As an arts and letters Ivy Leaguer, his life is consumed by studies, rehearsals,
writing and craft analysis.
“I live alone which is smart because I do a lot of writing and I need a lot of
quiet. A huge challenge for me personally in this program is generating work
so quickly and so frequently. I’m learning themes that constantly keep
reoccurring in my work, what that’s telling me about myself, why I’m interested
in exploring these things and what dramatic structures I keep leaning on.
“I have a lot of conversations with my colleagues about knowing the difference
between what is a playwright’s voice and what is a playwright’s schtick. The
difference, at least for me, is honing my artistic voice and not simply relying on
the same bag of tricks. I’m proud of this first year body of work because I’ve
tried things – somewhat reinventing myself or at least challenging myself
in new ways. That’s intentional.”
The work doesn’t all just stay on the page either.
“This particular playwriting program is a little unusual in that we are offered a
production each year.”
He’s written three new scripts over the summer.
“My second year production starts rehearsal the first day of classes or shortly
thereafter, so I have to prepare options to present.”
There’s no shortage of stimulation.
“I’m working with incredible people in my cohort. They are so talented and
smart. My faculty – Sarah Ruhl, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Amy Herzog, Robert
working in the field. It enriches my learning experience,”
With notable alums on stage and screen, the school is a recognized talent
pool that industry producers, directors and agents scout. Diaz has already
heard from some.
“I’ve been really fortunate that a lot of people have been reaching out. I’ve
been taking meetings, I’ve been in touch with fantastic companies. This
summer alone I’ll be at three different theater companies across the country
developing my work.”
He was in Chicago for the Latinx Theatre Commons (LTC) Carnaval of New
Latinx Work in July. This month his Richard & Jane & Dick & Sally is part of
the Two River Theater Latinx festival in Red Bank, New Jersey and a
workshop at The Lark in New York City.
Diaz said the example of other Omaha playwrights has emboldened him to
forge ahead with his own career.
“Our community of playwrights inspire me. Because of all the people who’ve
come before me, it never really crossed my mind that I couldn’t. I saw people
doing it and I just always kind of had that feeling, Oh, when it’s my time, I will
do it, too.”
He’s excited that two more Omaha theater nerds, actresses Roni Shelley
Perez and Bailey Carlson, recently made the big move to NYC.
“I hope that line continues.”
He’s not forgetting where it all started for him.
“I thank Omaha in so many ways for having prepared me and supported me.
It’s really great to know they have my back. I plan to be back every summer
He was back for this year’s GPTC, where his star Yale prof, Sara Ruhl, was
the honored playwright. He also had a reading of his You Will Get Sick at the
Shelterbelt.
He wishes playwrights had more showcases here.
“There are not many places for playwrights to go and yet these playwrights
continually write and persevere to tell the stories they need to tell. That
tenacity and initiative to write in a town that isn’t always ready to hear the
stories they do write is exciting to me.
“What I love about the playwrights in our community is that so often it’s not
about accolades or attention but rather generating and creating pieces of art
important to them. That’s something I try to do. I try to tap into whatever it is I
personally need to tap into.”
One of his Yale plays, The Guadalupes, cuts closer to his life than anything
he’s written. It explores questions he has about his own racial identity and his
relationship with the Hispanic side of his family.
“It’s about my grandmother, my grandfather and my father and mother. It’s this
deeply personal play about being both white and Hispanic and the
irreconcilable differences between the two. It deeply affected me. It was well
received, which was great.
“I think for any writer of any form the history that you carry will always seep
into the work. But this one was directly about my family, so that was a first for
me. I don’t know if l’ll be doing that again anytime soon, but I did get that one
out of my system.”
As things continue moving fast for him, he takes comfort in the surety his Yale
degree will mean something.
“We’re told that regardless of what you think your personal career trajectory
will look like, you will be working in your chosen field. They’re not promising us
Tony Awards or Pulitzer Prizes, but having gone to this university and through
this program, I will be able to live and work and pay my bills as a writer.”
“That (prospect) is so fulfilling and rewarding to me.”
Follow him on Facebook (![]()
www.facebook.com/public/Noah-Diaz) and Twitter (![]()
twitter.com/diaz_noah).
Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at ![]()
leoadambiga.com.