Diversionary Theatre expands staff as Matt Morrow departs

Matt Morrow has been the key figure in bringing Diversionary Theatre to the next level. Since they were hired as Executive Artistic Director eight years ago, the theater’s budget increased by 150%, permanent staff nearly tripled in size, and the University Heights facility underwent a $2.7 million renovation all while its productions were nominated for 35 Craig Noel Awards. Unlike many artistic types, Morrow was a uniquely excellent fundraiser and manager for the theater while simultaneously improving the quality of productions.

“As a longtime subscriber to Diversionary, it was very apparent when Matt came on board because we saw really an elevation of quality and then his selection of the shows was so inspiring,” said Diversionary board president Russ Sperling.

With its mortgage paid off and new education programs established, Morrow’s departure to Bay Area theater Center Repertory Company comes as Diversionary Theatre is both healthy and stable. His work to cement Diversionary’s legacy as the nation’s third-oldest LGBT+ theater means the theater will likely continue to thrive even after his tenure at the helm ends.

“We have grown into a strong and very beloved theater,” said new Executive Director Jenny Case, Morrow’s longtime collaborator.

Restructuring leadership

Morrow hired Case from La Jolla Playhouse two years into his tenure, bringing the full-time staff up to five people.

“We always like to think that we operate as partners, sort of similar to the two-leadership model of artistic and administrative. We just have the benefit of him being a wonderful fundraiser on top of being an artistic leader,” Case said.

In acknowledgement of the difficulty filling Morrow’s role and the theater’s growth, the board is splitting the role of Executive Artistic Director into Executive Director, in charge of the day-to-day running of the company, and an Artistic Director to bring forth the theater’s artistic vision. The pair will co-lead and report to the board. The two roles partnering is modeled in many other theaters, including La Jolla Playhouse and Cygnet Theatre.

“We want a fabulous theater artist with a strong vision for LGBTQIA theater that will continue to lead us in the trajectory that Matt Morrow has taken us,” said board president Sperling.

Managing Director Jenny Case has been promoted to Executive Director while the board has tapped a search committee to find a new Artistic Director, ideally by 2024. In the mean time, an interim artistic director is being considered who would report to Case.

“There has been a sense that we wanted to to really elevate [Case] anyway because of the outstanding work that she has done. This was a moment to put her in in one of the driver’s seats,” said Sperling. “Jenny is going to be so critical, not only for the future, but so critical in this transition and we really have strong belief in her ability.”

Upcoming season

Morrow already chose the plays for the theater’s fall and spring season so the search process will not be rushed. The interim artistic director will be in charge of bringing the play selections to the stage.

“People can feel assured that we’re going to have just as strong an artistic vision moving forward,” Case said. “We have a wonderful, very engaged board and they are champions of this theater… Together with them and the search committee, we’re going to find a wonderful artistic leader.”

In the final season Morrow curated, the theme is “Liberation” with plays about the struggles for personal freedom, happy endings and revolution. As has been her past emphasis, the productions will bring a racially and gender diverse cast to the stage.

“Next season at Diversionary is all about breaking free from what holds us back to find a brighter, more loving and inclusive future. I’m especially excited to welcome some new artists into the Diversionary family and expand our growing, powerful network of queer artists working across the country today, while bringing back local favorites to continue to build on our pioneering legacy,” said Morrow in a statement.

Iconic gay playwright Tennessee William’s classic “Glass Menagerie” is being revived by director Lisa Berger with award-winning local actor Shana Wride playing Amanda Wingfield for the November and December mainstage run. The two other mainstage productions are a San Diego premiere of “Dragon Mama” directed by Andrew Russell in September/October 2023 and the world premiere of musical “TL;DR: Thelma Louise; Dyke Remix” directed by Sherri Eden Barber in May/June 2024.

In addition, May and June of 2024 will bring the west coast premiere of Puerto Rican drag comedy “Notes on Killing Seven Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Board Members” – a co-production with Moxie Theatre.

Staff changes

Morrow is married to Diversionary’s Director of Education, Skyler Sullivan, so there is a double loss for the institution as the couple moves north. Case is excited with incoming staff though, saying their skills and background will benefit the theater’s education and community outreach programs. Some of those titles are being retooled to reflect their skills, such as the new Director of Development adding an education emphasis as well as being named the Resident Dramaturge, although the names of the new staff members, which also includes an Artistic Producer and Director of Arts Education and Outreach, are yet to be released publicly.

“We have this moment to engage the breadth of their education and their knowledge and their expertise [to create] a theater that is… intersecting with the community and supportive of the community in a way that we strive to all of the time, but now we’ll have a lot of muscle behind that connection,” Case said.

The remodeled theater includes Clark Cabaret, which lets the community come to the facility five nights a week for a show instead of just during the handful of mainstage productions per year. Education programs bring in youth and seniors to the theater as well as sending staff to classrooms across the region for special arts education.

“We have the strongest staff coming on board that we’ve ever had. Together we will accomplish those visions and then we will look for the next leader,” Case said.