World Premiere

The People’s Theatre presents in collaboration with
Boundless Theatre Company and Latinx Playwrights Circle

DOMINO EFFECT
By Marco Antonio Rodriguez
Directed by Mino Lora

On a warm summer night in Washington Heights, four generations unexpectedly find themselves at a domino table, each with something to prove. In a world pulling them apart, will the game be their bridge—or their breaking point?

April 4-26
NOW EXTENDED. MUST CLOSE APRIL 26

Featuring: WILLIE the GENIUS, Shadi Ghaheri, Tony Macy-Perez*, Angela Reynoso*

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:

Previews: April 4, 5, 6, 8 - 7:00 PM
Opening Night: April 9 - 7:00 PM

Performances:
8:00 PM: April 10, 17, 24
7:00 PM: April 11, 12, 16, 18, 19, 23, 25, 26
2:00 PM: April 13, 19, 20, 26

April 4 - 26, 2025

A.R.T./New York Theatres
Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre

502 West 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019

IN THE NEWS:

Run Time: approximately 90 minutes with no intermission

For information on the A.R.T./New York Theatres including directions and accessibility information, please visit www.art-newyork.org/your-visit.

Special Events & Post-Show Conversations

ASL-Interpreted Performance

Thurs, April 10 @ 8PM

This special performance will be fully ASL-interpreted by Inclusive Communication Services, ensuring accessibility for our Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences. Select the “ASL Performance” ticket type for best viewing of the live interpretation. Join us as we make Domino Effect a more inclusive experience for all.

Immigrant Advocacy Night

Fri, April 11 @ 7PM

With immigration policy often feeling indecipherable, how do we make sense of the system and fight for change? Special guests, including Ace Sutherland (NYIC New York Immigrant Coalition), and Francisco Mendoza (Immigrant Theatre Makers Initiative), will join Mino Lora, Executive Artistic Director of The People’s Theatre and cast member Shadi Ghaheri, for a powerful conversation on immigrant rights and advocacy.

Quisqueya Night

Sun, April 13 @ 2PM

A tribute to the Dominican roots of our playwright and director, Quisqueya Night is a celebration of culture, artistry, and community. After the performance, invited guests along with cast members including Angela Reynoso will continue the festivities at INTAR, honoring the rich storytelling and spirit that shape Domino Effect.

Please note: Quisqueya Night is a private event, but we’re proud to highlight it as part of our celebration of Dominican identity and excellence.

Queer Night

Wed, April 16 @ 7PM

How do queer stories transform the theatre landscape? This night honors LGBTQ+ voices and their role in shaping contemporary storytelling. Join Adam Odsess-Rubin (National Queer Theater), Cedric Leiba Jr., Pierre Jean Gonzalez, and Mario Colón (Hispanic Federation) for a conversation with cast members Tony Macy-Perez and WILLIE the GENIUS on representation, resistance, and the evolving narratives of queer identity in theatre and beyond.

Playwright & Director Night

Fri, April 18 @ 7PM

Go behind the scenes of Domino Effect with playwright Marco Antonio Rodríguez, director Mino Lora, and members of the Domino Effect cast as they reflect on the two-year journey of bringing this play to life. Jiawen Hu, Creative Producer at The People’s Theatre, will guide the discussion on the artistic and advocacy impulses that fuel this production.

Cast

WILLIE the GENIUS

Pepper Malveaux

WILLIE the GENIUS (Pepper Malveaux) is elated to be returning to her PTP roots. Some of her favorite credits include starring in Better Than You with The People’s Theatre Project, her award-winning Off-Broadway solo theater show WILLIE GETS NAKED!: Live from Unceded Munsee Lenapehoking Territory, or “Off-Broadway” as a part of the Downtown Urban Arts Festival, and the feature film Sun with DLA Films. She has a B.A. in Mass Communication from the Dan Rather School of Communication at Sam Houston State University and has also trained at the Upright Citizens Brigade. More at ancestralhouseofgenius.org/willie-the-genius . She is also the founder and overall house mother for The Ancestral House of Genius, an LGBTQIA+ youth focused Kiki Ballroom house and media production house which provides vital community services. Fun Fact: WILLIE’s first job in high school was at NASA’s Office of Criminal Investigation. She is dedicating this performance in the memory of her god-daughter Jzhara “Gorgeous Femmie” Williams.

SHADI GHAHERI

Atash Hesam

SHADI GHAHERI (Atash) is delighted to be making her debut with PTP. Recent/Favorite credits as a director include: Extinctionist (Heartbeat Opera) In the Stillness of Night (The Tank), English (Alliance Theatre), Tosca (Heartbeat Opera), Selling Kabul (Signature Theatre), Threshold of Brightness (BMP), Memorial (NYU Tisch), Banned, (Broadway Bound), Glimpse (Rattlestick Theatre), Lucretia (HERE), Acting credits: Short Film: Kisses and Bullets (2024). Training: M.F.A. Yale school of Drama. She co-founded/co-curated the Emruz Festival. Shadi was Rattlestick Theatre Directing Fellow 2018, as well as 2016 Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow, and the winner of Robert L.B. Tobin Showcase 2019. Shadighaheri.com

TONY MACY-PEREZ

Armando Arango

TONY MACY-PEREZ (Armando) is delighted to be making his debut with PTP; Actor: Contrary Mary (Dramatist’s Guild); A Bicycle Country (INTAR); Boys in the Band (Promethean Players); Director: Off-Broadway: Days of Wine and Roses (Lion Thtr.); Social Security (Clurman Thtr.); Off-Off-Broadway: El Atrapado Lenguaje del Amor (Producer’s Club); Sex on Trial (The Duplex); Title Fight (Gene Frankel Thtr.); All About Sneakers (Wings Thtr.); Rose & The Mind of God (ATA); Writer: Requiem for a Life and 90 Miles of Separation (Merkin Hall at Lincoln Center). Training: HB Studios. Would like to dedicate the performance to all of those who were never able to shine.

ANGELA REYNOSO

Gisel Fortuna

ANGELA REYNOSO (Gisel Fortuna) is delighted to be making her debut with People’s Theatre Project. Off-Broadway/Regional credits include: La Gringa (American Stage); Vámonos (INTAR). Web-series credits: #30s (WolfBun Productions). Film credits: Alone With My Demons (Best Bronx Film Award, 2020 NYC Quarantine Film Festival). Writing/Directing credits: Ready or Not (Lehman Art Gallery); The Lambs of the Bronx (Concept grantee for the Bronx Cultural Vision Fund) Over the Wall (Labyrinth Theatre Intensive). Training: 2021 M.F.A in Multimedia Performing Arts at Lehman College (CUNY); 2024 Unit 52 member at INTAR Theatre; 2021 Labyrinth Theatre Intensive Ensemble. More information on www.TheAngelaReynoso.com.

Creative Team

playwright MARCO ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ
director & original conception MINO LORA
scenic design REGINA GARCÍA
costume design CHRISTOPHER VERGARA
lighting design MEXTLY COUZIN
sound design GERMÁN MARTINEZ
props design OMAYRA GARRIGA CASIANO
stage manager PAU*
creative producer JIAWEN HU
assistant director CATALINA BELTRAN
press representative ANAT GERSTEIN

Production Photos

Play Development History

This world premiere production of DOMINO EFFECT follows a year of research, story sharing, devising, and workshopping. The play was originally conceived by executive artistic director Mino Lora as a catalyst for challenging conversations across generations. In the Summer of 2023, People's Theatre Project commissioned playwright Marco Antonio Rodriguez to work with Lora and theatre artist Vida Tayebati on an outline for the play in the Fall of 2023. In winter 2024, a theatre devising process at Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center was facilitated by Tayebati with contributions by actors Shadi Ghaheri, Tony Macy-Perez, WILLIE the GENIUS, and Lorena Peralta. Rodriguez observed the devising sessions taking detailed notes, and in the early summer of 2024 wrote the first full draft, and reunited with the actors to hear the play for the first time. In fall 2024, Boundless Theatre and Latinx Playwrights Circle joined the production team to support a 29-hour stage reading hosted by New York Theatre Workshop.