People's Theatre Project presents: World Premiere of "The Diamond"

With over eight million people and as many as 800 languages spoken in New York City, it’s up to the people to keep their culture shining bright. This April, People’s Theatre Project will present the world premiere of an original play – developed by immigrant artists and starring a majority-immigrant cast.

On Saturday, April 12th, during New York City’s celebration of Immigrant Heritage Week 2023, People’s Theatre Project will welcome audiences to the world premiere of The Diamond at Pregones Theater in the Bronx. The Diamond is an original play that 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.

Created by immigrants, The Diamond is written by Christin Eve Cato (Sancocho) and directed by Chuk Obasi (The Weaver (part II): Paradigm), and is brought to life by a ten-member, majority-immigrant cast: Ampeire Bireije (Uganda), Josephine Cho (Korea), Yadira De La Riva (Mexico/US), Yekta Khaghani (Iran), Gerdania Mendoza (Dom. Rep/US), Journey Peters (US), Elizabeth Salazar (Guatemala), Paola Alexandra Soto (Dom. Rep), Vida Tayebati (Iran) and Osei White (US).

Originally conceived by theatre artist Zafi Dimitropoulou Del Angel (PTP’s artistic director, 2018-2023) in response to the Trump administration's violent policy of family separation at the border, PTP set out to develop a trilogy of devised theatre works investigating the immigrant experience.

The Diamond’s diverse creative team includes: Amanda Ekery (composer, US); Izmir Ickbal (scenic & projections designer, Singapore); Rodrigo Hernandez Martinez (costume designer, Mexico); Xiangfu Xiao (lighting designer, China); Majo Ferrucho (stage manager, Colombia); Jiawen Hu (producer, China); Angela Dixon (assistant director, US); Bob Braswell (managing director, US); and Mino Lora (executive artistic director, Dom. Rep).

The show will hold previews on April 12-14, and then the show will run from April 15-23, 2023 at Pregones Theater, at 575 Walton Avenue in the Bronx. Tickets are available at https://peoplestheatreproject.org/thediamond/. General admission is $25, and student and senior admission is $10. The Diamond is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.