DIVERSIONARY THEATRE UNVEILS PLAN FOR MAJOR REVAMP

Fundraising effort to help with LGBTQ theater upgrades

Diversionary Theatre will mark its 35th season this year with plans to remodel its aging two-story theater building in University Heights.

On Saturday, Diversionary officials announced a $2.5 million fundraising campaign that will not only pay off the mortgage on its property at 4545 Park Blvd. but will also provide longoverdue upgrades. Founded in 1986, Diversionary is the nation’s third-oldest theater for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Even though the pandemic has shut down live performances at Diversionary since last March, company leaders say they were pleased with the enthusiasm of donors who have already helped the company raise 85 percent of its $2.5 million goal for the project. Construction is under way and should be complete by June.

Scott Williford, president of Diversionary’s board of trustees, said the company never expected the headwinds it has encountered in the past year, but the community “has rallied behind us like never before.”

The renovation will include equipment upgrades and a room for the arts education department, which will continue to expand its free programming in 2021.

Matt Morrow, Diversionary’s executive artistic director, said he’s especially excited about the addition of the third performance venue, Ye Olde Gay Bar, which will be a cabaret piano bar and lounge that will feature one-night-only and shortrun entertainment. The piano bar, with a small stage, lighting, sound equipment and a grand piano, will be part of the lobby expansion, which also includes a new box office.

The black box theater upstairs is also being expanded to include an actor dressing room and stage entrance as well as new sound and lighting equipment. The mainstage theater is also being expanded with three more feet of stage space, more room between seats and new technical equipment. The mainstage will also have a performers bathroom for the first time.

Among the improvements now under way:

• A new education center room for arts education and storage of the Lambda Archives

• A remodeling of the building’s exterior facade, lighting and production equipment

• An updated lobby with box office and piano bar

• A new staircase to replace the aging stairs to the second-floor mainstage theater

• Upgrades to the scenic shop and sound, lighting and production equipment

• Expansion of the mainstage theater

• Black box theater remodel

Jenny Case, Diversionary’s managing director, said the campaign is also raising money for a number of features that will improve customer safety and confidence in the POST-COVID era. These include:

• Renovated restrooms with touchless facilities

• A new restroom for performers

• Improved compliance and accessibility for patrons and artists with disabilities

• A retractable security gate

• Video security surveillance

• Touchless entryways • Increased seating space

• Optimized air circulation with a MERV 13 filtration and bipolar ionization system

• Easier-to-clean hygienic surfaces

• Antimicrobial materials

For details, visit diversionary.org.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com

SAFDIE RABINES ARCHITECTS A rendering of the new lobby area, which would include a cabaret piano bar and lounge, planned for Diversionary Theatre in University Heights.