THE COOKING PROJECT

ABOUT

Good Neighbor Program Directions Accessibility

Created by members of the Dominican Artists Collective: Massiel Armengot, Sean Carvajal, Yohanna Florentino, Gineiris Garcia, Katherine George, Dilson Hernandez, Maribel Martinez, Andres Pina, Paola Alexandra Soto, Merlixse Ventura and Little Veras
Directed by Melissa Crespo

2020/21 Season

November 18, 2020—December 15, 2020

Read Synopsis

The Dominican Artists Collective welcomes you to the real Washington Heights—our beloved barrio and our home away from home, filled with delicious food and bangin’ island tunes, where melodic Dominican Spanish crashes into the hustle and grind of the New York accent. From one island to another, palm trees to concrete. Come kick it with the Dominican Artists Collective as we journey through our rich, complex, untold stories and deep rooted ancestral knowledge, all while wrestling with our American experience: how we view the world around us while contemplating how to make art during these times.

In THE COOKING PROJECT, travel with the DAC as they travel through time and space to explore their Diasporic journey—where they come from, and how they came to be.

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ABOUT THE DOMINICAN ARTISTS COLLECTIVE

In the Fall of 2019, Paola Alexandra Soto and Andres Santiago Piña, the cofounders of the Dominican Artists Collective (DAC) gathered together a small group of multidisciplinary artists who’s upbringing is Dominican in Washington Heights with the intention of fostering the creation and production of original work by Dominican artists. The group includes actors, directors, writers, producers, visual artists, musicians, theater and film makers.

It was at this first meeting the cofounders shared their vision with the group, to create a collective that was dedicated to producing the work by Dominican artists for a Dominican and American audience. The aim of the group is to create artistic work that examines and celebrates the Dominican culture both in the Dominican Republic and abroad. As part of their commitment to the development of new work DAC hosts a weekly sharing session featuring original pieces by Dominican playwrights, painters, musicians, podcasters, and poets. These sessions have become part of the cornerstone of the community that Dominican Artists Collective is building.

Whether it’s producing pop-up performances in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx dedicated to showcasing work that explores Dominican identity in all its forms and places. All of the members of DAC are dedicated to building a safe space for work by Dominican artists. Thereby creating a place where the full extent and breath of the Dominican diaspora can exist.

Follow their work at DominicanArtistsCollective.com.

DAC members include Angie Abreu, Carlos Andrickson, Massiel Armengot, Sean Carvajal, Julissa Contreras, Zahaira Curiel, Guadalís Del Carmen, Cindy De La Cruz, Daniella De Jesús, Yohanna Florentino, Xavier Galva, Gineiris Garcia, Katherine George, Kelvin Grullon, Dilson Hernandez, Glenís Hunter, Maribel Martinez, Andres Pina, Mitchie Ramirez, Saso, Paola Alexandra Soto, Ed Ventura, Merlixse Ventura and Little Veras.

Attend the virtual premiere of THE COOKING PROJECT on NOV 18 at 7PM or stream the films on-demand through DEC 15.

Dominican Artists Collective / Creator

DOMINICAN ARTISTS COLLECTIVE creates original work that showcases the multidimensional facets of Dominican identity and culture both here in the states and in the Dominican Republic. DAC members include Angie Abreu, Carlos Andrickson, Massiel Armengot, Sean Carvajal, Julissa Contreras, Zahaira Curiel, Guadalís Del Carmen, Cindy De La Cruz, Daniella De Jesús, Yohanna Florentino, Xavier Galva, Gineiris Garcia, Katherine George, Kelvin Grullon, Dilson Hernandez, Glenís Hunter, Maribel Martinez, Andres Pina, Mitchie Ramirez, Saso, Paola Alexandra Soto, Ed Ventura, Merlixse Ventura and Little Veras.

Melissa Crespo / Director

Melissa Crespo is a NYC based director of new plays, musicals and opera. Favorite past credits include: Promenade by María Irene Fornés and Al Carmines (Artist-in-Residence at NYU Tisch), world premiere of Charly Evon Simpson’s form of a girl unknown (Salt Lake Acting Company) and her production of Karen Zacarías’ Native Gardens co-produced by Syracuse Stage, Geva Theatre Center and Portland Center Stage. She looks forward to someday continuing Guadalís Del Carmen’s Bees and Honey (LAByrinth Theater Company/ Sol Project) postponed due COVID-19. Her play Egress, co-written with Sarah Saltwick, will receive a world premiere at Amphibian Stage in 2021. Fellowships & Residencies include: Time Warner Fellow (WP Theatre), Usual Suspect (NYTW), The Director’s Project (Drama League), Van Lier Directing Fellow (Second Stage Theatre), and the Allen Lee Hughes Directing Fellow (Arena Stage). Melissa received her MFA in Directing from The New School for Drama where she is now a faculty member. She is currently the Editor of 3Views on Theater and was featured in the Broadway Women’s Fund “Women to Watch on Broadway”. melissacrespo.com

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