World Premiere
THE DIAMOND
By Christin Eve Cato
Directed by Chuk Obasi
Produced by People's Theatre Project
Presented by Pregones/PRTT

Limited Run. Must Close April 23

A World Premiere from People’s Theatre Project, The Diamond follows a group of detained immigrants who conspire against a dystopian government. They lead a revolution, but realize they will only be free when they remember who they are. Devised by and featuring a cast of immigrant actors, The Diamond is written by Christin Eve Cato (Sancocho) and directed by Chuk Obasi (The Weaver (part II): Paradigm).

April 12 - 23

Pregones Theater

575 Walton Ave.
Bronx, NY 10451
(2, 4, 5 Trains to 149th St - Grand Concourse)

General Admission - $25
Students and Seniors - $10

Run Time: approximately 90 minutes with no intermission

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Production Photos

Performance Schedule & Special Events

THE DIAMOND begins preview performances on April 12 and will celebrate opening night on April 15. The final performance is on April 23. The weekly performance schedule runs Wednesdays - Saturdays at 7:00 P.M. and Sundays at 2:00 P.M. & 7:00 P.M..
Throughout the run of the show, People's Theatre Project will be hosting special events to further expand on the themes of the play and build community. We hope to see you there!

Immigrant Night

Thurs, April 20 @ 7PM

Join us after the performance for a panel conversation with: NYC Council Member Shahana Hanif, Commissioner Manny Castro (Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs), Theodore Moore (Vice-President of Policy and Programs, NY Immigration Coalition)

Dominican Night

Fri, April 21 @ 7PM

Vamos mi gente! Tonight is especially for all the Dominicanos out there. Join us after the show for a conversation with panelists: NYC Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, Led Black (Editor-in-Chief, The Uptown Collective), Maria Lizardo (Executive Director, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation), Eddie Cuesta (Executive Director, Dominicanos USA)

Meet the Artists

Sat, April 22 @ 7PM

Join us after the show for a conversation with The Diamond playwright (Christin Eve Cato), and director (Chuk Obasi).

Cast

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Ampeire Bireije

Kamara / Kami
Ampeire Bireije is an African artist, performer, lawyer, and activist born in Uganda. She began her career as a performer at the Identity School of Acting and the Central School of Speech and Drama in London before going on to attend a two-year conservatory at the New York American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her recent works include playing Masika in Revolution: Two Stories with the Same Ending at the Tank Theatre, for which she won Best Performance in a play in the 2021 Off Broadway World Awards. Rebel Joyce in Nick Makoha’s The Dark, and Kakye in Appointment with gOD, as part of the Columbia School of Arts’ International Play Reading Festival. Her other work includes Perspectives of War: Ancient Greek Texts in Dialogue with the Modern World with Eclipses Group Theatre and Zara in Mirrors. Ampere also serves as a teaching artist with the People’s Theatre Project.
Josephine Cho Headshot

Josephine Cho

Soon-Ak / Susan
Josephine Cho is an actor, a singer-songwriter and teaching artist from South Korea. She was born in Madison, Wisconsin in the US and grew up in Seoul, South Korea. Having earned her B.A. in Theater from Kyunghee University in Seoul and Educational Theater M.A. from New York University, she is pursuing her dreams across a variety of art platforms from screen to stage. Her most recent favorite role in theater is playing ‘Ibu’ in the musical concert ‘The Year of Living Dangerously’ at Feinstein’s/54 below. She lives in Queens and loves the community of the biggest melting pot across the world. 
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Yadira De La Riva

Carmelita
Yadira De La Riva is a theater artist from El Paso, Texas/Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Alumna of UCSC and NYU, Yadira wrote, performed and produced One Journey, a one-woman show exploring US/Mexico border identity that toured throughout the U.S. and along the U.S./Mexico border. Her recent credits include: Carla's Quince (Virtual-Drama League Award Nominated), LINES (Theatre LILA), Zoongoro Bailongo (New York Children’s Theater), Papo’s Variety Store (LATEA Theater), La Negra (BRIC), Noche de Alebrijes (Art Vallarta), Alonzo (2019 New York Latino Film Festival), NERO (Kyoung Pacific Beat) and Shared Sentences (Houses on the Moon). www.yadiradelariva.com 
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Amanda Ekery

Musician
Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer Amanda Ekery creates music filled with imagery and strong narratives. Her work has earned support from New Music USA, Chamber Music America, and the Jerome Foundation, has been featured at the Arab American National Museum, Panama Jazz Festival, and The Kennedy Center, and spans theater, film, and multiple original studio recordings. She was awarded a 2022 ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer’s Award honorable mention and the 2022 Jazz Hero Award from the Jazz Journalist Association for her dedication to gender equity work with El Paso Jazz Girls. Learn more at aekerymusic.com
Yekta Headshot

Yekta Khaghani

Aran / Irene
Gerdania Mendoza Headshot

Gerdania Mendoza

Child
My name is Gerdania Mendoza and I am a Dominican woman from Inwood. I am a 6th grade student at City College Academy of the Arts. I have been an actress for the last 5 years, and I am proud to be a Young Artist of the PTP Academy. I am excited to be performing with PTP for the first time in The Diamond. In general, I am passionate about completing my artistic, academic and personal goals. It makes me happy to know that I can accomplish anything that I put my mind to. I feel that it makes me a better person. As a hobby, I love crocheting and spending time with my family and friends.
Journey Peters Headshot

Journey Peters

Child
Journey Peters, age 9, is a rising star in the world of acting and a student of the PTP Academy. She is a triple threat, with a passion for acting, comic illustration, and basketball. Journey's talent was recognized early on when she appeared on the first season of the PBS "Lets Learn" series, where she read books for young kids. Her natural ability to captivate an audience led to her being the only child performer on the Doña Mañana cast. The Diamond marks Journey's second on-stage experience, where she continues to shine with her infectious energy and love for the arts. We can't wait to see where her journey takes her next!
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Elizabeth Salazar

Abuela
Liz Salazar is currently playing the role of Abuela in "The Diamond".  She also had a supporting role as Claudia Hernandez, in the Showtime film "Sensitive" which won first prize in the Latino Filmmaker's Showcase. After her role in "Sensitive " she was cast in "Vespertine", also a Showtime production, as the Neurologist, Dr. Suarez. She also played a paramedic in other films and in real life.
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Paola Alexandra Soto

Chucha / Charlotte
Paola Alexandra Soto is a playwright, creative producer, director, and actress. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Harlem. She recently earned her MFA in Playwriting at Columbia University School of the Arts. Paola Alexandra is the Creative Producer for TONY Award Winner Lemon Andersen’s new original solo show When Aliens Fall From The Sky, which had its World Premiere at Arizona State University Gammage. She’s also the Associate Director of the digital short film for the show’s prologue. She was also the co-Creator of the PlaySonos: A Digital Audio Play Festival at Columbia University School of the Arts. 
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Vida Tayebati

Iran / Irene
Vida Tayebati is a NYC based theatre actor, director, and devisor born and raised in Tehran, Iran. She aims to mobilize discussion and action through live theatre that transcends national borders. Vida co-founded Peydah Theatre, in NYC in 2019 and performed in the Peydah Theatre Company’s production of “Tosca Tehran,” performed at the Immigrant MixFest at New York’s Atlantic Theater. She also co-founded and performed with the experimental theatre trio Til Lalezar, which devised and performed “Happyland” at Shea Theatre in Massachusetts, Ruby Theater in Los Angeles and Exit Theater in San Francisco. Til Lalezar operated a nine-month residency in Greenfield, MA, where it renovated, publicized and launched a new art space in the city, called 12federal. In 2017, Til Lalezar was selected for a residency at The Orchard Project in New York. She has been a company member and performer with People’s Theatre project since 2019, and performed at the two previous touring productions of Doña Mañana (2021) and Somos Mas (2019) and is excited to be part of this production of The Diamond. She received an M.F.A. in Physical Theatre at Dell’Arte International in Northern California.

Creative Team

playwright CHRISTIN EVE CATO
director CHUK OBASI
original conception ZAFI DIMITROPOULOU DEL ANGEL
original music AMANDA EKERY
scenic & projections design IZMIR ICKBAL
costume design RODRIGO HERNANDEZ
lighting design XIANGFU XIAO
sound design JIMMY O'CONNOR
producer JIAWEN HU
assistant director ANGELA DIXON
executive director MINO LORA
managing director BOB BRASWELL
public relations ANAT.

Play Development History

This world premiere production of THE DIAMOND represents the culmination of four years of research, story sharing, devising, workshopping, and production. Originally conceived by theatre artist Zafi Dimitropoulou Del Angel (artistic director 2018-2023) in response to the Trump administration's violent policy of family separation at the border, People's Theatre Project set out to develop a trilogy of devised theatre works investigating the immigrant experience:

LAS MARIPOSAS (2018) focused on the journey of immigrant mothers and children. SOMOS MÁS (2019) told the story of immigrants who spark a joyful revolution amidst a dystopia where assimilation is required. DOÑA MAÑANA (2021) imagined a future where the immigrants from SOMOS MÁS have brought liberation to their home. In 2022, critically acclaimed playwright Christin Eve Cato joined the creative team to integrate the three pieces together into THE DIAMOND (2023).

Darian Donovan Thomas performs original music for Doña Mañana. Image by Filip Wolak, courtesy of The Whitney Museum of American Art
Watch Doña Mañana Trailer
Untitled design (9)
Watch Somos Más Trailer
mariposas
Watch Las Mariposas Trailer

Collectively, these plays have reached 3,317 audiences across NYC in partnerships with 32 cultural institutions and community venues including The Whitney, New York Theatre Workshop, Queens Museum, and the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music.

We are grateful for and wish to acknowledge the contributions of the 23 Actors, 2 Directors, 2 Assistant Directors, 3 Stage Managers, and 8 Designers who have contributed to the development of THE DIAMOND, including the following:

Carmen Barbosa, Reyna Bonaparte, Stefania Bulbarella, Zafi Dimitropoulou Del Angel, Maria J. Fajardo, Sinny Feliz, Mayelin Annet Geraldino, Kimberly Gomez, Úrsula Hellberg Kaid, Yekta Khaghani, Jiawen Hu, Eunji Lim, Cynthia Lizardo, Chuk Obasi, Kat Peña, Journey Peters, Maria Peyramaure, Travis Raeburn, Angie Regina, Yolanny Rodriguez, Vida Tayebati

Workshop Production Photos

Staged Reading Photos

Doña Mañana Production Photos

Somos Más Production Photos

Las Mariposas Production Photos

Sponsors

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Untitled design
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