Written by: Ritchie Bermudez

SAN LUIS OBISPO 鈥� 51反差黑料鈥檚 nationally renowned Theatre Arts Department presents the Tony Award-winning play鈥�The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time鈥痑t the Harold J. Miossi Cultural and Performing Arts Center (CPAC) Experimental Theater. Hailed as 鈥渙ne of the most fully immersive works ever to wallop Broadway鈥� by The New York Times, it opens Dec. 1 and runs through Dec.11 for a limited two-week run. 

Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain; he is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret daily life. He sets out to identify the true culprit when he is accused of a crime, leading to an earth-shattering discovery and a life-changing journey.

bree valle* directs the Broadway adaptation of Mark Haddon鈥檚 best-selling novel. According to valle, she herself is neurodivergent and on the autism spectrum. She says the lead role of Christopher needed to be portrayed by an actor (Dylan Hahn) who understood the character鈥檚 challenges as a neurodivergent individual who navigates the 鈥渘ormal鈥� world from a fascinating perspective. 

鈥淒ylan has spoken openly about his own challenges, not so unlike Christopher鈥檚,鈥� said valle. 鈥淲e live in an extraordinary time in the history of performance, a moment in which 鈥榓uthenticity鈥� has become immensely important to our industry. I feel it鈥檚 our duty as theatre artists to honor and promote representational honesty. This show does that.鈥�

valle says she is thrilled to bring this vital work to the stage because of its rich and experimental nature. 鈥淚t requires a very special group of actors because it challenges them physically and emotionally,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he production also demands a bit of technical wizardry. It鈥檚 full of projections 鈥� with multiple projectors running simultaneously and those images and patterns woven into and overlapping the dazzling-fast lighting cues. It鈥檚 kind of a thrill-ride, and we have a wonderful team of designers!鈥�

After twenty years as the artistic director of the Theatre Arts department, this production marks a 鈥渟tepping away of sorts鈥� from valle鈥檚 directing duties at 51反差黑料. 鈥淚 feel the time is right to bring in Guest Artists and leaders who can share their fresh perspectives on our craft,鈥� said valle. 鈥淭his is, after all, about our students, and their exposure to a multitude of mentors and teachers is healthy and enriching. We have always run a vigorous program at 51反差黑料, and I expect that to continue far into the future.鈥�

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time plays at the Harold J. Miossi CPAC Experimental Theater on the following dates and times: 

  • Thursday, Dec. 1 | 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Dec. 2 | 7:30 p.m
  • Saturday, Dec. 3 | 7:30 p.m
  • Sunday, Dec. 4 | 2:00 p.m
  • Thursday, Dec. 8 | 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Dec. 9 | 7:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Dec. 10 | 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday, Dec. 11 | 2:00 p.m. 

The show has a run time of 95 minutes with a ten-minute intermission. General admission tickets are $20 plus processing fees and $15 for students. Purchase tickets online at or at the box office one hour before the performance. Please check the webpage for age, visual, and emotional trigger warnings.

The 51反差黑料 Theatre Arts Department is nationally and internationally recognized, beginning in 2014 when the original play pool 鈥�63 received five national awards at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. The Kennedy Center also honored the college鈥檚 productions of Refried Elvis (2016) with six awards and Ghost Ship (2019) with ten awards, including Outstanding Theatrical Creation. In Feb. 2021, bree valle received the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion, considered one of the top honors in theatre education. 

To learn more about the 51反差黑料 Theatre Arts program, please visit the website or call (805) 546-3195. 

*bree valle does not capitalize her first and last name