A San Diego Premiere
Voyeurs de Venus
by Lydia Diamond
directed by Delicia Turner Sonnenberg
Aug 12 – Sept 9, 2018
Opening Night: August 18, 2018
Thur @ 7:30pm,
Fri & Sat @8pm
& Sun @2pm
About the Play
They called her The Hottentot Venus, but she had a name. Based in part on the unbelievable true story of Saartje Baartman, an indigenous woman from southern Africa woman who was captured and displayed on the streets of 19th-century London and Paris. Fast forward to the turn of the millennium in Chicago. Pop-culture expert, Sara Washington, is offered the book deal of a lifetime if she’s willing to tell Saartjie’s story. As bizarre dreams and the ghost of Saartjie come to life, Sara is tempted by more than fame and fortune. A provocative, profound, and unapologetically funny tale race, class, and gender.
*Please note, this play contains partial nudity and mature content.
About the Playwright
Lydia Diamond’s award-winning plays include: Smart People, Stick Fly, Voyeurs de Venus, The Bluest Eye, The Gift Horse, Harriet Jacobs, The Inside, and Stage Black. Theatres include: Arena Stage, Cort Theatre (Broadway), Chicago Dramatists, Company One, Congo Square, Goodman Theatre, Hartford Stage, Huntington Theatre Company, Jubilee Theatre, Kansas City Repertory, Long Wharf, Lorraine Hansberry, McCarter, Theatre Mo’Olelo Performing Arts Co., MPAACT, New Vic Theatre, Playmakers Repertory, Plowshares Theatre Company, Second Stage Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company and TrueColors. Commissions include: Arena Stage, Steppenwolf (4), McCarter, Huntington, Center Stage, Victory Gardens and The Roundabout Theatre Company. A recipient of many playwriting awards, Lydia was also an 2005/06 W.E.B. Du Bois Institute non-resident Fellow, a 2007 TCG/NEA Playwright in Residence at Steppenwolf Theatre, a 2006/07 Huntington Playwright Fellow, a 2012 Sundance Institute Playwright Lab Creative Advisor, is a Board Member with Chicago Dramatists and a 2012/13 Radcliffe Institute Fellow. Lydia is a graduate of Northwestern University (Class of 1991), has an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Pine Manor College and was 2013/14 Playwright in Residence at Arena Stage. Lydia is on faculty at the University of Illinois at Chicago where she teaches playwriting.
Special Performance Dates:
Friday, August 12, 2018 @ 2:00pm – Post-Show Talkback with Adisa A. Alkebulan, PhD & T. Ford, JD, MS
Enrich your theatre-going experience by joining MOXIE for a post-show discussion to learn more about the play with SDSU’s Professor Adisa A. Alkebulan and Grossmont College Professor T. Ford.
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Friday, August 17, 2018 @ 7:30pm – Brigade Night: Voyeurs de Venus
Join MOXIE and The Bechdel Brigade for our lesbian outreach event featuring a pre-show discussion with a special guest and catered libations from Bash! Boutique. Learn more about The Bechdel Brigade.
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Saturday, August 18, 2018 @ 8pm – Opening Night: Voyeurs de Venus
Join MOXIE for the Opening Night performance. Afterward, attend a post-show party to celebrate with the cast, enjoy libations catered by Garden Kitchen, and mingle with MOXIE VIPs.
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Sunday, August 26, 2018 @ 2pm – Second Sunday Q & A
Join the actors from Voyeurs de Venus for a post-show discussion to learn more about the play and enrich your theatre-going experience.
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Thursday, August 30, 2018 @ 7:30pm – Post-Show Talkback with Sara Clarke, PhD
Enrich your theatre-going experience and join MOXIE and UCSD Associate Professor in Ethnic and Critical Gender Studies, Dr. Sara Clarke, for a post-show talkback discussing the historical context for the Saartjie Baartman story.
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Sunday, September 2, 2018 @ 2pm – Post-Show Talkback with Sylvie Ngilla McGraw, PhD
Enrich your theatre-going experience and join MOXIE for a post-show discussion to learn more about the play with Dr. Sylvie Ngilla McGraw a USD Professor and an expert in cultural identities, gender, African diasporas, and globalization.
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Saturday, September 8, 2018 @ 8pm – Post-Show Talkback with Starla Lewis, Professor Emerita
Enrich your theatre-going experience and join MOXIE for a post-show discussion grappling with female body image, self-esteem, healing, and transcending racism and sexism in our modern world.
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Ticket Pricing:
Previews | $18-23 (Aug 12, 16, 17)
Opening Night | $35-43 (Aug 18)
General Admission | $28-38 (Aug 19-Sept 9)
*Please note there is a $3 handling fee.
Group Rates and Discounts:
Groups of 10 or more | 25% Off
Groups of 15 or more | 35% Off
Location: MOXIE Theatre
6663 El Cajon Blvd Suite N
San Diego CA 92115
PLENTY OF FREE PARKING!
Make a Dinner Reservation
MOXIE recommends Garden Kitchen. Make your reservation online or by calling 619-431-5755. *Please note, Garden Kitchen is closed Sundays, and from 8/26- 9/4.
MOXIE Theatre Thanks the Following Sponsors
