Season 40
LOVE AS REVOLUTION
2025/2026
DECADE SPONSOR: Joann Clark
SEASON SPONSORS:
Introducing Diversionary Theatre’s Season 40th Anniversary Season: Love as Revolution
At Diversionary Theatre, we know that love is the the thing that not only unites us, but will be the thing to keep us together, the thing that unites us as community. As we embark on our historic 40th Anniversary Season, our programming is centered around many types of love: self-love, the love we give to our chosen family, the intimate love between partners, and love that can ignite and fuel a revolution. These works resonate deeply with audiences from all walks of life, emphasizing the power of love and the intricacies of human connections.
We are increasing the amount of productions four our 40th, and moving up to four MainStage productions. We aim to explore the diverse facets of love and relationships, inviting our audience to reflect on how we love and who we love. These narratives serve as poignant reminders of our shared humanity and the common threads that bind us together, transcending boundaries of race, gender, and orientation.
Each production in Season 40 is a testament to the transformative and unifying force of love, showcasing the beauty of acceptance, understanding, and empathy. As we come together to experience these powerful stories, we invite our community members to join us on a journey of exploration and connection, celebrating the rich tapestry of human experiences.
Join us at Diversionary Theatre as we embark on a season of love, compassion, and celebration of our shared humanity. Together, let us discover the profound connections that bind us all.
Welcome to Season 40!
MANIFEST PUSSY — World Premiere
Written & performed by Shakina
Directed by Sherri Eden Barber
September 17 – October 12, 2025 / Opening Night – TBA
A rock concert/standup special/ritual sacrifice that follows Shakina’s pilgrimage to Thailand for gender confirmation surgery. A journey of faith and trans liberation, Manifest Pussy combines Shakina’s raw and irreverent autobiographical storytelling with brand new songs by multiple award-winning and emerging musical theatre writers.
PRODUCTION SPONSOR: Coming soon!
TO MY GIRLS — San Diego Premiere
by JC LEE
Directed by Jesse Marchese
November 13 – December 7, 2025 / Opening Night – TBA
A tight-knit group of gay men reunite in Palm Springs for a weekend of rekindling friendships, toasting the end of the pandemic, and the biggest highlight: recording a lip-synched music video. Turns out a vacation in this dreamy town is not all fun and games when there’s gossip and grudges floating in the air. To My Girls is a hysterical yet deeply moving play about chosen family and how we move forward as a community in times of change and uncertainty.
PRODUCTION SPONSORS: Coming soon!
STRADDLE — World Premiere
By Harrison David Rivers
Co-created with Sherri Eden Barber
Directed by TBA
February 19 – March 15, 2026 / Opening Night – TBA
It’s Dodie and Vita’s anniversary again. And this year’s celebration feels an awful lot like last year’s. And the year before that. In this sexy new play from Harrison David Rivers (author of last season’s we are continuous), one couple asks: how do you keep things hot when it’s all been done before?
PRODUCTION SPONSOR: Coming soon!
RENT — Legacy Revival
Book music, and lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Directed by TBA
May 21 – June 14, 2026 / Opening Night – TBA
This is RENT like you’ve never experienced it before.
Diversionary Theatre proudly presents a bold, reimagined production of the iconic musical that changed everything. Set in the heart of a community that knows firsthand the power of chosen family, love, loss, and resilience, RENT comes alive in a way that only Diversionary can deliver. With raw intimacy, electric energy, and unapologetic authenticity, this production strips the story down to its core, reminding us what it means to live, to fight, and to love—no day but today. Don’t miss this unforgettable theatrical event.