theatre spotlight
by tom andrew
EIGHTY-SIXED UNEARTHING AN EPIDEMIC THAT SHOOK THE WORLD TO REVEAL A COMMUNITY’S FEROCIOUS FIGHT TO RECLAIM ITS FUTURE
photography by simpatika
Diversionary Theatre will present the world premiere of the original musical EIGHTY-SIXED based on the novel of that title. The two-part novel, written by David B. Feinberg, was published in 1989. The musical, like the book, takes place between 1980 and 1986 during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Performances will run Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, June 12 at the Diversionary, 4545 Park Blvd. in San Diego. The musical is written by Jeremy J. King with music and lyrics by Sam Salmond and directed by Kevin Newbury and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly. It’s quite the distinguished artistic team with work including film, television, theatre and opera. Newbury has been involved with the creation of EIGHTY-SIXED for seven-plus years along with Preston Sadleir, who plays the central character of B.J. who goes through a gay world without AIDS to a world with it where he loses a number of his friends.
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www.rage.lgbt | MAY 2022
