←Recommendations of The Veils

A stunning depiction of how trauma is like the base layer of paint that gets revealed whenever there is a chip. The characters leaped off the page––wonderfully done!

A powerful and moving study of the fight one faces when returning home to normalcy while dealing with many demons. Well done.

This play is incredibly touching and realistic. I felt the confusion, anguish, frustration, heartbreak, and whirlwind of events as I read it and I really appreciated Villanueva having the courage to create such a vulnerable story. I hope that this is able to reach many audiences - it needs to be heard.

This play is a masterpiece. Villanueva weaves the past and present together seamlessly to create a story that is achingly raw. The memory play format gives the depictions of Mel’s PTSD flashbacks an authenticity that is boldly theatrical. The long development history of “The Veils” is not at all surprising, and I sincerely hope it has a rich future of many productions. It absolutely deserves to. An exceptional work.

Simply, this play is stunning. The Veils gives space to harsh realities and hard relationships, without offering easy answers -- because there are none. Mel, Harmony, and Wendy are full of life and deeply complex; each of these women would be a joy and challenge for an actress to delve into and explore. This is a beautiful, captivating piece of theatre that will be with me for a long time.

Overall I thought the play was well written -- characters are well defined and exhibit a wide range of emotional states, the dialog was clear and followed the context of their relationships, conflicts were clear, plot and story were easy to follow. Some interesting staging ideas were presented. Nice work.

Saw a reading of this play at the Texas State Black and Latino playwrights festival! A great piece with a deep insight into PTSD and it's effects on a soldier. This play depicts grief and trauma in an honest and specific way. Great piece.

OFFICIAL SELECTION for the KITCHEN DOG THEATER 2017 NEW WORKS FESTIVAL This play was chosen from over 800 submitted scripts and received a staged reading as part of our annual festival.

Excellent character study of a dysfunctional family and the bonds that form between soldiers. Stellar parts for actors, and crisp, specific, honest writing. The wounds of grief and trauma are deep but often hidden under layers of "normalcy"--a truth Villanueva hones in on with exquisite detail. This story will resonate with many audiences and is a satisfying experience for actors and directors.

Villanueva is a subtle writer whose play is that much more effective for shunning histrionics. Beautifully structured, "The Veils" benefits from her skilled craftsmanship. We get to know these characters and their secrets a layer at a time, and the story builds momentum as it progresses. The family dynamics will resonate with audiences. The author knows her stagecraft, and has fashioned a work that can be staged simply or more elaborately, as circumstances may dictate.