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"Q: How do you self-identify?
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A: That’s a loaded question to ask a Puerto Rican in these times, haha. I identify myself as Boricua, because that was the name we gave ourselves and the real name of our island. A Boricua is part of the Latino community which extends through most of America. I’m proud of being part of that community through my Boricua lineage."
Interview with
Review Fix
"I’m from Puerto Rico, so English is not my first language. To have my plays be produced by festivals like the Fresh Fruit and to meet the people I’ve met on my journey is incredible. The shy kid from Puerto Rico that barely spoke or showed his love for words could never imagine he would grow up as such an outspoken individual. More importantly, he never thought he would become a part of such a talented community as the theater community in NYC."
"Handling a story with religious roots can be a minefield, but playwright Nelson Diaz-Marcano gives the two characters a solid psychological grounding. Lou (Arden Moscati) is an angry character in mourning with a bitter view of God, while Gabe (Julian Gordon) tries to reconcile his friendship with Lou despite their differences. The result is a powerful drama that succeeds in illuminating the two men and their characters. The Cliff is a totally absorbing short play."
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"What kind of theater speaks to you?
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What or who inspires you as an artist?: Innovation. Importance. As artists we have a responsibility, it’s not all lights and curtains. It’s about using what you have and educating when you can. We have a weapon, our talent, and we get to use it as we want in this country. Everyone nowadays is pointing fingers and accusing, screaming, assuming… we have the power to entertain them while letting them know that all of that is pointless. Through our stories we can reach whole communities. Yes not everything has to be that serious, but who says telling the truth has to be dramatic. "
"There is light amid dark as the historical and surreal election of 2016 brought these friends to their depths and gave them a way to rise again. Maybe this is a parable for the results of the election? Maybe we are now looking for a way to rise? The Diplomats represents that friendship is greater than politics … or most anything for that matter. The triumvirate of talent sprung out from the stage to the audience making it a very satisfying experience. The blunt force of Nelson Diaz-Marcano’s lines – both humor and its counterpoint – were well executed. Kudos to Diaz-Marcano for his representation of ethnicity and feminism."
"While it’s not hard to guess from the play’s dialogue what the playwright’s political leanings are, I found this play to be a rare commentary on our modern political culture that manages to – in an often funny, but also poignant manner – offer a deep reflection of the broader situation and why certain people might think or feel the way they are, and how that has a real-world impact on those surrounding them, rather than to simply preach the perspective of one voter or another."
"Nelson Diaz-Marcano may have a baby-face but it covers a brilliant sense of timing and deep understanding of thew world we live in. As an astute reviewer and popular author, Diaz-Marcano looks at possibly one of the most life-changing events of this [new] century from a very intimate point of view."
Outer-Stage
Reviews
The DIplomats
"Friendships, yes, like politics, make strange bedfellows. Chris Callahan as the interloping Gary caught particular attention. His characterization was outstanding, provoking laughter from movement alone and peppering that with superb delivery. The ensemble was top-notch and did justice to Nelson Diaz-Marcano’s clever and memorable play. The prose offered moments that could be classified as magnificent."
"As you may be able to guess from the title, the two men in The Cliff have picked a bad spot for a heated debate. Nelson Diaz-Marcano is in thematic territory many in the audience will have seen before. But what the play lacks in novelty, it makes up with the clarity and economy of Diaz- Marcano's dialogue. He knows how to put a button on a scene, and Arden Moscati delights in delivering what for me was the most memorable line of the night. (But no spoilers!)"