You can call the newly renamed Compass Theatre (formerly “6th@Penn”) many things: a quaint black-box performance space in the heart of Hillcrest; a place where original, never-before seen scripts are welcomed; you can even call it a somewhat experimental space where audiences are challenged with provocative material. But unless you want to draw the ire of its newly appointed artistic director, Josh Hyatt, do not call it a “community theater.”

“We are a limited-equity, professional theater,” Hyatt insists. To him, the phrase “community theater” calls to mind neighborhood productions like the ones found in the film Waiting for Guffman; well-meaning, but poorly executed with amateur caricatures as performances.

“That’s not the Compass Theatre,” Hyatt said. “That’s not what we do.”

That clarity and direction may be precisely what the theater doctors ordered for the Compass. Suffering from something of an identity crisis over the years, during its other incarnations (6th@Penn, Quentin Crisp), the former managers of the space knew it wasn’t exclusively a “gay theater” like Diversionary, nor was it necessarily a theater that shied away from GLBT content. Knowing, however, what you’re not isn’t the same as knowing what you are, and under the recent leadership of managing director Dale Morris, long a fixture in San Diego theater, and former artistic director Matt Thompson, the Compass has a new name, a new direction and now a new managing artistic director, Hyatt.

Hyatt came to the Compass originally as a director of the upcoming show Hairdresser on Fire. He recently directed and starred in the independently produced hit comedy Searching For Mr. Right at Diversionary Theatre. In addition to Searching, Hyatt’s directorial resume is long, with credits including musicals and classics as well as many other contemporary pieces. Almost all of Hyatt’s work was seen in Florida, where he lived until nearly a year ago.

A relative newcomer to America’s Finest City, Hyatt first became aware of the Compass as the result of a call for directors the theater had issued. Hyatt submitted for it, and was eventually told he’d been selected to direct the first play in an innovative new project called The Q Series, a run of five consecutive gay-themed plays, some by local writers. The first in the series, Hairdresser on Fire, opens Sunday, Sept. 7 and is a romantic comedy/drama that will close on Oct. 8.

Hairdresser on Fire follows the story of Lawrence (Trevor Bowles) an artist trying to get his professional and romantic life on track, who meets Allan (Bill Shore), a well-dressed attorney who sweeps Lawrence off his feet. The problem is, Allan isn’t as perfect as he first appears, and as the whirlwind romance progresses, Lawrence has to make a decision about whether he can accepts Allan’s foibles, or if he has to let go of the relationship.

“Hairdresser on Fire isn’t a play that requires the willing suspension of disbelief,” Hyatt says. “We all know people like Lawrence and Allan. Some of us even are Lawrence and Allan!”

As part of the Q Series, shortly after Hairdresser closes, it will be followed by a world premier of the new musical Backwater Blues, by Michael Thomas Tower and David Newcomer, directed by Michael Thomas Tower.

Backwater Blues is followed by Bad Night in a Men’s Room Off Sunset Boulevard, Dancing The God, and the Q Series closes with Vamp, a supernatural vinyl-clad girl-meets-girl romance.

In addition to Hairdresser on Fire, Hyatt will also direct Bad Night in a Men’s Room Off Sunset Boulevard, which will open in January and is the third show in the Q Series. It was during the negotiations with the Compass for directing this show, that Hyatt was also asked if he would be interested in the soon-to-be-vacated artistic director’s position.

Hyatt didn’t take the position without first giving it careful consideration. In any small enterprise, for-profit or not, the hours are long and much is done by few. And, like most artistic directors, Hyatt inherits a season crafted by his predecessor, which limits his ability to make his artistic impression on the theater immediately.

“Our season for next year was pretty well half-way set already,” Hyatt said. “So it will be up to me to complement that season with additional shows that reflect the community and get the community in the door.”

According to Hyatt, the Compass is intent on reaching out to the community at large, not just the GLBT community. The theater’s management realizes that the best way to get the community into the theater is to show the community on the theater’s stage.

To that end, Hyatt says, “We’re doing the Q Series, and we’ll be working on plays with other themes as well.” For instance, Hyatt said, Compass will be looking at Latino-themed plays, Asian and black-themed plays, and more.

The Q Series is sponsored by Rage magazine. In addition to advertising support, the magazine is sponsoring an opening night reception cocktail party, free for ticket holders.

For more information, or for tickets, please call (619) 688-9210.