Five more show dates to experience the compelling and heart-wrenching story of “Harbur Gate”
By Lena Moreno, October 14, 2025
Cal Poly Pomona’s Department of Theatre and New Dance presents “Harbur Gate,” the first play production of fall 2025, telling the story of Iraq War soldiers confronting themes of acceptance and identity.
Written by Kathleen Cahill, “Harbur Gate” explores the story of five soldiers in the Iraq War experiencing the unruly aftermath of a deadly tank convoy. The play is centered on the humanistic values of soldiers and veterans by portraying PTSD, mental anguish, loss and grief.
As the show gives way into heavy barring emotions, it also shifts its focus on the service members not often represented in veteran stories: women and LGBTQ+ individuals. The character Chad, played by theatre acting student Dominick Carson, is representative of the stigma faced by these groups when joining the military.
“I’d say he’s a pretty largely comedic relief character,” Carson said. “Mostly optimistic, sunny view of things despite all the hardships he’s gone through.”
Carson took inspiration from actor Nathan Lane in the 1996 film “The Birdcage” and American drag queen RuPaul in preparation for his role. Despite providing comedic relief, Carson’s character explores their complexities through the pursuit of self-expression.
Throughout the play, the most unlikely pairs are explored, and their resilience is tested. It’s an essential component that is thought-provoking, as the pairs bring out a side of each other they were unaware of. The dynamics allow the audience to witness character growth and self-discovery.
Director Bernardo Solano and Associate Director Lu Yeh experienced challenges collaborating together but enjoyed navigating them. Having different directing styles and visions for the characters required lots of compromise and negotiation among each other.
According to Solano and Yeh, tackling the play’s three different parts forced camaraderie between them to make the story as cohesive as possible, given the play’s subject matter.
“The audience is left to try to sort of figure out the connections between the characters,” Solano said. “So, it’s a little bit mysterious in a sense. I think the audience has to work a little bit harder to figure things out and to fully sort of appreciate the play, the storytelling of it.”
To make a story with such heavy themes requires conscious decision-making from the cast and crew members, according to sound designer Nico Salazar. Salazar described working with audio as a means of figuring out how to enhance the show’s message.
“Do I want to go louder or higher on music in certain spots to try to bring a higher level of immersion?” Salazar said. “Same goes with costumes. If costumes are more bright and shiny on stage, do I want to have something a little more uplifting, or do I want to have something a little more ominous or mysterious?”
The smallest decisions from lighting to the correct timing for audio cues bring the characters’ stories to life, according to Salazar.
Solano shared how he presented the play to a fellow faculty member who was a former naval officer in the military. His feedback to Solano further reinforced the show’s overall impact on who the target audience is.
“Whoever’s in the audience, hopefully they will see themselves reflected,” Solano said. “Whether or not they served, whether or not they’ve ever been in the army, whether or not they approve of our military system in this country, that they will recognize the sort of a common humanity that’s present throughout the play.”
Yeh similarly drew back his own, family members’ and friends’ experiences with the military when co-directing this show. He wanted to emphasize the misconceptions that are attached to being recognized at such a prestigious path.
“What they have done is something to honor, but it’s not something to glorify,” Yeh said. “Their experience is their experience. They’ve experienced terrible hardship that unless you have served, you will never know it. But they are still people at the end of the day.”
Before purchasing tickets, audiences are advised of the heavy adult themes presented in the show including PTSD, loss, sexual assault and war. Fake, non-functioning firearms are also included in the production.
“Harbur Gate” will leave audience members immersed in the tragic, deeply humane complexities of war as told through soldiers and their first-hand experiences, as reflected by the directors.
Tickets are still on sale from Oct. 15 to Oct. 19 and is showing in the Studio Theatre in Building 25, room 110.
Admission costs vary with $15 for general admission, $12 for CPP alumni and $10 for CPP faculty, staff, students and senior citizens. Excluding the last matinee Oct. 19 at 2 p.m., every show will begin at 7:30 p.m.