For a few weeks in September 2010 the Southwestern College Sun student newspaper was the most famous publication in the U.S., if not the world. A corrupt college president ordered the paper shut down but did not count on a team of scrappy students and their stubborn professor punching back. The 48th annual Bonitafest Melodrama “Here Comes The Sun” is based on the true story of a former SWC president who attempted to coerce faculty and students to cease publication of the 24-time collegiate Pulitzer Prize newspaper to cover up what became San Diego County’s biggest ever case of public corruption. News of the threat garnered national news media support for The Sun and a financial contribution from science-fiction writing legend J. Michael Straczynski that paid for the issue. “This is a project that hits close to home and is very personal,” said Melodrama Artistic Director Dr. Max Branscomb, the 31-year advisor of Southwestern’s Hall of Fame newspaper and magazine. “It was a rough period but we persevered. It is, in hindsight, a very compelling story. The part where JMS came to our rescue is remarkable and all true.” “Here Comes The Sun” is a musical that focuses on the students who entered college as teenaged journalism students and exited as battle hardened First Amendment warriors who earned the respect of the nation’s professional news media and the gratitude of the community for keeping $1 billion of local construction bond money out of the hands of criminals. After The Sun broke a series of stories about bribery, extortion and theft of public funds, San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis ordered raids on the homes and offices of nearly two dozen SWC and Sweetwater High School District leaders who were later charged with 262 felonies. “Here Comes The Sun” runs September 24-27 at the Sweetwater Church Theater, 5305 Sweetwater Road in Bonita. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or by calling (619) 850-7126. Bonitafest Melodrama on Facebook
