De Novo: at 59E59's Theater A from 28 Apr

59E59 Theaters kicks off the 2010 Americas Off Broadway festival with the New York premiere of De Novo, written and directed by Jeffrey Solomon, with images by photojournalist Donna DeCesare, and produced by Houses on the Moon Theater Company. De Novo opens 4 May 2010, following previews from 28 Apr and runs trough to 15 May 2010.

The cast features Jose Aranda, Carlo D'Amore, Socorro Santiago and Emily Joy Weiner. Set design is by Alex Escalante, lighting by Lisa Weinshrott and sound by Andrew Ingkavet.

De Novo: Sixteen year-old Edgar Chocoy pleaded with a U.S. court not to deport him to Guatemala. "If I go back, they'll kill me." This true story, crafted from immigration court transcripts, interviews and letters tells the story of the case that challenged the conscience of a nation.

In 2002, at the age of 14, Edgar fled Guatemala to escape the largest gang in Central America. He traveled over 3,000 miles, across the borders of three countries, in search of his mother, who come to the US to find work. Detained by the Department of Homeland Security, he pleaded with a Colorado judge to grant him asylum and not deport him to Guatemala, where he was certain the gang he escaped would kill him.

De Novo chronicles the gripping true story of Edgar and other undocumented youth. Each year, thousands of these children make the dangerous journey across the border and through the U.S. justice system.

The harrowing story is accented by startling images by award- winning photojournalist Donna DeCesare, who is widely recognized for her groundbreaking coverage of the spread of Los Angeles gangs in Central America.

Jeffrey Solomon's (playwright/director) previous works include 'Tara's Crossing' (world premiere at Tenement Theatre, NY), 'Building Houses on the Moon' (Lucille Lortel, NY), 'MotherSON' (HERE, TBG Theatre, Queens Theatre in the Park, Penguin Rep and London's New End Theatre in Hempstead) and 'Santa Claus is Coming Out' (Kirk Theatre, Theatre Row). He wrote the teleplay for 'CityKids' (Jim Henson Productions), which received an Emmy nomination for Best Children's Special and won an Ollie Award for Excellence in Children's Programming.