June 24, 2024
GUAC — THE ONE-MAN SHOW FEATURING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION CHAMPION AND FATHER OF PARKLAND SHOOTING VICTIM JOAQUIN OLIVER TO PLAY IN SAN DIEGO FOR A LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
When you lose a son, what do you do?
San Diego, CA — June 24, 2024 — San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention and Change the Ref are proud to announce the upcoming production of “GUAC – The One-Man Show” in San Diego.
This 80-minute “searing” (New York Times) tour-de-force theatrical experience tells the story of a father, Manuel Oliver, turned activist; his undying love for his son, Joaquin Oliver; and how a uniquely American nightmare instead confronted an immigrant family’s search for the American Dream. GUAC is written and performed by Manuel Oliver, co-written by James Clements, and directed by Michael Cotey.
This compelling production will take the stage at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 2, 2024, at the Mandeville Auditorium, University of California San Diego, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Point Loma.
Manuel Oliver’s (writer/performer) 17-year-old son, Joaquin, was killed in 2018 by a mass shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. After the loss of his son, Manuel and his wife Patricia co-founded the non-profit advocacy group Change the Ref, which seeks to empower young leaders to end American gun violence. He is an artist, creative director, recognizable mentor for the advertising industry, global activist, and international speaker.
“It makes me feel very connected to my son,” said Manuel Oliver of GUAC in an interview with The New York Times. “I’m a father. I’m Joaquin’s dad. Fathers, that’s what we do. We sit around the table, and we talk about our kids. I want to feel that I also have that right. How am I using that right? Through theater. Through me, Joaquin utilizes the stage to address gun violence in America, breaking the silence surrounding this taboo topic.”
Joaquin’s mother, Patricia Oliver, adds, “Combining humor, activism, and artistic expressions, we’ve crafted a magical experience for others to meet Joaquin and his powerful way of loving and caring for the rest of us.”
Performance Dates and Times:
- August 2, 7 pm Guac performance at Mandeville Auditorium, 500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA
- August 3, 2 pm Guac performance at Westminster Theater at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3598 Talbot St. in Pt. Loma, San Diego, CA
Elected leaders attending and participating:
State Senator Catherine Blakespear is among the elected leaders attending the performance on August 2. County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer will attend the performance on Saturday, August 3. All will participate in a post-performance Q&A with the audience regarding their work toward ending gun violence.
Post-Performance Event:
August 4, 4-7 pm: A celebration of life for their son, Joaquin (nickname “Guac”), at the Grauer School, 1500 El Camino Real, Encinitas. This event is invitation-only. The press is welcome.
ABOUT THE PRODUCING PARTNERS
Change the Ref was formed to amplify and support youth efforts and movement building, shifting America’s social response to gun violence by uniting creativity, activism, disruption, and education. www.changetheref.org
ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence calls on teens to confront gun violence by creating new works of theatre that will spark critical conversations and inspire meaningful action in communities across the country. Its mission is to promote playwriting as a tool for self-expression and social change, harnessing this generation’s spirit of activism and providing a platform for America’s playwrights of tomorrow to discover and develop their voices today. Now in its third year, ENOUGH! has received nearly 600 short plays by teen writers, and more than 140 organizations have participated in ENOUGH!’s three Nationwide Readings. www.enoughplays.com
ABOUT SAN DIEGANS FOR GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Founded in 2018, SD4GVP, a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, is an all-volunteer coalition of citizens and organizations in the San Diego region and beyond, dedicated to ending gun violence in the U.S. SD4GVP accomplishes that through legislative advocacy, public education, and intervention strategies in high-risk communities. For more information, visit sd4gvp.org. Follow us on Facebook at SD4GVP, on X @GvpSd4, and on Instagram.
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