A play that weaves through time to tell the story of the Black experience of the past and the present. Loved the moments when the two timelines bled into each other. A play that tackles huge issues in such an intimate way.

DIASPORA! straddles time, realities, and vast canyons of meaning. In 1952, a black woman and a white man dare to love each other and argue civil cases against Boston's overly brutal police force. In modern day, Sunny is attempting to unravel her mysterious history after the death of her sister, and the near-indoctrination of her niece Janae into a separatist cult. Sunny's roommate, Patrick, is a white man in love with a Korean scientist, John, and they are simultaneously debating whether their relationship can succeed. Rich, delicious, magical, *radiant*, DIASPORA! is a layered treat guaranteed to evoke meaningful conversation.

Premiere Stages, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Kean University, is pleased to recognize DIASPORA! by Phaedra Michelle Scott as a Semi-Finalist for the 2022 Premiere Play Festival. DIASPORA! rose through a competitive selection process conducted by Premiere staff and a panel of outside theatre professionals to become one of 35 semifinalists out of 655 submissions. The panel was particularly impressed by how the characters’ questions of identity clearly impact their ideals and approach to activism, as well as the beautiful theatricality of the setting and magical realism. Our congratulations and thanks to Phaedra.