FEBRUARY 22 – MARCH 16, 2024
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE by Paula Vogel
Previews February 22 – March 1
Opening Night March 2
Winner of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
Directed by Anthony Methvin
Featuring Megan Carmitchel and Francis Gercke
William Huffaker, Karson St. John, and Emilee Zuniga
Sometimes to tell a secret, you first have to teach a lesson.
In 1997, Vogel’s groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize-winning, How I Learned to Drive crashed through barriers and taboos. Vogel’s gift for humor and unflinching honesty make Drive a poignant funny, and surprisingly forgiving story. Recently revived on Broadway, Drive continues to resonate 25 years after its debut daring audiences, “look at the thing that people tell you to keep hidden — and describe it as it really is.”
All performances at Tenth Avenue Arts Center (930 Tenth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101)
Where the 163 South turns into Tenth Avenue.
Street side metered parking** and parking lots available.
**Parking meters free after 6pm and on Sundays.
March 2 – MARCH 25, 2023
GOD OF CARNAGE by Yasmina Reza
translated by Christopher Hampton
Previews March 2 – 10
Opening Night March 11
Winner of the 2009 Laurence Olivier Award and Tony Award for Best Comedy
Directed by Rob Lutfy
Featuring Keiko Green, Jessica John, MJ Sieber, & Francis Gercke
A blistering comedy of bad manners.
All performances at Tenth Avenue Arts Center (930 Tenth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101)
Where the 163 South turns into Tenth Avenue.
Street side metered parking** and parking lots available.
**Parking meters free after 6pm and on Sundays.
June 6 – June 7, 2020
Backyard Renaissance Presents…
Richard Greenberg’s
THE DAZZLE
AN ON-LINE ARTISTIC COLLABORATION including…
Actors Francis Gercke, Jessica John, and Tom Zohar
Director Rosina Reynolds
Project Manager Anna Younce
Lighting Designer Joel Britt
Set Designer Tony Cucuzzella
Costume Designer Jeanne Reith
Sound Designer Matt Lescault-Wood
Captured live on stage by Stand Up 8 Productions
Streaming On-Line:
Saturday June 6 – Sunday June 7
with gratitude to Dramatists Play Service
The Dazzle – An On-Line Artistic Collaboration All rehearsal and production meetings will be done via ZOOM and all design element setup and drop-off will be done in solo day shifts so that each individual artist is provided a safe theatre space in which to create. A socially distanced performance reading will be filmed through a three-camera set-up with actors placed a minimum of 9 feet apart and streamed on-line June 6th and 7th with gratitude to Dramatists Play Service.
In their Harlem mansion, during the early years of the 20th century, the Collyer brothers enjoy an eccentric lifestyle. Langley is a concert pianist by profession but prefers to indulge his study and collection of the world’s minutiae. His older brother, Homer, a former admiralty lawyer and an aspiring schemer, manages the household and dreams of wilder times. As if an answer to a prayer, the beautiful socialite Milly inserts herself into the Collyer menage, bringing with her the lure of societal intrigue, designs on Langley, and the promise of a family fortune.
Backyard Renaissance has been seeking a way to present a theatrical experience that maintains social distancing and still meets the expectation of a magical theatrical experience. This time away from the stage has shown how much the designers are an imperative part of the process. Without them, an essential piece of the artistry is lost. We know we can’t give theatre audiences the real theatre experience for some time. So we’re excited to be working with some amazing people who want to find a different way, keep audiences safe, and tell a compelling and beautiful story.
Performance dates: Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7
TARRYTOWN
by Adam Wachter
Streaming On-Line: June 26 – 28, 2020
An encore performance of San Diego Critic Circle’s 2017 Best New Musical featuring…
Actors Bryan Banville, Kay Marian McNellen, and Tom Zohar
Direction by Francis Gercke and Anthony Methvin
Music Direction by Steven Withers,
Stage Manager – Taylor Todd
Set Design by Kristen Flores
Lighting Design by Curtis Mueller
Choreography by Katie Whalley Banville
Costume Design by Jessica John,
Property Design by Bonnie Durben
Captured live on stage by Stand Up 8 Productions
Streaming On-Line: June 26th – 28th, 2020 with gratitude to the writer/composer/lyricist Adam Wachter and dedicated to the production’s Music Director Steven Withers who passed away recently and unexpectedly.
Backyard Renaissance offers theatre-lovers a chance to rediscover its 2017 San Diego Critic’s Circle Best New Musical production of Tarrytown. The World Premiere Musical originally presented in Backyard Renaissance’s second season, delighted audiences both for its modern musical interpretation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, as well as its inspired performances within Diversionary’s tiny Black Box Theatre. Starring Tom Zohar, Bryan Banville and Kay McNellen, Tarrytown reimagines Ichabod Crane as a modern day gay music teacher running away from his past. Settling into an idyllic neighborhood in Tarrytown, Ichabod not only gets a fresh start with a new school, but secures a BFF in an optimistic but sheltered dreamer who is secretary there. When Ichabod meets his new friend’s husband the unlikely trio tests friendships, loyalties and jealousies in ways none of them expected.
Just this month, Adam Wachter completed the professional cast recording of Tarrytown and has dedicated all proceeds on purchase of the recording to The Actors Fund to support their work helping the creative community during the COVID-19 pandemic. A link will be available to purchase this recording when viewing Backyard Renaissance’s 2017 production of the musical.
Performance dates: June 26th through June 28th
CLOSED DECEMBER 7, 2019
November 14 — December 7, 2019
Tenth Avenue Arts at 930 Tenth Avenue. Where the 163 turns into Tenth Avenue.
American Buffalo
by David Mamet
Directed by Rosina Reynolds
Featuring Richard Baird, Marcel Ferrin & Francis Gercke
Winner of the 1977 New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best American Play and adapted into a film in 1996, American Buffalo is a funny, gritty glimpse into the dark underbelly of coin collecting and pawn shop politics and asks the question: What would you do for a nickel? This exploration of greed, strained loyalties, and busted American dreams is an early celebrated work by the writer of Glengarry Glen Ross, The Untouchables, and Wag The Dog.
All performances at Tenth Avenue Arts located at 930 Tenth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101 — Take the 163 into downtown San Diego until it turns into Tenth Avenue and the theatre is on your right! Three parking lots and street parking is available.
Performance dates: November 14th through December 7th (Thursdays through Sundays)
Previews Thursday, November 14th and Friday, November 15th
Press Opening Saturday, November 16th and a special Industry Night Performance on Monday, December 2nd.
