Diversionary Theatre produces plays and musicals and develops new works that explore the issues, characters, and stories of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community in all its complexity and diversity. By exploring stories of what sets our culture and history apart, as well as stories that focus on LGBTQIA+ people’s humanity rather than their sexuality, we are in a unique position in which we can help bridge the gaps of cultural understanding.

Diversionary specializes in uncovering new work by emerging LGBTQIA+ writers, developing their work, and producing World, West Coast, and San Diego Premiere productions on our Mainstage that are subsequently produced on stages across the country and around the world.

Additionally, Diversionary offers a total of nine Arts Education programs serving the entire range of San Diego’s population from Elementary School students to Senior Citizens. All of our Arts Education programs are offered 100% free of charge for our community. Activities are integrated throughout Diversionary’s mainstage productions, providing stand-alone programming in our historic site in University Heights, and in classrooms at participating schools, serving thousands of young people and senior citizens across San Diego County.

Diversionary is proud of the reputation that we have established by producing quality Mainstage productions and hundreds of other arts events in our Clark Cabaret throughout the year, nurturing new works of LGBTQIA+ theatre, providing a home to some of San Diego’s most talented established and up-and-coming artists, regularly collaborating with local arts and LGBTQIA+ organizations, providing contextualization to and fostering conversations sparked by our productions, and involving the wider community in our mission.