Diana (sometimes pronounced like Deanna) was based on Priscilla Lopez. Her relationship with Paul is based on that of Nicholas Dante and Michon Peacock, one of the authors of the play and one of the other conceptionists of the play.Some hints:
She was one of the more experienced and trained actors in the show. She knows most of gypsies in the show (Cassie, Sheila, Bobby, Greg, Judy, Connie, etc) So she is more comfortable in the situation than, say, Mark, Bebe, or Paul might be.
As the script indicates, she grew up in the Bronx and is street wise and kind of tough. However, she is also an eternal optimist and a bit starry eyed. A trap with playing Diana is to be *too* tough. She is definately a positive thinker and has moxy. A determined-ness to get what she wants. She is more athletic as a dancer than particularly graceful like Cassie.
Key point: She is a truth sayer. That's how she gets away with her lines in "Nothing" and the alternatives "What I Did for Love" She is speaking from the heart. Although she's not sorry that Mr. Karp died, she's a little shocked at her lack of sympathy and what she learns about herself.
She and Paul are good friends, considering their common ethnic background, both NYC natives, and their field. She has heard Paul's story a million times, and since Paul is somewhat dependant on Diana, she is somewhat protective of him.
Finally, Diana also has a good sense of humor. She feels comfortabe enough to sass Zach during the short Diana name as well as overplay the tapping when Larry says he can't hear her taps.
As for the song Nothing, there is a lot of material within the number to work with, and What I did for Love should be sung more positively rather than wistfully, although that's a good shading as well. The song Nothing actually happened to Lopez, and although Mr. Karp's name was fictional, apparently, graduates of the HS of Performing Arts all knew who she was talking about.
