ABOUT
Playwright, Actor, Teaching Artist
I’ve always leaned towards silliness. Watching shows like Pee-Wee’s Playhouse and Gilligan’s Island made me fall in love with slapstick, and as a kid from Boyle Heights, it made me want to pursue a future in comedy. But while growing up in a predominantly Latino neighborhood, I would watch politician after politician use immigrants as a scapegoat for our country’s problems. To villainize them baffled me, as this was my community belonging to kindhearted people. This has been my goal as a writer; to depict the Mexican immigrant with a sense of joy and laughter while making them the heroes of their own stories.
While earning my Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts from Cal State Northridge, I got involved with CASA 0101 Theater where I received my first commission and co-wrote, Little Red, a Latinx punk rock adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood. 15 years later, after several drafts and workshop productions, Little Red received a publication through YouthPlays and earned the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.
During my time at CASA 0101, I was invited to write for a festival called, Documenting the Undocumented, which was inspired by the immigration reform protests of 2006. I love superheroes and the idea of a Mexican immigrant superhero thrilled me, thus El Verde was born. It is a nod to the Batman ’66 series, with El Verde facing a zany supervillain with every new adventure. But the series true intention is to empower the Latin immigrant and explores the theme of cultural identity.
In addition to my theatrical work, I am also the co-writer for the romantic comedy podcast, Love and Noraebang, presented by Sonoro Media and The Mash-Up Americans. It is a love letter to Los Angeles and was nominated for Podcast of the Year and Best Fiction Podcast by iHeartRadio in 2023. I have also received several new works commissions from Center Theatre Group’s The Shop initiative, where my plays, Annzaul, Emma & the Suzies, and The Exoneration of El Maestro were developed.
As a Teaching Artist, I have taught for organizations like Disney on Broadway, San Francisco Opera, Inner-City Arts, and the Teenage Drama Workshop. Some of the best experiences I have had as a teacher is watching students write their own plays, as they now become the heroes of their own stories.
While earning my Bachelor’s in Theatre Arts from Cal State Northridge, I got involved with CASA 0101 Theater where I received my first commission and co-wrote, Little Red, a Latinx punk rock adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood. 15 years later, after several drafts and workshop productions, Little Red received a publication through YouthPlays and earned the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.
During my time at CASA 0101, I was invited to write for a festival called, Documenting the Undocumented, which was inspired by the immigration reform protests of 2006. I love superheroes and the idea of a Mexican immigrant superhero thrilled me, thus El Verde was born. It is a nod to the Batman ’66 series, with El Verde facing a zany supervillain with every new adventure. But the series true intention is to empower the Latin immigrant and explores the theme of cultural identity.
In addition to my theatrical work, I am also the co-writer for the romantic comedy podcast, Love and Noraebang, presented by Sonoro Media and The Mash-Up Americans. It is a love letter to Los Angeles and was nominated for Podcast of the Year and Best Fiction Podcast by iHeartRadio in 2023. I have also received several new works commissions from Center Theatre Group’s The Shop initiative, where my plays, Annzaul, Emma & the Suzies, and The Exoneration of El Maestro were developed.
As a Teaching Artist, I have taught for organizations like Disney on Broadway, San Francisco Opera, Inner-City Arts, and the Teenage Drama Workshop. Some of the best experiences I have had as a teacher is watching students write their own plays, as they now become the heroes of their own stories.