Diana Martinez: Director/Co-Producer
Diana Martinez has accumulated over 20 years of directing and producing experiences. Diana is currently the president of The Second City in Chicago and oversees operations in Chicago, Toronto and Hollywood.
She started her professional career as the Executive Director of Entertainment and Marketing for Pheasant Run Resort and Convention Center in St. Charles, IL. There, she directed and produced over 40 musical theater productions, as well as managed the production and marketing strategies for the Main Stage Theatre, Children’s Theatre and all special events.
In her last previous position as Executive Director for the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, Illinois, she was involved in the community by producing the city-wide Aurora Idol Competition dedicated to supporting the talents of youth in Aurora. She also created, “Dreams Do Come True,” a program which was dedicated to bringing live theater to underprivileged children. This fund sent over 8000 children to live theater performances at the Paramount. During her tenure she was responsible for fundraising and construction of the beautiful $6.6 million dollar lobby of the historic Paramount.
She has also acquired experience producing and directing national tours, working on ten national tours for internationally known country singing star Kenny Rogers.
Diana is honored to be a part of STAND UP! and this project. She dedicates her work on the show to the teens of our communities, hoping that this show will inspire them to “Stand Up for themselves and realize that there is a whole big world out there just waiting for them if they believe in themselves and in their dreams – and that if they work hard, anything is possible.
Kimberly Farah Director/Choreographer
Kim is President and Executive Director of the R.Ed.I. Arts and Education Foundation, CEO and founder of Moves, Inc., and Co-Founder/Executive Producer of Standing O Productions. She has been awarded the Outstanding Contributor Award from the Illinois Arts Council for her 20 plus year commitment to performing arts education and programming. She has been recognized by the United States Department of Education and Justice for having “one of the top youth groups in the nation working to improve the health of our nation” for her work with Good Vibes, a specialized prevention theater show that reached over 1 millions students. This show is the predecessor/inspiration and model for “STAND UP! Change Teen Statistics.” Kim has been nominated twice for the Governor’s Award for the Arts. She has authored the book Embracing the Dream and has lectured for Columbia College in Chicago, St. Mary’s College and Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana and Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois. Kim has presented at the Illinois Theater Festival as well.