Diversionary Theatre announced today that Matt M. Morrow is stepping down as Executive Artistic Director after an eight-year tenure leading the third-oldest LGTBQIA+ theatre in the United States, increasing its operating budget by nearly one-hundred and fifty percent, and advancing its artistic legacy, to become Artistic Director of Center Repertory Company, the resident professional theatre company of the city of Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts. Joining the artistic leadership team of Lesher Center for the Arts, Morrow will help develop and guide the Center REP’s theatrical productions while contributing to its larger strategic initiatives building upon the company’s successful more than 50 year history.  Jenny Case, Morrow’s longtime collaborator in her role of Managing Director of Diversionary Theatre, has been promoted to Executive Director and will work in partnership with Diversionary’s Board of Trustees to oversee the success of Diversionary’s upcoming 2023/2024 Season and the search for Diversionary’s next Artistic Director.

Diversionary Theatre is the nation’s third-oldest LGTBQIA+ theatre dedicated to amplifying queer voices through the performing arts in a dynamic, inclusive, and provocative environment that celebrates and preserves their unique culture, while contributing to an environment of diversity and inclusion throughout the broader community.  Morrow will leave his role at Diversionary Theatre at the end of June, 2023. 

“Over the last 8 years, Matt Morrow’s talent and profound leadership has navigated Diversionary into being the strong and beloved theatre it is today.  We are grateful for his unwavering dedication to the artists, audiences, as well as the LGTBQIA+ community.  Though we will miss having his vision and passion here in San Diego, we know that his expertise and leadership will be meaningful and create transformative experiences for the Center REP audiences,” says Jenny Case, current Managing Director of Diversionary Theatre, scheduled to take on the role of Executive Director at the end of June.

Diversionary’s 38th season is scheduled to be announced this month, and will kick-off this fall and run through the summer of 2024.  The 2023/2024 season is centered around the theme of “Liberation,” exploring the idea of personal freedom and how it evolves the way we view the world around us in delightful and innovative new ways.

“While the Diversionary board and staff are sorry to see Matt move on, we are grateful for the eight transformative years that he poured his soul into our theatre.  Matt has elevated the content and quality of our productions and venue to heights that we barely imagined possible.  Now we’re one of the largest LGBTQIA+ theatres in the nation,” said Russ Sperling, President of the Board of Trustees.  “We are thrilled to promote Jenny Case to Executive Director to lead Diversionary Theatre—one of very few female executive leaders of an American theatre.  Jenny’s lifelong career in theatre has more than prepared her to take over Diversionary and the board is confident and excited for her leadership and vision.”

Under Morrow’s artistic leadership, Diversionary’s productions were nominated for 35 Craig Noel Awards. Diversionary has won the Craig Noel Award for Best New Play twice for the groundbreaking world premiere productions of Ballast and The Hour of Great Mercy. Recent work has received coverage by the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times. The San Diego Union-Tribune coined Diversionary as “The People’s Stage” for artistic quality and a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Notable productions Morrow has directed and/or produced with Diversionary include the 20th Anniversary production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Winner, 2019 Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, SDCC Award), Miranda Rose Hall’s The Hour of Great Mercy (Winner, 2019 Best New Play, SDCC Award), the world premiere of Gordon Leary and Julia Meinwald’s musical The Loneliest Girl in the World, Georgette Kelly’s Ballast (Winner, 2017 Best New Play, SDCC Award), and Justin Huertas’ Lizard Boy The Musical (Winner, Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical, Off-Broadway transfer Summer 2023). Morrow was honored with the inaugural Larry T. Baza Arts & Culture Award from San Diego Pride, and was a Creative Catalyst Fellow with The San Diego Foundation and La Jolla Playhouse.

As Executive Artistic Director, Morrow increased Diversionary’s operating budget by nearly one-hundred and fifty percent.  In 2021, Diversionary successfully completed its $2.7 million Securing Our Future campaign and subsequent renovation of its entire facility. This campaign also incorporated safety and security measures to address COVID-19 and paid off its $500,000 mortgage, rendering Diversionary’s beloved theatre debt-free.  Diversionary’s facility reopened in 2021 and features a renovated mainstage, a New Play Development Center, and a new Cabaret space open to the public five nights a week.  Since the reopening, Diversionary has produced hundreds of stand-alone performances and events in the Clark Cabaret.

Under Morrow’s initiative, Skyler Sullivan, Diversionary’s Director of Education, has developed nine Arts Education programs serving the entire range of San Diego’s population, from students in elementary school to senior citizens, and all are offered completely free of charge. Education activities are offered alongside Diversionary’s mainstage productions, providing stand-alone programming at Diversionary’s facility in University Heights, and in classrooms at participating schools, serving thousands annually.  The education programs were developed with the goal of building a more compassionate and understanding community through Diversionary’s LGBTQIA+ mission, as well as instilling an appetite for arts and culture in San Diego’s youth, providing support for young people searching for identification around their sexual and gender identity, as well as broadening the understanding around LGBTQIA+ issues for those who identify as heteronormative

“Leading this historic company has been without a doubt the most profound experience of my life as an artist and arts leader. To look back and see how much we’ve accomplished together over 8+ years is truly humbling, and I will forever be grateful to the artists and arts lovers of this incredibly generous community,” said Matt. M. Morrow, Executive Artistic Director.  “Beyond the courageous productions and beautiful new building and Cabaret, I’m especially proud of the progressive Arts Education programs my amazing husband, Skyler Sullivan, has shepherded and grown along the way serving thousands of LGBTQIA+ young people and elders across SoCal. While it’s hard to say goodbye, I know in my heart that this is the right time to pass off the leadership to fresh eyes to continue the pioneering spirit that is Diversionary’s trademark. The organization has never been stronger or more robust in terms of its financial health, as well as its board and staff leadership in Russ Sperling and Jenny Case respectively. I cannot wait to see what’s in store for Diversionary’s next chapter! I will never be too far away, as I will always consider Diversionary home.”

Diversionary Theatre is assembling a Search Committee to find a new Artistic Director and ensure a smooth transition.  More details will be announced in the coming months.