Next Fall
Luke believes in God. Adam believes in everything else. Next Fall portrays the ups and downs of this unlikely couple’s five-year relationship with sharp humor and unflinching honesty. When an accident changes everything, Adam must turn to Luke’s family and friends for support… and answers.
Through a series of flash-backs, Luke, Adam, and their friends and family a grapple with the role that faith plays in their relationship. Luke, a devout Christian, sees his homosexuality as a sin he must repent for and nonbelievers as hell-bound. Adam, a gay agnostic remains stubbornly unrepentant and unbelieving and Luke worries his boyfriend will be a future inhabitant of hell. Everything changes, however, when Adam finds himself sharing a hospital waiting room with Luke’s religious parents who have remained unaware of their son’s homosexuality throughout the couple’s five-year relationship.
Next Fall received 2010 Tony Award nominations for Best Play and Best Director, received the Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award in 2010 for “Best New American Play,” and was nominated for a Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk awards for best play It has been playing to great acclaim and success at numerous theatres throughout the country and this weeks is being recorded as a live radio play by LA Theatre Works.
Geoffrey Nauffts (Author ) His play Next Fall received the Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award in 2010 for “Best New American Play,” and was nominated for a Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Tony Award for best play. He has acted on Broadway in A Few Good Men and Caine Mutiny Court Martial, as well as the national touring companies of Biloxi Blues and The Full Monty and numerous Off-Broadway and Regional productions. He directed Naked Angels’ critically acclaimed production of Stephen Belber’s Tape in New York, Los Angeles and London and wrote and directed the award-winning short film, Baby Steps, starring Kathy Bates. He has numerous TV and film credits including Woody Allen’s Melinda and Melinda, Mississippi Burning, Field of Dreams, Six Feet Under, Lipstick Jungle, Homicide, Picket Fences, Murphy Brown, From Earth to the Moon, all three Law and Orders, and three seasons on The Commish. He co-wrote the movie of the week, Jennifer for CBS, and was a writer on ABC’s Brothers and Sisters for the last two seasons. He is currently collaborating with Elton John on a score for Showstopper, a screenplay he co-wrote and is writing 81 Words, a movie for HBO. He recently concluded a four-year stint as artistic director of Naked Angels where he’s been a proud member for over twenty-five years.
Matt McGrath (Adam) is thrilled to be returning to San Diego after staring as Dr. Frank “N” Furter in The Old Globe production of The Rocky Horror Show. He directed Darrell Hammond in Tru at Bay Street Theatre as well as Tony Award-winning book writer Jeff Whitty’s I Hereby Tender My Resignation as part of Atlantic Theater Company’s 10 X 25 play festival. Mr. McGrath’s work as a performer in The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets in London, San Francisco and Sydney earned him a Helpmann Award nomination. His Broadway credits include Emcee in Cabaret directed by Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall and also A Streetcar Named Desire. Mr. McGrath has appeared Off-Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, A Fair Country (Lincoln Center Theater), Minutes from the Blue Route, Fat Men in Skirts, The Old Boy, Life During Wartime, Amulets Against the Dragon Forces, and Dalton’s Back (Drama Desk Award nomination). His regional theatre credits include Japes (Bay Street Theatre), Beyond Therapy, Caroline in Jersey and Mother of Invention (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Loot (Williamstown Theatre Festival and La Jolla Playhouse), Raised in Captivity (South Coast Repertory), Distant Fires (LA Weekly Award) and Snakebit. Mr. McGrath’s film credits include Full Grown Men (Tribeca Film Festival 2006), Boys Don’t Cry and The Notorious Bettie Page (Killer Films), The Anniversary Party, The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy, The Impostors, The Substance of Fire, Bob Roberts, The Dadshuttle (Boy’s Life II) and Desperate Hours.
STEWART CALHOUN (Luke) Next Fall marks Stewart’s debut with Diversionary. Based in Los Angeles, Stewart is most known for his performance as Nathan Leopold in Havok Theatre Company’s production of Thrill Me, the Leopold and Loeb Story (Ovation Award Nomination for Best Musical, Garland Award Winner, best ensemble). Other LA theatre credits include; How Cissy Grew (world premiere, LA Weekly nomination; best supporting actor),dark play or stores for boys (LA Weekly nomination; leading male performance), Above The Line. Film credits: The Eves, Paradox Alice. Stewart holds a BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago.
TONY HOUCK (Brandon) is ecstatic to be back at Diversionary. Some favorite Diversionary credits include Hunter in [title of show], Charlie Bates in Twist, and Lottie Obligato in Scrooge in Rouge, for which he won a Critics Choice award. Other credits include Helga in Cabaret, Lamar in Godspell, and ensemble in Ragtime and Aida. Tony is a graduate of AMDA. Tony is currently working on a brand new cabaret act with Heather Paton. Much love to Kevane, Monty and my family.
JOHN WHITLEY (Butch) has performed in several Diversionary productions including; Corpus Christie (Diversionary), Spring Awakening, Shopping & F***ing. NYC/Regional: Carousel, She Loves Me, History Remembers, My Fair Lady, Children of Eden, Twelfth Night, Julius Ceasar. Concert: A cappella quartet Mystery Date/Solo – Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher. Recordings: History Remembers, Simply Gershwin, Mystery Date, Sons & Lovers.
JACQUE WILKE (Holly) is absolutely thrilled to be back on stage at Diversionary! Local theater credits include: Diana in Lend Me a Tenor, Mistletoe, Music, and Mayhem and Suzette in Don’t Dress for Dinner (North Coast Repertory Theater) Madi in Fair Use, Barbara Ellen in The New Century, and Anita Bryant in Anita Bryant Died for your Sins (Diversionary Theater), Nell Gwynne, Lady D, and Maria in Or, (MOXIE), The Girl in The Seven Year Itch and Susan in The Heidi Chronicles (New Village Arts), Patsy in Side Man (Bang Productions), Cecily in The Break-up Breakdown (Circle Circle Dot Dot), Helen/Terri/Hilda in He Said, She Said (Laterthanever). She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts where she was the recipient of the Academy’s Charles Jelinger Award for Best Actress.
SHANA WRIDE (Arlene) Acting and Directing credits include work with- Shakespeare Festival- Los Angeles, The Colony Theatre, Open Fist Theatre, Malibu Stage Company, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, San Diego Repertory Theatre, Cygnet Theatre, Moxie Theatre, Compass Theatre, Sledgehammer Theatre, Gaslamp Quarter Theatre, and Diversionary Theatre. She also co-hosted the nationally syndicated radio show, Women Aloud with Mo Gaffney.
James Vasquez (Director) Fresh from directing The Rocky Horror Show, James returns to Diversionary where he previously directed the West Coast Premieres of Fair Use, [title of show] (SD Critics Circle nominations for Outstanding Direction and Resident Musical), and Twist. James won the Craig Noel SD Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for Cygnet’s Sweeney Todd, which also won the Outstanding Resident Musical Award. Other recent directing/choreographing credits include The Rocky Horror Show, Emma (Assc. Director), Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2003-2011), Boeing-Boeing (Old Globe Theatre), Hedwig…, Little Shop Of Horrors (Cygnet Theatre), and Into The Woods (New Village Arts). In 2004, James founded Daisy 3 Pictures with Mark Holmes and Carrie Preston. Their first two feature films, 29th and Gay (TLA Releasing, Here TV) and Ready? Ok! (Wolfe Video, LOGO) have played national and international film festivals, with Ready? Ok! winning the Best Feature Film award in Seattle, North Carolina, and San Diego. Their latest film, That’s What She Said, starring Anne Heche, will be making its world premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. As an actor, James has appeared on film, television, Off-Broadway, regional and local stages. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Drama.
PRESS RELEASE
January 13, 2012
John Alexander 619.220.6830 jalexander@diversionary.org
Or Justen Stevens jstevens@diversionary.org
Follow Diversionary on Twitter @DiversionarySD and Facebook
MATT MCGRATH
returns to San Diego
in the Tony-nominated play
NEXT FALL
at Diversionary Theatre
San Diego, CA – Diversionary Theatre is proud to bring the Tony-nominated play, Next Fall to San Diego. Diversionary’s production will feature Matt McGrath, who recently starred in the Old Globe’s hit production of The Rocky Horror Show. The production reunites McGrath with Rocky Horror director, James Vasquez at the helm of Next Fall.
NEXT FALL
By Geoffrey Nauffts
Directed by James Vasquez
Featuring Matt McGrath, Stewart Calhoun,
Tony Houck, John Whitley, Jacque Wilke, and Shana Wride
at Diversionary Theatre
Beginning February 16
Beginning February 16th and running through March 25, 2012, Next Fall is a witty and intelligent play about faith, devotion, and unconventional love.
Luke believes in God. Adam believes in everything else. Next Fall portrays the ups and downs of this unlikely couple’s five-year relationship with sharp humor and unflinching honesty. When an accident changes everything, Adam must turn to Luke’s family and friends for support… and answers.
Joining McGrath (as Adam) are San Diego favorites Tony Houck (Brandon), John Whitley (Butch), Jacque Wilke (Holly), and Shana Wride (Arlene), and introduces Stewart Calhoun as Luke.
Through a series of flash-backs, Luke, Adam, and their friends and family a grapple with the role that faith plays in their relationship. Luke, a devout Christian, sees his homosexuality as a sin he must repent for and nonbelievers as hell-bound. Adam, a gay agnostic remains stubbornly unrepentant and unbelieving and Luke worries his boyfriend will be a future inhabitant of hell. Everything changes, however, when Adam finds himself sharing a hospital waiting room with Luke’s religious parents who have remained unaware of their son’s homosexuality throughout the couple’s five-year relationship.
Next Fall received 2010 Tony Award nominations for Best Play and Best Director, received the Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award in 2010 for “Best New American Play,” and was nominated for a Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk awards for best play It has been playing to great acclaim and success at numerous theatres throughout the country and this weeks is being recorded as a live radio play by LA Theatre Works.
Critical Acclaim for NEXT FALL:
“Next Fall is about religious faith, and how even in everyday life it separates people as much as it united them. It considers how the need to believe in something beyond other people tests relationships – among lovers, friends and family members.” (NY Times)
“The funniest heartbreaker in town…Embodies something theatergoers have been sorely missing, perhaps without knowing it, for years. Next Fall is that genuine rara avis, a smart, sensitive and utterly contemporary New York comedy.” (New York Times)
“Compassionate…laugh-filled and enormously entertaining!” (AP)
“A daring new drama.” (Entertainment Weekly)
About GEOFFREY NAUFFTS (Playwright) His play Next Fall was nominated for a Tony Award for best play. He directed Naked Angels’ critically acclaimed production of Stephen Belber’s Tape in New York, Los Angeles and London and wrote and directed the award-winning short film, Baby Steps, starring Kathy Bates. He co-wrote the movie of the week, Jennifer for CBS, and was a writer on ABC’s Brothers and Sisters for the last two seasons. He is currently collaborating with Elton John on a score for Showstopper, a screenplay he co-wrote with Anthony Barrile for Ben Stiller’s company, Red Hour, and is writing 81 Words, a movie for HBO-based on an NPR This American Life segment. He recently concluded a four-year stint as artistic director of Naked Angels where he’s been a proud member for over twenty-five years
About JAMES VASQUEZ (Director) Fresh from directing The Rocky Horror Show, James returns to Diversionary where he previously directed the West Coast Premieres of Fair Use, [title of show] (SD Critics Circle nominations for Outstanding Direction and Resident Musical), and Twist. James won the Craig Noel SD Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Direction of a Musical for Cygnet’s Sweeney Todd, which also won the Outstanding Resident Musical Award. Other recent directing/choreographing credits include The Rocky Horror Show, Emma (Assc. Director), Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2003-2011), Boeing-Boeing (Old Globe Theatre), Hedwig…, Little Shop Of Horrors (Cygnet Theatre), and Into The Woods (New Village Arts). In 2004, James founded Daisy 3 Pictures with Mark Holmes and Carrie Preston. Their first two feature films, 29th and Gay (TLA Releasing, Here TV) and Ready? Ok! (Wolfe Video, LOGO) have played national and international film festivals, with Ready? Ok! winning the Best Feature Film award in Seattle, North Carolina, and San Diego. Their latest film, That’s What She Said, starring Anne Heche, will be making its world premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. As an actor, James has appeared on film, television, Off-Broadway, regional and local stages. He is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Drama.
About MATT MCGRATH (Adam) is thrilled to be returning to San Diego after staring as Dr. Frank “N” Furter in The Old Globe production of The Rocky Horror Show. He directed Darrell Hammond in Tru at Bay Street Theatre as well as Tony Award-winning book writer Jeff Whitty’s I Hereby Tender My Resignation as part of Atlantic Theater Company’s 10 X 25 play festival. Mr. McGrath’s work as a performer in The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets in London, San Francisco and Sydney earned him a Helpmann Award nomination. His Broadway credits include Emcee in Cabaret directed by Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall and also A Streetcar Named Desire. Mr. McGrath has appeared Off-Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, A Fair Country (Lincoln Center Theater), Minutes from the Blue Route, Fat Men in Skirts, The Old Boy, Life During Wartime, Amulets Against the Dragon Forces, and Dalton’s Back (Drama Desk Award nomination). His regional theatre credits include Japes (Bay Street Theatre), Beyond Therapy, Caroline in Jersey and Mother of Invention (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Loot (Williamstown Theatre Festival and La Jolla Playhouse), Raised in Captivity (South Coast Repertory), Distant Fires (LA Weekly Award) and Snakebit. Mr. McGrath’s film credits include Full Grown Men (Tribeca Film Festival 2006), Boys Don’t Cry and The Notorious Bettie Page (Killer Films), The Anniversary Party, The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy, The Impostors, The Substance of Fire, Bob Roberts, The Dadshuttle (Boy’s Life II) and Desperate Hours.About Diversionary
Diversionary Theatre develops new works and produces plays and musicals that explore the issues, characters and stories of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in all its complexity and diversity. Founded in 1986 to bring to light important social issues that impact the quality of life of LGBT people, the company has grown into a professional theatre company producing a season of mainstage plays and musicals as well as nurturing LGBT artists in the development of new works of theatre through new play commissions, readings and workshops. We regularly collaborate with other theatre and arts groups to present special events and co-productions of mainstage plays, thus involving a wider arts community in our mission.
Performances run from February 16 through March 25, 2012, at Diversionary Theatre 4545 Park Blvd. San Diego CA 92116. Previews Feb. 16 and 17. Official opening night is Saturday, February 18. Ticket prices are $31.00-$33, Previews (Feb. 16 & 17) $20.00.
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Justen Stevens at
619. 220.6830 or jstevens@diversionary.org
VIDEOS
James Vasquez (Director)
Matt McGrath (Adam)
“For you, what is Next Fall about?” (Next Fall Cast)
Check out the ad from the 2010 Broadway production here
The moment is now for “Next Fall”- Jim Hebert of the San Diego Union-Tribune
“Next Fall” comes to Diversionary Theatre – Lisa Lipley of Rage Monthly Magazine
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Click on the title to read the full review.
Gay San Diego: Cuauhtémoc Kish says:
“Director James Vasquez employs his cast of six well, allowing us an opportunity to hear six different voices ascribing to their unique religious or agnostic points of view. The mix of opinions allows us to hear what others have to say, even if ours remain fixed.”
“If you want to explore a secular and spiritual divide that is heavy on comedy, “Next Fall” is your ticket. Be prepared to laugh, question your own beliefs and then laugh some more.”
Stage Scene LA: Steven Stanley says:
“Nauffts makes his characters so real and three-dimensional that they defy stereotyping and cliché”
“(Vasquez’s) vision of Nauftts’ play will make even those who saw it in New York or Westwood sit up and take notice”
Words Are Not Enough: Marty Westlin says:
“Skillful writing, acting mark Next Fall”
“The fundamentally cool thing about this examination is that all the characters are
basically good souls.”
“Adherence to our own beliefs is exponentially more important than the religion behind it. If Next Fall does nothing else (and it does), it illustrates this clearly and concisely…”
U-T San Diego: Anne Marie Welsh says:
“finds humor in divergent views”
“an expert cast”
“Nauffts, Vasquez and the actors mine comedic gold…”
SDGLN: Jean Lowerison says:
“Nauffts…has a way with a clever riposte…. consistently engaging…”
“Vasquez has directed this piece with a sure hand, and is blessed with an excellent cast. Wride has the showpiece role – and makes the most of it – as Arlene, making us sympathize with the type of character many of us would flee at a party.”
“Wilke is delightful.. Whitley is properly – well, scary”
North County Times: Pam Kragen says:
“Nauffts’ dialogue is punchy and funny, and director James Vasquez has given the play a lively energy”
“McGrath as Adam….(is) a master of deadpan comic timing and delivery”
San Diego Reader: Jeff Smith says:
“… funny and moving…”
Charlene Baldridge says:
