Diamond To Jade

Diamond to Jade is a searingly funny and unapologetically raw one-act solo play written by TJ Armand. Set against the backdrop of a COVID-19 lockdown in New York City, the story follows Jade—a complicated, African-American, queer CEO unraveling on her 50th birthday after being tasked with firing 200 employees via Zoom. Surrounded by UPS boxes filled with relics from her past, Jade spirals into a scathing, hilarious, and heartbreaking therapy session that lays bare the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, capitalism, and grief.

What begins as a therapy call turns into a revelatory monologue—filled with biting satire, cultural commentary, and moments of gut-wrenching vulnerability. Through a tour of pop culture relics, ex-girlfriends, high school trauma, PR war stories, and a long-lost love, Diamond to Jade becomes a meditation on memory, survival, and reinvention in a world that prizes youth, perfection, and performance.

The play features original music (including a song written by Armand, Van Alstyne and Carl Wallace entitled Diamond To Jade), interactive monologue, and multimedia elements, creating a uniquely intimate theatrical experience. It's a love letter to queer resilience and a fierce critique of corporate culture—and the perfect vehicle for Provincetown's powerhouse performer Darlene Van Alstyne.

Lead Actress — “JADE” in Diamond to Jade

Darlene Van Alstyne is a SAG-AFTRA actress, singer, dancer, and Provincetown-based performer known for her fearless, funny, and emotionally charged presence across stage and screen. Born and raised in Boston, Darlene’s early aspirations were inspired by her mother Sharon Van Alstyne—a single parent and fellow artist—leading to early TV credits on shows like St. Elsewhere, As the World Turns, and The Chappelle Show.

A longtime collaborator of playwright-composer TJ Armand, Darlene was the female lead in his debut musical Welcome to Stony Brook and a featured vocalist in his original band. Their artistic partnership takes a bold new leap with Diamond to Jade, a one-woman play written specifically for Darlene. In the role of “Jade,” she delivers a commanding performance that spans biting satire, queer grief, corporate burnout, and midlife reinvention—crafted with brutal honesty and heart.

Darlene’s Provincetown theater legacy includes celebrated roles in Rent, The Wild Party, Avenue Q (Cape Rep & Geva Theatre), and more. She’s also known for her high-energy live shows, including her longtime musical collaborations with Billy Hough and Sue Goldberg.

Most recently, Darlene co-starred in the acclaimed documentary Artists at the Edge, directed by Patrick Riviere, which explores the lives of two Provincetown artists—Darlene and painter/musician Kenny Lockwood—creating amid a time of cultural division and political urgency. The film premiered at the Provincetown Film Festival and went on to win numerous awards at festivals across the U.S. and abroad. 

TJ Armand served as an Associate Producer on the project.

🎬 Watch the trailer for Artists at the Edge:

https://youtu.be/tPb-ZlPQMTc

From screen to stage, Darlene continues to be a voice for resilience, complexity, and joy. Her portrayal in Diamond to Jade is a full-circle moment in her collaboration with TJ Armand.