Photo Flash: San Diego Rep Presents LIZARD BOY

Three best friends from Washington got together and decided to make a musical. The rest is history - or at least it will be when the cast of LIZARD BOY makes their San Diego debut at Diversionary Theatre this September. Kirsten Delohr Helland, Justin Huertasand William A. Williams make up the entire cast and band of LIZARD BOY, a fantastical comic-book rock concert-slash-theatrical explosion. Director Brandon Ivie originally staged the show at Seattle Repertory, and will return to stage it fresh for Diversionary.

LIZARD BOY follows an unlikely hero in Trevor (Huertas), who hasn't left his house in a year. After being disfigured in a freak accident as a child (A playground, kids, dragon blood... it was messy) he's too uncomfortable with the way he looks to go out in public. But the night we meet Trevor he is motivated to take a chance: using Grindr as a lifeline he ends up meeting a cute stranger named Cary (William A. Williams) who does his best to get the shy guy to open up.

Weird doesn't begin to describe the kind of night Trevor embarks upon, where he must confront a stranger from his dreams (Siren, played by Kirsten Delohr Helland) and is challenged to transform from Freak to Hero. The show illuminates a fantastical comic book world where individuality is celebrated to the tune of a wild assortment of instruments from kazoos to cellos and guitars to ukuleles.

Although Huertas is solely credited with the book and lyrics for LIZARD BOY the entire team insists this is a collaborative piece. "We're best friends," says Huertas. Kirsten Delohr Helland agrees:

"All we ever want to talk about is Lizard Boy and what's next or what we could try the next time around. We all spend way too much time together. Justin and I have a band together and we perform often in Seattle. When Bill is in town he absolutely joins us. The three of us call ourselves The Lizards. Our happiest place is playing music together."

Originally the show was commissioned by late Artistic Director Jerry Manning of Seattle Repertory Theatre as a one man piece about Huertas' travels while touring with SPRING AWAKENING. While working together, Manning and Huertas learned that they were both huge comic book nerds - and the Lizard started to take shape. Add some more nerds into the collaborative mix, a few years of creative genesis, and LIZARD BOY was born as a World Premiere Musical in Seattle Repertory's 2014-15 Season. Diversionary's Executive Artistic Director Matt M. Morrow has been tracking the show since it's World Premiere was announced and is eager to introduce it to San Diego audiences:

"There is nothing quite like LIZARD BOY. It boldly defies definition in glorious, adventurous and fun ways. Huertas' singular theatrical voice heralds an exciting new beginning for the American musical. I'm thrilled Diversionary will be home to LIZARD BOY's second production! It is sure to give our audience a wild and raucous ride into our 31st Season."

When asked why audiences should choose LIZARD BOY over another San Diego show, the team all insist on the show's funky uniqueness. "You've literally never seen anything like it," says Director Brandon Ivie - "...it's very hard to classify." Playwright Huertas describes the show as "A coming of age quirky romantic comedy comic book superhero adventure folk rock concert with sick vocal harmonies," and deLohr Helland is confident that audiences will fall for this unique show - "You will laugh, cry, hum along, and gasp. I guarantee you will have a fantastic time."

LIZARD BOY plays September 29th - October 30th on the Diversionary Theatre Mainstage. Performances run Thursdays at 7pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. More information is available at www.diversionary.org/lizardboy

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