Congrats Patty!

Dear Harvey playwright, Patricia Loughrey, wins San Diego Pride's Special Award for Cultural and Artistic Excellence.
Read more here...

Two more chances to see Dear Harvey!

Come see two different radings of Dear Harvey to celebrate the first Harvey Milk Day
May 19 & 20, 2010 at Diversionary Theatre.

Wednesday, May 19 – 7:30pm. Read by San Diego State University School of Theatre, Television and Film. Cast: John Alspaugh, Shane Blackburn, Crystal Brandon, Amanda Clemens, Emily Davenport, Ken Hodges, Courtney Howard, Dihann McCrary, Kristin McReddie, Bailey Neill, Anthony Simone, Derek Smith, Jon Wat, Berlyn James Wieland and Thomas Hodges. Directed by Peter Cirino. Produced by Jay Sheehan. Stage Manager: Mark Sherman. Projection Design: Dominic Abbenante. Dramaturgy: Lauren Beck.

Thursday, May 20 – 7:30pm. Read by Diversionary Theatre. Cast: Camille Davidson, Dana Hooley, Phil Johnson, Jerusha Matsen Neal, Richard Seer, Ira Spector, James Vasquez and Thomas Hodges. Directed by Dan Kirsch. Stage Manager: Mark Sherman. Projection Design: Dominic Abbenante, Dan Kirsch, Jay Sheehan, Bret Young.

Advance tickets – suggested donation of $20. Available through the Diversionary Box Office. By phone: 619.220.0097. Online: www.diversionary.org. Advance tickets receive reserved seats. Advance $10 student tickets are available by calling 619-220-0097 or stopping by the box office (seats will be general admission). Night of event: tickets available first-come, first-served general admission. Make a donation of any amount. Donations from Wednesday night will support the Harvey B. Milk Foundation and SDSU School of Theatre, Television and Film. Donations from Thursday night will support the Harvey B. Milk Foundation and Diversionary Theatre.

www.diversionary.org

The show must go on... and it will!

San Diego State University’s critically acclaimed production of Dear Harvey has been chosen to participate in the

Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival

The SDSU School of Theatre, Television, and Film’s stunning presentation of Dear Harvey has been selected to participate in the Southwest Regional Finals for the Kennedy Center’s American College Theatre Festival being held in St. George, Utah in early February. If the show does well in Utah, the production will move to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. in April!

The SDSU production was written by SDSU Alum Patricia Loughrey with music composed for the play by SDSU student Thomas Hodges. After its successful run at Diversionary Theatre, the show played to sold- out, standing ovation crowds during its run at SDSU.

We now look to our friends to help us fund raise to get the show to Utah. Only $457 will completely underwrite an actor’s expense for the entire week of the festival. This includes hotel, registration fees, acting workshops, transportation, and a few meals. If you would like to help us send this production to Utah, please call Jay Sheehan at 619-594-4990 or email him at JSheehan@mail.sdsu.edu.

Thanks to everyone at Diversionary Theatre for their ongoing support of this project!

We're taking the show on the road!

... for one night only!

If you missed Dear Harvey at San Diego State, you still have a chance to see the show. This Thursday, October 8, SDSU will take Dear Harvey on the road to the San Diego School of Creative and Peforming Arts. The show starts at 7 PM in the Florence Johnson Grand Theatre, and is absolutely free!

2425 Dusk Dr
San Diego, CA 92139-2412

Time is running out!

You only have three more chances to see Dear Harvey!

Wednesday 9/30
Thursday 10/1
and
Friday 10/2
at 8 PM

On Wednesday, be sure to stay after the show to watch the hilarious new comedy, Accidentally Phylla! It's only 20 minutes, it will make you laugh until you cry, and it's FREE with the price of you ticket to Dear Harvey!

On Thursday, stay for a few minutes after the show to ask questions of the cast and production staff.

Remember... THIS Friday is closing night so buy your tickets now and mark your calendars!

Dear Audience...

Now is the time to start thinking about when you would like to see Dear Harvey. With only 7 performances, time and space are limited. Here are some things to think about...

On opening night, Thursday 9/24, there will be a post show discussion panel entitled "Activism Then and Now: Where Do We Go From Here?" with long-time activist, Nicole Murray Ramirez (who is a character in the play), SDSU student activist Thomas Hodges (who wrote the music for Dear Harvey), and the playwright, Patricia Loughrey.

There will be another post show discussion with the entire cast, director, and dramaturg on the following Thursday, 10/1.

Immediately following the performances on Saturday 9/26, Sunday 9/27, and Wednesday 9/30
New Voices, an SDSU student theatre group, will present the comedy, Accidentally Phylla or 'Tis Pity She's a Man, written and directed by Derek Smith and Megan Stogner. Admission is free with the purchase of a ticket to Dear Harvey.
Dear Harvey will open in the Experimental Theatre at SDSU on Thursday September 24 at 8 p.m. and will close October 2 at 8 p.m. Evening performances are on September 24, 25, 26, 30 and October 1, 2 at 8 p.m. with a matinee performance on September 27 at 2 p.m. Tickets and information are online; you may wish to visit the Performing Arts Box Office Monday through Thursday between 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. or call the Box Office direct at (619) 594-6884. For group discounts call (619) 594-6365 or email OnStageSDSU@sdsu.edu.

Harvey Milk Day

In February, out State Senator Mark Leno introduced SB 572 - a bill that would require the Governor of California to proclaim May 22 of each year (Harvey Milk's birthday) as a day of special significance. According to the fact sheet, the bill would "allow schools to conduct activities that would foster respect for all, and educate students about an important figure who is often omitted from history lessons."
A similar bill was vetoed last year by Governor Schwarzenegger after it passed in the State Assembly and State Senate. According to Equality California, a group that is backing the bill, The Governor’s Secretary of Education recently sent a letter opposing the bill stating that the Governor's previous veto sends a message that "Harvey Milk's contributions should continue to be recognized at the local level by those who were most impacted by his contributions. Since this bill is nearly identical, the veto message remains applicable."

To express support for Bill SB 572 - Harvey Milk Day:

• Sign the online petition at the Equality California website.
• Call the Governor's San Diego Office at 619-525-4641.
• Call the automated line and choose the Harvey Milk Day bill. 916-445-2841

Sen. Leno on creating Harvey Milk Day

Upcoming Events

Attention Cast: Three events are coming up that you may want to attend!

JUNE 23: S.A.M.E. (San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality) is hosting an Activist Town Hall Forum titled: 'Where Do We Go From Here In The LGBTQIQAA Activist Movement?' at The LGBT Center - 3909 Centre St. from 6:30PM - 9:00PM. The Key Note Speakers will be ROBIN TYLER (a character in Dear Harvey played by Crystal Brandon) and DIANE OLSON. Dear Harvey will have a table set up to distribute information about the show.

JULY 1: From 11:00 AM to noon, San Diego State University students, faculty and staff will join local politicians, business leaders and other members of the community in hosting a Rainbow Flag Raising Ceremony on campus in support of SDSU's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, staff, faculty and community. We will be handing out Dear Harvey flyers, encouraging people to come to the show.

JULY 18: The cast of Dear Harvey has been invited to march in the San Diego Gay Pride Parade with the SDSU LGBT community. We will be handing out business cards and carrying signs in the parade and participating at the Diversionary booth to promote the play.

All cast members are encouraged to attend any of these events. Please contact Producer Jay Sheehan at

♫

jsheehan@mail.sdsu.edu or Dramaturg Lauren Beck at lbeck79@gmail.com for more information.

See you there!

The fight isn't over

Californians who believe in equal rights were dealt a blow today when the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8. Thankfully, couples who wed before the election will continue to be married under state law. But the fight isn't over! Meet at Balboa Park today at 5 to march and rally. We WILL get this hateful proposition overturned!


View the Facebook page.

Remembering Harvey

Harvey Milk would have turned 79 tomorrow. In honor of his birthday, The Grassroots Equality Network is organizing a series of candlelight vigils across the state. The San Diego vigil to honor the life and activism of Harvey Milk will be held tomorrow night, May 22, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. near the "Equality Wall" next to Rich's nightclub (near 1051 University Ave. in Hillcrest). Bring a candle or flashlight and a sign with peaceful words to the short vigil and then go out and celebrate Harvey's Birthday in Hillcrest! Check out the Facebook page for more information.

Announcing... The talented and dedicated cast of Dear Harvey!

Tom Ammiano: Ken Hodges
Toni Atkins: Bailey Neill
Nicole Murray Ramirez: Anthony Simone
Jackie Grover: Kristin McReddie
Robin Tyler: Crystal Brandon
Cleve Jones: Derek Smith
Anne Kronenberg: Emily Davenport
John Laird: John Alspaugh
Stuart Milk: Jon Wat
Daniel Nicoletta: Berlyn Weiland
Alan Pettit: Shane Blackburn
Christine Kehoe: Jacqui Yawn
Mary Stockton: Courtney Howard
Dottie Wine: Patty Hite
(Peter, Amanda, Tawnya and Juan casting the show. Photo by Lauren Beck)

Attention SDSU Students - Audition Notice!

Dear Harvey
By Patricia Loughrey
Directed by Peter James Cirino

SDSU’s School of Theatre, Television, and Film will present Dear Harvey, a tribute to the life of Harvey Milk September 24 – October 4, 2009, following the play’s world premiere at Diversionary Theatre this April.

General Auditions will be held in The Experimental Theatre on: Monday, May 4, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

o Call Backs: Tuesday, May 5
o Final Call Backs: Wednesday, May 6

Prepare a one-minute (or less!) contemporary monologue that showcases your range as an actor.

Performance Dates: September 24th -Oct 2nd 2009
Experimental Theatre
First Rehearsal: August 17, 2009

Sign up on the callboard in the main hallway upstairs in the theatre building at SDSU.