THE LESBIANS OF SAN DIEGO

About the Show

Come witness the Herstory! A glorious tale, presented in two acts, of lesbians who left the world a more wondrous place than they found it. The Lesbians of San Diego Play is finally going to make its world premiere in San Diego in 2025! Almost two years ago, the Lesbians of San Diego Project collaborated with playwright Dian Schaffhauser to come up with an amazing script that highlights stories from the interviews of their online archival project. Twenty two drafts later, the script showcases the vibrant lesbian community of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s in San Diego. Remember those women? The nurses, lawyers, social workers, teachers, artists, musicians, writers, politicians and many more who bravely stepped out of the shadows, helping to create lesbian space and culture that has forever changed our world. 

Featuring special entertainment in the Clark Cabaret & Bar before every performance!

Pre-Show Entertainment Lineup:

Thursday, July 31st @ 6PM: Join poets Jayne Brown and Ila Suzanne with their “Words from the Past”!

Jayne Brown, poet, is the author of My First Real Tree, a book of poems from Foothills Press, and an upcoming chapbook, The Third Remembrance, from Finishing Line Press. She was born in San Diego and graduated from SDSU with degrees in Women’s Studies and a Master’s degree in Creative Writing/Poetry. Jayne lives in Pennsylvania with Janice, her partner of 35 years, where she gardens, writes and feeds cats, and is retired from teaching at Penn State Berks campus.

Ila Suzanne Gray, poet and artist, says her proudest moment was watching productions of Kay Gardner’s choral music, which included chants Ila Suzanne wrote, being sung at women’s events by all women choruses. She also collaborated with Kay Gardner on the cd Ouroboros. She has published in the San Diego Lesbian Press, Lesbian Lives, Raising our Voices, Dreaming: An Almanac of Lesbian Lore and Vision, Ruth Barrett Dianic publications, and more. Ila Suzanne is a long-time supporter of the Lesbians of San Diego Project and most excited to be part of this.

Friday, August 1st @ 6PM: Singer/songwriter Judy Fjell joins us from Montana!

Singer-Songwriter Judy Fjell will share her humor, heart, and politics. A longtime favorite on the women’s and folk scenes, Judy now lives in her beloved home state of Montana where she teaches music to children, provides music for Unitarian Universalist services, writes songs such as “Short Grass Prairie Girl” and “It’s a Civilized World,” and performs at activist events at the Montana State Capitol in Helena. Listen to her music at www.judyfjell.com.

Saturday, August 2nd @ 6PM: The extraordinary Sue Palmer brings us that boogie-woogie!

Sue Palmer with vocalist Liz Ajuzie and Sharon Shufelt on upright bass, join us for Sue’s infamous boogie-woogie. Known world wide as the Queen of Boogie Woogie, Sue Palmer has been a presence on the live music scene in San Diego and the world for over 30 years. She says “I am grateful to the Women’s Community and the Gay Community for giving me space and engagements to practise my craft and grow,  from the 70s on”. Visit www.suepalmer.com for more about Sue.

Sunday, August 3rd @ 1PM: Pam & Maggie, the North County singing duo from back in the ’80s and ’90s will once again take the stage!

Pam & Maggie, the singing duo from North County in the ’90s, are back!  Hailing from Oregon, they have brushed off their guitars, tuned up their voices and are joining us once again. Be sure to see the play because their characters are in there with their heart-warming story. Click here to listen to their “Women’s Anthem“, as relevant today as it was decades ago. 

Thursday, August 7th @ 6PM: Veronica Cunningham, comedian, poet and artist. How she entertained us back in the day!

Veronica Cunningham was well known back in the ’80s and ’90s for her delicious lesbian wit. In 1992, she started working with Border Voices, publishing The Best of Border Voices anthology. She taught K-12 in schools throughout San Diego County. Her approach of integrating poetry with art and music encouraged students and teachers to explore themselves and the world and to take the risks of discovery. Her workshops and performances explore the magic of poetry and the wonder of our many voices.

Friday, August 8th @ 6PM:

Remembrance: Join us for a moving slideshow and stories about women in the community whom we have lost: Marti Mackey, Muriel Fisher, Judy Reif, Sheila Clark, Lois Gail, Berlene Rice, Diane Germain, Edna Myers, Helen McKenna and others…

Saturday, August 9th @ 6PM: Come join singer/guitarist Laura Z – bringing back lesbian feminist songs from the ’70s.

Laura Zweckbronner performed lesbian feminist political music at various venues in the ’70s and early ’80s as a solo musician and with various other women, including the band “Longtime Friends”. Some of the venues included UCSD Women’s Center events, Las Hermanas, Wing Cafe, Gay Pride rallies, Lesbian Solidarity, as well as various other political rallies. (Photo taken about 1980)

Sunday, August 10th @ 1PM: Bonnie Zimmerman and her extraordinary slideshow and commentary of the lesbians who came before us.

Bonnie Zimmerman, the beloved Professor of Women’s Studies at SDSU from 1978 to 2010, joins us with her memorable slideshow and stories of lesbians who came before us.  Bonnie taught the first lesbian course there (fondly known as Lesbianism 101), and later co-founded the LGBT Studies program (now LGBTQ+ Studies).  She is the author of The Safe Sea of Women: Lesbian Fiction 1969-1989, and edited The New Lesbian Studies: Into the 21st Century, Professions of Desire: Lesbian and Gay Studies in Literature, and Lesbian Histories and Cultures: An Encyclopedia.

*Please not that while this production takes place on Diversionary’s mainstage, it is not presented or produced by Diversionary Theatre. All ticket sales and questions must be handled through the Lesbians of San Diego Project via contact information on their website.