urban excavations

Diversion
Featuring Tricia Alexandro, West Duchovny, Colleen Clinton
The Barrow Group
November 20, 2025 – January 11, 2026 [extension]
production site

Barrow Group often produces in a tiny proscenium space in a multi-theater rental building on 36th Street and now offers in Diversion a crisply staged new play in a black box in a sleek office building, with several rows of chairs facing a convincingly outfitted ICU break room. After-effects of the pandemic (hard service choices, talk of limited respirators and life-and-death decision) linger among medical professionals who survived that global crisis only to confront another quietly brewing in their midst: opioid addiction and the ends to which its suffers will go to fulfill their needs. Stories of patients who suffer from this fill the air — a strung out mom in a parking lot with small children in car seats with her, all helpless meets an ongoing mystery who done it: who is making off with opioids from the hospital’s well monitored stock. The answers in this story are closer to home, both haunting and surprising, and underscore the pervasiveness of the social issue.

Make no mistake, Diversion is not a soap opera or a twisty procedural but instead, as written by Barrow Street house playwright Scott Organ and sensitively directed by Seth Barrish, a quiet social issue play peopled with characters you grow to love in the plays quickly paced run time, that breaks your heart.

Following classical dramatic structure, this play takes place in real time in the break room’s single setting, where snacks are dispersed, gossip is shared, and ultimately some mysteries are solved. The first conundrum is: who is responsible for the missing drugs? Diversion, the unlawful transfer or use of legally prescribed controlled substances away from their intended medical purpose for sale or use is our theme.

Bess (Thais Bass-Moore) carries her authority easily, and wants this problem to go away quickly. Emilia (Tricia Alexandro) has her own emotional scars and is holding a series of her own secrets. Mandy (West Duchovny, the real find in this production) is a new hire learning the ropes, and seeking the approval of the more senior staff. Amy (Deanna Lanhart) is a long term employee, loyal to some, yet ready to report on anyone not her friend. Mike (Connor Wilson) is a clear-eyed observer of office politics. And the assured Josephine (Colleen Clinton) is an imported ringer, a consultant investigator, a former nurse, assigned to help locate the source of the diversion, through review of the medical supplies, and tracking the flow of drugs withdrawn and used.

We have seen versions of this bare plotline of highly educated medical professionals utilizing their proximity to powerful drug stores for their own use and abuse on multi-part procedurals (Nurse Jackie and the more recent The Pitt come to mind). This taut new play takes the idea and masterfully holds a rapt in-person theater audience in thrall with morphing allegiances, potential moves to sacrifice one staff member for the good the the team, in the context of the epidemic of opioid addition. We don’t feel these characters are isolated in their challenges, yet we’re held, with bated breath, awaiting revelations in this particular story. the universal if felt through these particulars.

Seth Parrish directs with naturalist grace, building a world in moments of character traits. And the production team supports the ensemble and the director with a photorealistic set by Edward T. Morris, detailed lighting by Solomon Weisbard, costumes by Gina Ruiz (including a boffo dress Josephine wears one night when called in from a planned New Years Eve event), and sound design by Geoff Grimwald and music by director Barrish that set us in a theatrically realistic hospital with beeps and scurrying activity happening through the break room door.

Come for the mystery reveal. Stay for the delightfully nuanced storytelling in the expert hands of this ensemble of actors. The social costs of opioid misuse are devastating, and presented in a piece of theater like Diversion are unforgettable.

© Martha Wade Steketee (December 4, 2025)

Playwright | Scott Organ
Director | Seth Barrish
Set Design | Edward T. Morris
Costume Design | Gina Ruiz
Lighting Design | Solomon Weisbard
Sound Design| Geoff Grimwald
Music | Seth Barrish