A complex portrait of 8 young Americans and their audience, who, together, explore the distance between all of us — the assumed and the real; the past and the present — and the possibilities that come about from sharing a space. Performed by eight teenagers from all over the world (DR Congo, Egypt, Malaysia, Somalia, Syria, Tanzania, and the United States) who each bring to the stage a unique story and path to this country, MANMADE EARTH digs deep into questions of belonging; who we’ll support, the ways in which we can support, and the nature of performance and spectatorship itself.
Built over a year of conversation with the ensemble, with text by Silverstone and Browde. Produced in partnership with Torn Space Theater in Buffalo, NY. World premiere at The Invisible Dog Arts Center in 2019.
Created in conversation with and performed by
Nur Aisyah, Nasra Ali, Raiza Almonte, Dimyana Angelo, Amanda Barsi, Augustin Bonane, Jeanvier Nkurunziza, and Diaaeddin Zabadani
Visual Design by
Deb O and Eric Southern
Original Music & Sound Design by
Michael Costagliola
Photographs by
Maria Baranova & Michael Silverstone
A co-production with Torn Space Theater, Manmade Earth is co-presented by The Invisible Dog Art Center and the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF) as part of Crossing the Line Festival. Manmade Earth received substantial development support from and was presented by LUMBERYARD Center for Film and Performing Arts. The project was developed through a residency at Torn Space which was supported by the Creative Arts Initiative at the University at Buffalo and was supported, in part, by Wendy vanden Heuvel and a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant.
Nur Aisyah was born in Malaysia. She speaks three languages. She is mostly known as Nur. She is 17 years old and Senior at Lafayette International High School. She is a hard-worker and a positive thinker. Nur is the third of five siblings, and she is the only girl. She likes acting, taking pictures, and spend time with her friends.
Nasra Ali is from Somalia. She is 18 years old. She goes to Lafayette international High School. She came to the United States in 2016 because of freedom. Her dream is to become a surgery doctor. She is a fashionable person.
Raiza Almonte was born in Buffalo, NY. She is currently a freshman attend New York University Tisch School for the Arts and is studying theater, and she hopes to pick up a double major in Computer Science in her sophomore year. Raiza loves acting and is excited to continue it in college.
Shujaa Altorjman was born in Syria. He moved from Syria in 2011 to Jordan. In 2016 he moved from Jordan to USA for freedom. His dream is to be a famous actor. He is 17 years old. This is his last year at Lafayette High School. His favorite thing to do is write.
Dimyana Angelo was born in Egypt, and she lived there for 14 years. Dimyana is a positive and patient person, and loves to try new things. Dimyana is a senior. Dimyana loves dancing, and she is in a dancing group. This is Dimyana’s first play.
Amanda Barsi lives in West Seneca where she is currently a college sophomore at Erie Community College, majoring in Liberal Arts-Humanities studying to be a librarian. She was a member of the West Seneca Youth Theater for nine years. Amanda has been involved in theater since 3rd grade and has performed in over 30 shows. Amanda has a love for reading, writing and theater.
Augustin Bonane is 17 years old, and from DR Congo. He came to America in 2013, and goes to Lafayette International High School. He is in the 12th grade. When he graduates, he wants to go to college to achieve his dream of becoming a NEW YORK STATE SENATOR.
Jeanvier Nkurunziza is 17 years old and he’s a senior and goes to Lafayette International High School. He lives with his parents and is interested in acting because he thinks it’s pretty cool, it’s something he loves doing and it’s awesome to be working with different people or artists. He is thrilled to be working with Abby and Michael again!!
Diaaeddin Zabadani is a junior at Lafayette International High School. He is a member of student council he is also training as a Golden Glove boxer at Northwest Buffalo Community Center. This is his first experience in theater. Like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, he strives to be a multitalented and successful person. After High School, Diaa plans to study International Law and become an international lawyer.
NOV 15–19, 2018:
Torn Space Theater (in-progress)
JULY 20–21, 2019:
Lumberyard Center for Film & Performing Arts (in-progress)
SEPT 13–15, 2019:
Invisible Dog Art Center / Crossing the Line Festival (premiere)
NOV 23–DEC 1, 2019:
Torn Space Theater RESPONSE Festival