, Leonard Bernstein New York (New Village Arts Theatre); Water by the Spoonful (Cygnet Theatre, ALD) Past worked at Old Globe Theatre, Bay Street Theatre, and Tuyo Theatre. Annelise earned a BFA in Design and Technology from Millikin University and is an MFA student at San Diego State University. Thank you to Matt, Allison, and the entire Diversionary family. As Always, Love to my partner Emily for standing beside me as I pursue this incredible career! 

Costume Design
Claire Peterson (she/they): is a Costume Designer for both Theatre and Film with an MFA in Costume Design and Technology from San Diego State University. With a main focus in theatre for social change, Claire strives to create a space where all people have the opportunity to feel safe and represented. She is currently working as a Costume Design Assistant at La Jolla Playhouse, along with doing freelance design around the country. Some design credits include The Weather Busters of Beach Castle (La Jolla Playhouse POP Tour), Midnight at the Neverget (Diversionary Theatre), Man and Moon (MOXIE Theatre), The Fog (Montana Repertory Theatre), The House of Bernarda Alba (SDSU), and Cabaret (SDSU).

Scenic Design
Mathys Herbert: Scenic Design work includes Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812 as well as Evita at Cygnet Theatre. Other Scenic Design credits include Sweeney Todd, The Addams Family, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Catch Me If You Can, Rent, A Christmas Story, Sister Act, Freaky Friday, Young Frankenstein, Bring It On (San Diego Musical Theatre); Cabaret (SDSU); Million Dollar Quartet (Lamb’s Players). Originally from Dayton Ohio, he holds a BFA in Acting from Wright State University and an MFA in Scenic Design from SDSU.

Props Design – Kristen Flores
Production Assistant – Joshua Gutierrez 
Production Dramaturg – Jesse Marchese

We are no longer requiring masks in our theater. Masks are still encouraged to help keep our performers and audience members safe, but they are not required.

NOTE: This policy is subject to change at any moment to reflect changing local, state, and federal regulations. Please return before your scheduled performance date to see our most recent policy.