Mark-Eugene Garcia

"Eight Tales of Pedro" is a dynamic and heartfelt exploration of Latine identity and heritage, set against the backdrop of migration and folklore. The play alternates between two timelines: a group of Mexican immigrants traveling in a van toward the U.S.-Mexico border, and the fantastical stories of Pedro Urdemales, a clever trickster from Latine folklore. As the travelers recount Pedro’s legendary adventures, their own personal struggles and desires emerge, blurring the line between myth and reality.

Through quick changes, witty dialogue, and inventive storytelling, the characters embody various figures from Pedro’s tales—dealing with themes of survival, love, hope, and cunning in the face of adversity. As Pedro navigates through life's challenges with wit and charm, the travelers in the van are confronted with their own hopes and dreams for a better future, weaving their stories into the fabric of these ancient tales.

With humor, heart, and rich cultural references, "Eight Tales of Pedro" celebrates the power of storytelling as a means of connection, resistance, and identity. It’s a lively, poignant production that invites the audience to reflect on the journey of life, both real and imagined.

The script for Eight Tales of Pedro is available for purchase and licensing through Theatrical Rights Worldwide. https://trwplays.com/eight-tales-of-pedro/

"Flake of Snow" is a compelling mystery that blends suspense, romance, and existential discovery. The story follows Deborah Richardson, a determined young reporter, on her search for her missing ex-boyfriend, Richard Howard. As she digs deeper, she uncovers the tangled secrets of his life and his powerful family's past.

Shifting between two timelines—Richard's enigmatic disappearance seven years ago and Deborah's present-day investigation—the play weaves together moments of love, loss, and identity. Set against the backdrop of college life, family expectations, and political intrigue, "Flake of Snow" invites audiences into a haunting narrative where every clue brings Deborah closer to understanding Richard's true nature and the secret of life itself. With themes of love, identity, and the inexorable passage of time, "Flake of Snow" delivers a heartfelt exploration of how one person’s life can impact another's forever.

"Goat Blood" is a supernatural thriller infused with Latine folklore, queer identity, and a dark exploration of personal demons. At its core, the play follows Pablo and Owen, two coworkers waiting in the woods for a casual double date. What begins as lighthearted banter turns into something much deeper as Pablo’s haunted past resurfaces in the form of a terrifying Chupacabra—an ancient monster tied to his roots.
As the night unfolds, Owen's skepticism is shattered when the creature begins hunting them. But the Chupacabra is not just a monster—it's a manifestation of secrets, guilt, and unresolved trauma that Pablo has carried since losing his little brother years ago. Now, the two men must face their pasts, their desires, and the very real possibility of death.
"Goat Blood" combines intense horror with moments of dark humor and tenderness, tackling themes of cultural identity, masculinity, and forbidden attraction in the face of a relentless supernatural force. It's a heart-pounding ride, blending the thrill of horror with intimate, raw emotion.

"(Un)Missed Connections" is a raw and heartfelt exploration of modern love, lust, and the often blurry lines in between. The play revolves around a group of queer men in New York City, each navigating their personal desires, mistakes, and the deep emotional connections (or missed ones) that shape their lives. The central storylines include Carlos, a man torn between his stable but stale long-term partner and a younger, passionate lover, and the web of secrets, infidelity, and desire that ensnare everyone they know.
Set across intimate spaces—from a cramped bedroom to a clinical waiting room—the characters wrestle with their own emotional baggage, seeking connection and clarity in a chaotic world. Through sharp, poignant dialogue and moments of dark humor, "(Un)Missed Connections" paints a complex portrait of relationships where longing, vulnerability, and sex collide. It’s a modern tale of connection and disconnection, filled with tender moments, explosive confrontations, and the underlying fear of being truly seen.
This play captures the messy, sometimes painful, reality of queer love, making it a timely, emotional rollercoaster that will resonate with anyone who’s ever been in love, lost, or somewhere in between.

In the quirky small town of Credence, South Dakota, Sundays are for baseball and faith—but for the Holy Cows, the local church's baseball team, it's been a long losing streak. Amid the laughter and small-town drama, the Pastor's wife, Marlys Brooks, struggles to keep her life together after the tragic loss of one daughter and the return of her rebellious other daughter, Elizabeth, from rehab. As the community gathers for the big game, tensions rise, faith is tested, and old wounds are reopened. Can a win on the field heal the deep emotional scars off it?
Blending heart and humor, The Holy Cows of Credence, South Dakota is a musical comedy about love, loss, small-town rivalries, and the quest for faith—on and off the baseball diamond. As the Holy Cows aim for a miraculous victory, Marlys fights to find her own, hoping for a sign from above that life can still offer hope, healing, and maybe even a little joy.
This show delivers big laughs, catchy tunes, and heartfelt moments, perfect for anyone who's ever rooted for an underdog—or needed a little divine intervention.

Welcome to Virgin, Minnesota—a town so stuck in its ways that even the cows might be celibate. Mayor Frankie is determined to save the town from economic doom by bringing in a new factory, run by the brilliant but no-nonsense Dr. Corazon De La Fuente. But here's the twist: the factory manufactures sexual enhancement pills, and it doesn't take long before things start to get… steamy.

Just as the townsfolk are warming up to the idea of jobs, an accident sends a mysterious cloud of sex-enhancing mist floating through Virgin. Now, the once-uptight residents are overcome with desire, and all their repressed urges start bubbling up like a Midwestern hot dish left on high. Under the watchful (and hilariously judgmental) eye of Old Lady Warner, the whole town is turned upside down as everyone deals with newfound lust, confusion, and a whole lot of awkward conversations.

"With Bated Breath" is a laugh-out-loud romp about how one small town gets a big dose of hormones and learns to loosen up—ready or not!

With Bated Breath began in 2003 when playwright Mark-Eugene Garcia stumbled upon a fluff news story about a small Irish town claiming its residents were affected by fumes from a nearby Viagra plant. While Pfizer dismissed the claim as impossible, Mark-Eugene couldn’t help but wonder—what if it wasn’t?

At the time, he and his writing collaborator, composer Jeff Thomson, were searching for a new musical concept. When Mark-Eugene pitched the idea, they jumped on it, crafting an original and outrageous story set in a small Minnesota town affected by a pharmaceutical plant explosion that turns its residents into sex zombies.

Over the next year, the team developed the show through The Academy for New Musical Theatre (now New Musicals Inc.), under the direction of Scott Guy and Elise Dewsberry. The piece was presented in a series of workshops and performances over the following two years, culminating in a two-night run at the Colony Theatre in Burbank in 2005.

After relocating to New York, both Mark-Eugene and Jeff continued to develop the show. Eventually, they realized their creative visions were diverging, and Jeff offered his blessing for Mark-Eugene to continue the project solo.
Mark-Eugene continued developing the piece while working on other shows. Between 2018 and 2020, he presented a reimagined version of the libretto—now titled With Bated Breath—in installments at the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. The final draft, shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the cultural focus on consent and the Me Too movement, and Mark-Eugene’s personal experiences with anxiety, was presented as a Zoom reading. The overwhelmingly positive response prompted him to pursue publication through Next Stage Press.

The play has since found success with Next Stage Press, and Mark-Eugene proudly dedicated the published script to his friend and original collaborator, Jeff Thomson.

A frustrated young writer has a final conversation with his Mentor.

Exes Jill and Chris meet for lunch for the first time since their break up. A request for the return of housekeys leads into a battle where the weapons include, falling out of love, sexual flair, and who loved who more.

Is it possible to break up with an instagram influencer?

It's Saint Patrick's day and Travis and Trevor, a couple on the verge of making a change, stumble into a bar they've never seen before. Before they know it, Mysty the bartender is showing them what love really is in this Meta love story.

“CAR” and “JUAN” sit in a busy Salvadorean restaurant amidst other couples. They are the only non heterosexual couple. They soon realize that their view of what it means to be Latinx is challenged by another's view of what it means to be a couple.

Five strangers. One terminal. Zero idea how they got here.

In Standby, a moody, rock-infused musical blending the raw energy of Rent with the eerie suspense of The Twilight Zone, five lost souls wake up in a shadowy airport terminal where time seems to stand still. Richard, an engineer weighed down by guilt; Andrew, a closeted teenager struggling with his identity; Samantha, a grieving college student; Jonathan, a battle-hardened Marine fighting his inner demons; and Cynthia, his heartbroken fiancée, are stranded in a layover between life and death. But this is no ordinary stopover—it’s a purgatorial waiting room where their fates hang in the balance.

As they try to unravel the mystery of their pasts and how they arrived here, they're guided (and toyed with) by Peter, the enigmatic gatekeeper of this liminal space. One by one, secrets are exposed, and each must confront their deepest regrets, darkest fears, and hardest truths. Will they find the redemption they’re seeking? Or are some things too broken to be repaired?

Tensions rise and hearts break as the characters realize that "moving on" isn’t just about catching the next flight—it’s about facing the choices that got them stuck in the first place. With a powerful score that pulses with raw emotion and electrifying harmonies, Standby explores guilt, forgiveness, and the heavy price of redemption, asking us all: what would you do if you were given one last chance to rewrite your story?

Time is running out, and the final boarding call is approaching. Will they stay behind, or soar into whatever comes next? In Standby, the journey is as haunting as it is hopeful, a powerful reflection on life, love, and the moments that define us.

Two friends will do anything for each other. (Lies, Identity Theft, Sexting, Bodies Buried in the Desert...) A comedy about taking the phrase to the limit.