San Diego theatre community member for the last 25 years, Matt Graber, celebrated as Herbert Siguenza performs a one-night-only benefit performance to support Matt’s recovery after his traumatic brain injury.

Diversionary Theatre

4545 Park Blvd #101

San Diego, CA 92116

Diego Rivera: His Story is an evocative one-person theatrical play co-written by and starring Herbert Siguenza of the Chicano group Culture Clash. Set in the aftermath of Frida Kahlo's funeral, the performance follows the influential Mexican muralist in his studio as he grapples with grief and mortality. During the play, Rivera is visited by Cantinflas, a charismatic comic figure who serves as his Mexican consciousness. Through a compelling blend of visuals, music, and monologue, Rivera recounts his turbulent life, politics, and complex relationships. The piece was directed by Sam Woodhouse and co-written with Carlos Morton.

Diego Rivera: His Story staged in University of Gdansk in Poland on May 27, 2026

https://youtu.be/zKtK17M2e7c?si=zyabFfwOOdb7lcgn

Herbert Siguenza was recently the Playwright in Residence for the San Diego Repertory Theatre, thanks to a generous grant from the  Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Herbert is also a founding member of the performance group CULTURE CLASH. Along with Richard Montoya and Ric Salinas, Culture Clash is the most produced Chicano theater troupe in the United States. Founded in San Francisco in 1984, Culture Clash has performed on the stages of America’s top regional theaters including the Mark Taper Forum, The Kennedy Center, The Arena Stage, The Alley Theater, The Berkeley Repertory, Yale Repertory, South Coast Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Rep, and Syracuse Stage, The Huntington Stage and countless universities and colleges. Mr. Siguenza has co-written, and or performed in the following Culture Clash plays: Bordertown Now, American Night (Commissioned by Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Palestine New Mexico, Water and Power, Chavez Ravine (all three commissioned by the Mark Taper Forum) , Peace (Commissioned by The Getty Villa), Zorro in Hell! (Commissioned by the Berkeley Rep), The Birds (Commissioned by the Berkeley Rep and South Coast Rep), Bordertown (commissioned by the San Diego Rep), Radio Mambo, Nuyorican Stories, Anthems, S.O.S., A Bowl of Beings, The Mission, and others. As a solo writer and performer, Mr. Siguenza has written and produced Cantinflas!, A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, Steal Heaven, El Henry (Best new play San Diego Critics Circle Award 2014), Manifest Destinitis, Beachtown, Bad Hombres/Good Wives, A People’s Cuban Christmas Tale, It’s A Wonderful Vida, Star of Ocotillo and The Many Sins of Diego Rivera. Mr. Siguenza is also an accomplished visual artist and has exhibited both nationally and internationally. He has a BFA in printmaking from the California College of Arts, Oakland, California. TV and Film credits: Ben Ten Alien Swarm for the Cartoon Network, Larry Crowne feature film directed by Tom Hanks. His voice was prominently featured in Pixar’s 2017 Oscar winning animation feature, Coco.

Diego Rivera: HIS STORY

Written by Carlos Morton and Herbert Siguenza Directed by Sam Woodhouse

Diversionary Theatre December 12, 2026 8:00pm

*** Tickets On-Sale Now ***

SAN DIEGO, CA (October 31, 2026)— San Diego Theatre community member for the last 25 years, Matt Graber celebrated as Herbert Siguenza performs a one-night-only benefit performance to support Matt’s recovery after his traumatic brain injury. Diego Rivera: HIS STORY written by Carlos Morton and Herbert Siguenza, directed by Sam Woodhouse performs at Diversionary Theatre 4545 Park Boulevard #101, San Diego, California 92116 as a guest production. Tickets on-sale now at Diversionary.org

“It has been six months since I sustained a brain injury while getting rTMS treatment (repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)” says Matt Graber “many of you donated when my ex-wife Jodie launched my gofundme, back when we both assumed I would be out of the woods by summer. That did not happen. What did happen is that your money kept me housed and kept me in medical care through the worst stretch of my life. That is not a figure of speech. Without this campaign I would not be in my apartment, and I would not be getting treated. I cannot thank everyone, who has donated in big and small ways, enough.”

Diego Rivera: His Story is an evocative one-person theatrical play co-written by and starring Herbert Siguenza of the Chicano group Culture Clash. Set in the aftermath of Frida Kahlo’s funeral, the performance follows the influential Mexican muralislt in his studio as he grapples with grief and mortality. During the play, Rivera is visited by Cantinflas, a charismatic comic figure who serves as his Mexican consciousness. Through a compelling blend of visuals, music, and monologue, Rivera recounts his turbulent life, politics, and complex relationships.

“I have worked with Matt multiple times when he was the director of marketing at San Diego REP. When he told me what was going on with his health, I knew I wanted to do something to help. I suggested a benefit performance of my Diego Rivera piece. Unfortunately, in this case life imitates art. Matt and Frida Kahlo both deal with life-threatening injuries and the vicissitudes of life while trying to be true to themselves and just survive. I can’t help Frida or Diego Rivera, but I can help my friend and colleague get through his moment now. Thank you to everyone who has donated or will donate or buy a ticket and a special thanks to Diversionary theatre and (Managing Director) Jenny Case who got on board to provide the ticketing, website support, and the stage for the performance” – Herbert Siguenza

Diversionary Theatre is the third-oldest LGBTQIA+ theatre in the United States, providing quality live theatre that aims to amplify the diverse voices of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities while promoting social justice for marginalized groups. Diversionary Theatre is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID (EIN): 33-0240436. Explore our free arts education and community engagement programs. Diversionary Theatre would like to acknowledge that our theatre resides on the land of the Ipai-Tipai, also known as the Kumeyaay Nation. We pay respect to the many elders, and to the tribe of this land; past, present, and future. We acknowledge the waves of colonization that have oppressed these nations, and the treaties that were signed and then broken by the United States, specifically our local Treaty of Santa Ysabel.