Celebrating 40 Years of Revolutionary Love: Diversionary Theatre Unveils Bold 2025-2026 Season
By Cesar A Reyes
San Diego’s Diversionary Theatre, the nation’s third-oldest LGBTQIA+ theater, proudly announces its milestone 40th Anniversary Season for 2025–2026 — a yearlong celebration honoring four decades of fearless, inclusive, and groundbreaking storytelling. With four bold productions — including two world premieres and two musicals — this historic season promises to be a transformative artistic journey that looks back on the theatre’s legacy while forging an inspired path forward.
Founded in 1986 as a safe space for queer storytelling at the height of the AIDS crisis, Diversionary Theatre has evolved into a nationally recognized leader in LGBTQIA+ arts. Its 40th season, themed “Love as Revolution,” is both a tribute to that legacy and a rallying cry for the future. It marks the inaugural programming season of Sherri Eden Barber, Diversionary’s first female Artistic Director, whose fresh vision and deep connection to queer narratives are energizing a new era for the organization.
“It is a profound honor to step into this role and to have my first programming season align with our landmark 40th anniversary,” says Barber. “This season is about acknowledging where we came from, embracing where we are, and boldly imagining where we’re going. With two world premieres and two musicals, the lineup reflects our core values — audacity, joy, and truth.”
The season opens in September 2025 with the World Premiere ofManifest Pussy, written and performed by the dynamic Shakina and directed by Barber herself. A fierce and unapologetic exploration of self-love and identity, this one-person show kicks off the season with raw authenticity and revolutionary heart. It’s followed in November by the San Diego premiere of JC Lee’sTo My Girls, directed by Jesse Marchese, a vibrant comedy that pays tribute to chosen family and the modern queer experience, set during a friends’ reunion in Palm Springs.
In February 2026, Diversionary debuts the World Premiere ofStraddle by Harrison David Rivers, co-conceived with Barber, featuring music by Nini Camps. A bold, genre-defying piece that explores love, sex, and intimacy in queer life, Straddle promises to push boundaries and spark dialogue. The season concludes in May 2026 with a daring, immersive production of Jonathan Larson’s iconic musicalRENT. Promising an experience “like audiences have never experienced it,” Diversionary will reimagine RENT through a multi-space, participatory lens that highlights the enduring relevance of its themes: survival, community, and love in the face of adversity.
“As we prepare to celebrate Diversionary Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Season, we are also celebrating Sherri Eden Barber’s inaugural season as Artistic Director,” says Executive Director Jenny Case. “This milestone marks both a celebration of our rich history and the beginning of an inspiring new chapter. Sherri brings a dynamic artistic vision and a deep commitment to LGBTQIA+ storytelling that will honor our legacy while boldly shaping our future.”
Throughout the season, Diversionary will also activate its vibrant Austin & Joann Clark Cabaret — a bar and performance lounge opened in 2021 — as a community gathering space. The venue includes a historical exhibit curated in partnership with LAMBDA Archives of San Diego, honoring the cultural legacy of the LGBTQIA+ movement and spaces like the “Gay Bar” that became havens for identity, activism, and joy.
Subscription packages for the 2025–2026 season are now available starting at just $77, with early bird pricing through June 1, 2025. Discounts are available for seniors, students, educators, and military.
As Diversionary Theatre enters its fifth decade, the message is clear: love — in all its revolutionary forms — remains at the heart of everything it does. With fearless new work, reimagined classics, and a renewed commitment to amplifying queer voices, this landmark season is not just a celebration — it’s a movement.