Moxie Theatre: 20 Years On Creating Change for Women+ In The Arts

By Cesar A Reyes

A Chat with Desiree Clarke Miller, Executive Artistic Director

MOXIE’s mission is to create more diverse and honest images of women+ for our culture using the art of theatre. Through the production of female playwrights and an emphasis on opportunities created for diverse female artists, designers ,and technicians, MOXIE expands the idea of what is feminine and celebrates the humanity we all share. MOXIE is creating a pipeline for women+’s work and inspiring audiences to create change in their own communities. We had the pleasure to sit down and chat with Desiree Clarke Miller the Executive Artistic Director to get to learn more about the work they do and how they are celebrating 20 years with a visual transformation and a season entitled “You Belong Here!”

Please introduce yourself?
My name is Desireé Clarke Miller and I am MOXIE Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director. In April, I will have been in this position for 2 years. 

Tell us a brief history of Moxie Theatre?
MOXIE Theatre is a professional non-profit theatre located in San Diego, California. It was founded in 2004 by a group of four absolutely fierce women. Our mission is to create more diverse and honest images of women+ for our culture using the intimate art of theatre. Through our productions of plays written by women+, educational programs, MOXIE awards ceremonies, and career-launching professional opportunities, MOXIE is creating a pipeline for women+’s work and inspiring audiences to create change in their own communities. 

The Organization is having a visual transformation, would you please you talk about that?
We’re really excited about our brand refresh as we celebrate our 20th anniversary. MOXIE has matured and evolved over the years, and we wanted our visual identity to reflect that growth while still honoring our roots. We’ve accomplished so much in the San Diego arts community, and it felt like the right time for our appearance to catch up with our achievements. Thanks to generous funding from The Conrad Prebys Foundation and the creative team at Puzzle Pieces Marketing, we’ve developed a new logo and visual brand that perfectly captures both sides of who we are today—a professional, established theater company that still creates bold, provocative work. The new look maintains our signature edge while reflecting the seasoned organization we’ve become.

What is the importance of a theatre company like Moxie?
MOXIE fills a critical gap in the San Diego arts landscape as the only organization explicitly dedicated to putting women+ first in everything we do. When our founders started this journey, they were truly breaking new ground; at that time, only about 14% of produced plays were written by women+. And many of them were facing tremendous personal challenges, battling the pervasive idea that being a mother or wife somehow meant you couldn’t seriously pursue a theater career.

Unfortunately, even today, women+ are still fighting for equitable representation. It’s not uncommon to see major theaters announce entire seasons without a single play or musical written by a woman+. Recent studies show we’ve improved from that 14% figure, but we’re still nowhere near parity. That’s why MOXIE’s mission remains as vital today as it was 20 years ago. We’re creating opportunities, launching careers, and proving that women+ voices draw audiences and create powerful, transformative theatre experiences.

Would you please you talk about the new Season 20, You Belong Here?
Our 20th season has been absolutely incredible! We wanted to create a season that celebrated our milestone anniversary while reinforcing that sense of belonging that’s always been central to MOXIE’s identity. Next up we have the wildly popular cabaret, Ms.CAST, which sold out so quickly last year that we’ve added an extra night this time around.

Earlier this season, we launched the Lamoise New Works Festival, which gave audiences a chance to experience fresh voices and emerging playwrights. We also took on an ambitious challenge by simultaneously producing Little Women: The Broadway Musical and Our Dead Dead Drug Lord. These two completely different shows stretched our creative muscles in exciting ways. And I’m particularly proud of our world premiere of Cleopatra, which continues our tradition of telling powerful stories centered on complex women characters.

This season has really embodied our growth as an organization—we’re taking bigger risks, engaging with more diverse stories, and creating theatrical experiences that you simply can’t find anywhere else in San Diego. The audience response has been overwhelming in the best possible way.

Would you please tell our readers about the special, two night presentation of Ms.CAST: Dream Roles?
Ms.CAST is actually an idea I had before I was even in my position at MOXIE. I was sharing space with the incredibly talented Kim Strassberger and we were discussing how much we would love to see something like this in San Diego, a cabaret where artists had all of the control around what they performed. When I stepped into my role here at MOXIE, I immediately thought back to that conversation and began to plan. 

Last year, we had an incredible lineup of performers and with Kim directing. Who could ask for anything better? The show was 80% sold out before we even announced the tickets, so the last few went very quickly. It was wild. Then the show itself was just phenomenal. The audience loved it, but people had expressed that they were sad that they weren’t able to get tickets, so this year we made sure to add an extra night. It’s a really beautiful thing when you hand creative control over to performers. They take ownership and show up in such an incredible way. One highlight from last year was Samantha Ginn’s performance of “Santa Fe” from Newsies. It had me rolling on the floor laughing and I can’t wait to see what she is going to come back with this year! We are always striving to push boundaries at MOXIE, so I think that a showcase that transcends traditional casting is the perfect event to do just that. 

How can our readers get involved (volunteer, sponsor, attend)?
There are so many wonderful ways to become part of the MOXIE family! Since we’re the only arts organization in San Diego dedicated to prioritizing women+ voices, your support directly helps us amplify these important perspectives on stage.

Financial support is incredibly meaningful to us. As a small non-profit, every donation truly makes a difference—whether it’s $20 or $200,000. All contributions are tax-deductible, and you can easily donate through our website at moxietheatre.com. A fantastic way to make a targeted impact is sponsoring a specific production, artist, or event.

Of course, the most fun way to support us is simply by coming to see our shows. Our website has all the ticket information, or you can reach our box office directly if you have any questions.

We also thrive on volunteer energy! From helping with front-of-house operations to production assistance, we welcome community members who want to roll up their sleeves and join us behind the scenes. Some of our most dedicated volunteers have been with us for years and have become an essential part of what makes MOXIE special.

At its heart, MOXIE is really about building a creative community and launching careers for women+ in theater. When you support us in any capacity, you’re helping to create opportunities that might not otherwise exist. And I think that’s something pretty special. www.moxietheatre.com