Patricia Loughrey was commissioned by Diversionary Theatre to create a tribute to Harvey Milk on the 30th anniversary of his assassination. Dear Harvey: Stories of Harvey Milk, opened April 19th, 2009. On December 6th, 2009, the script for Dear Harvey was entered into the Harvey Milk portion of the California Museum Hall of Fame. The show received developmental support at the William Inge Center for the Arts and has received over thirty productions nationwide.
Ms. Loughrey wrote the book for the musical The Daddy Machine which was featured entertainment on Rosie O’Donnell’s R Family Cruise to the Mexican Riviera in March 2008. The Daddy Machine -commissioned and produced by Diversionary Theatre- is a family-friendly musical based on the book by Johnny Valentine, published by Alyson Books.
Her full length play: Lord Derby’s Giant Eland placed second in the Kennedy Center, ACTF Mark Twain Comedy Playwriting Awards, and was produced at San Diego State University in 2005.
Her plays for young audiences include: Nicaragua USA, at the New Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, and Not Who You See, But Who I Am, with the Mark Taper Forum’s Improvisational Theatre Project.
Her HIV education plays include Secrets, produced by Kaiser Permanente (winner of the Ryan White Award) and The Inner Circle, seen worldwide in over 500 productions. HUNGRY, commissioned by the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solana has toured in the Bay Area.
Ms. Loughrey was playwright-in-residence the William Inge Center for the Arts, and at Point Loma High School. She wrote and performed one-woman shows in Santa Barbara and San Francisco. She has taught playwriting at San Diego State University, Diversionary Theatre, and Independence Community College.
Previously, Patricia coordinated the Queer Theatre – Taking Center Stage program at San Diego’s Diversionary Theatre. She currently teaches playwriting at CSU Long Beach.
Ms. Loughrey is a member of The Dramatists Guild.
Dan Kirsch and Patricia Loughrey
Patricia Loughrey and Dan Kirsch, Executive Director of Diversionary Theatre at the dedication of the Harvey Milk Memorial Administration Building, Treasure Island, San Francisco.
Patricia with the Diversionary Theatre cast of The Daddy Machine.
Harvey Milk and Patricia Loughrey.
Stuart Milk, Patricia and Diversionary Theatre Artistic Director Dan Kirsch.