1st Staged Reading Of "Black Diamond" To Be Performed At Buckingham Friends

BUCKINGHAM, PA — A first staged reading/singing of "Black Diamond," a powerful new musical that follows the wave of Irish immigrants who left their homeland seeking the American Dream, will be held later this month at the Buckingham Friends School.

The show follows their journey to Pennsylvania, where they find themselves facing rampant discrimination, poverty and lethal working conditions in the coal mines of Carbon County.

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The storyline explores the rapid industrial growth of the era—where corporate profit frequently came at the expense of human lives — and the questionable legal proceedings that ultimately led to the hanging of the miners.

“The struggles faced by Irish Immigrants in the 1860s and 1870s may seem distant, but many of the issues they confronted remain relevant today,” says director Claudine Piechotta. “Their story reminds us that the pursuit of dignity, fairness and opportunity has always been a struggle for immigrants in America.”

While the history belongs to the coal regions of Pennsylvania, the development of "Black Diamond" belongs to Bucks County and a decades-long friendship between librettist Tom Feledick and composer Bill Monaghan. Graduates of Archbishop Wood, the project had its start in 2005 and accelerated during Covid.

One of their classmates, Claudine Quigley Piechotta, the director of CB West’s Harlequin Club, joined the project in 2025 to help workshop the musical to the next level.

“As Irish Americans, both Tom and I felt an immediate connection to the subject matter,” Monaghan notes, “and to collaborate with Claudine on a project that carries such personal and artistic significance is just plain cool.”

“We wanted to honor part our collective heritage and offer
a new take on an underrepresented story” says Feledick.

The staged reading of the new musical will be performed by local actors and live musicians. Music includes various eclectic styles ranging from traditional Irish folk and pop rock as well as Celtic, classical American stage and Afro Celt influences.

Because so many families across Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware counties share genealogical ties to the miners, the creators expect the performance to strike a deeply personal chord with local audiences.

The public is invited to the first staged reading/singing on Saturday, July 25, at 7:30 p.m. at Buckingham Friends School, 5684 York Road, Lahaska. The performance will be followed by a Q & A session with the writers, actors and director. The performance is free (donations accepted).

Seating is limited for this exclusive first look. A full-scale theatrical production and a complete cast album are slated for future development. For reservations and more information,
email inspiringthespians@gmail.com.