Lyra Nalan

Lyra Nalan is a Chinese playwright based in New York. She is a recipient of the Kennedy Center's Judith Royer Award, Miranda Theatre Playwrights Grant and Horticultural Playwrights Workshop Fellowship. Recently Lyra was nominated for the Susan Blackburn Smith Prize by Silk Road Rising Theatre and NNPN's Smith Prize for Political Theatre by Interact Theatre. She's also a finalist for New Harmony Project and Relmagine TYA competition, and a semi-finalist for O' Neill National Playwrights Conference. Her work had been developed or showcased at the Kennedy Center, Cherry Lane Theatre, Round House Theatre, Spooky Action Theatre, Miranda Theatre, Avant Bard Theatre, Tradewind Arts Asian American Artists, The Living Room Players, Strand Theatre, Three Cats Productions, among others. Currently...

Lyra Nalan is a Chinese playwright based in New York. She is a recipient of the Kennedy Center's Judith Royer Award, Miranda Theatre Playwrights Grant and Horticultural Playwrights Workshop Fellowship. Recently Lyra was nominated for the Susan Blackburn Smith Prize by Silk Road Rising Theatre and NNPN's Smith Prize for Political Theatre by Interact Theatre. She's also a finalist for New Harmony Project and Relmagine TYA competition, and a semi-finalist for O' Neill National Playwrights Conference. Her work had been developed or showcased at the Kennedy Center, Cherry Lane Theatre, Round House Theatre, Spooky Action Theatre, Miranda Theatre, Avant Bard Theatre, Tradewind Arts Asian American Artists, The Living Room Players, Strand Theatre, Three Cats Productions, among others. Currently, she’s under commissions from Adventure Theatre MTC and Silk Road Rising Theatre. Lyra's writing is influenced by her childhood in China and the differences she's experienced from living abroad. She hopes that her writings can start dialogues about how we can find agency and humor in challenging circumstances, and build an empathic connection with others.

Scripts

Paper Dream

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

Set in 1930, Paper Dream follows the story of a former Chinese aristocrat attempting to bring her daughter to America but finding herself trapped in Angel Island Detention Center with a working-class mother and a young woman with a questionable past. Paper Dream offers a feminist interpretation of the American Dream through generational sacrifice.

Set in 1930, Paper Dream follows the story of a former Chinese aristocrat attempting to bring her daughter to America but finding herself trapped in Angel Island Detention Center with a working-class mother and a young woman with a questionable past. Paper Dream offers a feminist interpretation of the American Dream through generational sacrifice.

Chuan & Eve

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

In near-future Manhattan, Chuan, a Chinese immigrant, turns to a seemingly perfect therapist, Eve, to help his schizophrenic mother. As their bond deepens, Chuan uncovers a devastating truth that shatters his understanding of trust and the essence of human connection.

In near-future Manhattan, Chuan, a Chinese immigrant, turns to a seemingly perfect therapist, Eve, to help his schizophrenic mother. As their bond deepens, Chuan uncovers a devastating truth that shatters his understanding of trust and the essence of human connection.

Dream Reunion

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

Dream Reunion follows a Chinese woman living in America who runs over various possibilities of her reunion with her mother back home, hoping to find the right words that lead to a perfect scenario.

Dream Reunion follows a Chinese woman living in America who runs over various possibilities of her reunion with her mother back home, hoping to find the right words that lead to a perfect scenario.

The Peachlanders

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

Two rivalry friends discover a strange fable land where everyone lives a long, youthful, and non-competitive life. At the center of it all, stands a sacred peach tree which can bestow the gift of longevity -- but only to those who choose to remain there forever.

Two rivalry friends discover a strange fable land where everyone lives a long, youthful, and non-competitive life. At the center of it all, stands a sacred peach tree which can bestow the gift of longevity -- but only to those who choose to remain there forever.

Blue Moon

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

In a health-obsessed dystopian world, a teen’s diagnosis of a weak heart leads her to uncover secrets that make
her question everything. A coming-of-age story about identity, emotions, dreams and nightmares.

In a health-obsessed dystopian world, a teen’s diagnosis of a weak heart leads her to uncover secrets that make
her question everything. A coming-of-age story about identity, emotions, dreams and nightmares.

The Origin of Prince of Denmark

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

A story of Hamlet's Uncle that you haven't seen.

A story of Hamlet's Uncle that you haven't seen.

World Behind the Fence

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

A innocent young woman lives a simple life with her mother in a garden until one day she encounters a stranger who makes her realize that she has been kept in a cage... World Behind the Fence is a one-act play exploring abusive relationship and the power of conditioning.

A innocent young woman lives a simple life with her mother in a garden until one day she encounters a stranger who makes her realize that she has been kept in a cage... World Behind the Fence is a one-act play exploring abusive relationship and the power of conditioning.

Homoskitten

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

When Leila tries to ask her feline boyfriend to brush his teeth, he throws her a tantrum. The couple’s relationship is at rock! The short explores inter-racial/cultural relationship as well as its gender dynamic.

When Leila tries to ask her feline boyfriend to brush his teeth, he throws her a tantrum. The couple’s relationship is at rock! The short explores inter-racial/cultural relationship as well as its gender dynamic.

The Drought Girl

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

Nemo is a fourth-grade human girl who prefers to play by herself, but is constantly teased by her obnoxious table-mate, Stone. However, their dynamic changes with the arrival of a strange girl who possess supernatural gifts/curses. The Drought Girl is one tale about two unlikely friendships told in three perspectives.

Nemo is a fourth-grade human girl who prefers to play by herself, but is constantly teased by her obnoxious table-mate, Stone. However, their dynamic changes with the arrival of a strange girl who possess supernatural gifts/curses. The Drought Girl is one tale about two unlikely friendships told in three perspectives.

The Snow Zither

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

A girl moves the Snow Goddess with her beautiful music, so the goddess helps her travel to the underworld to see her grandfather one last time, with her opinionated cat.

A girl moves the Snow Goddess with her beautiful music, so the goddess helps her travel to the underworld to see her grandfather one last time, with her opinionated cat.

The Golden Son

by Lyra Nalan

Synopsis

Li seems to have it all -- a rising, reputable career, a loving mother and a beautiful bride. However, the sudden visit of his estranged cousin from overseas turns his world upside down.

Li seems to have it all -- a rising, reputable career, a loving mother and a beautiful bride. However, the sudden visit of his estranged cousin from overseas turns his world upside down.