RJ Silva

RJ Silva

RJ Silva (he/him) is an emerging playwright based in Chicago. A graduate of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University Chicago for Theatre and Musical Theatre, RJ also previously directed THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH by Phillip Dawkins at the Orlando Fringe Festival, and on various storytelling shows with 2nd Story Chicago. Outside of writing, he produces theatre and community events in...
RJ Silva (he/him) is an emerging playwright based in Chicago. A graduate of the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University Chicago for Theatre and Musical Theatre, RJ also previously directed THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH by Phillip Dawkins at the Orlando Fringe Festival, and on various storytelling shows with 2nd Story Chicago. Outside of writing, he produces theatre and community events in Chicago, and creates podcasts and YouTube shows for The Ampliverse.

Plays

  • Hail Mary/Maria by RJ Silva
    Cast: 
    3–5
    ·
    Genre: adventure, comedy + 3 more
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    Keyword: filipino, Filipino American + 8 more
    Genre: adventure, comedy, fantasy, movement/physical, romantic comedy
    Keyword: filipino, Filipino American, Filipinx, championship wrestling, pro wrestling, professional wrestling, Catholic, catholic and queer, Tagalog, Catholic family
    Kid, short for Kindness, gets slapped with his first real crush. He relies on his three Marys for guidance: his Filipina mother Marie, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his favorite pro wrestler Maria. And although he feels like he's blindly top-rope diving into love, will he be able to stand as a champion for himself? A coming-of-age story with the electricity of a live wrestling show, the comfort of your...
    Kid, short for Kindness, gets slapped with his first real crush. He relies on his three Marys for guidance: his Filipina mother Marie, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his favorite pro wrestler Maria. And although he feels like he's blindly top-rope diving into love, will he be able to stand as a champion for himself? A coming-of-age story with the electricity of a live wrestling show, the comfort of your Filipino family, and the warmth of a budding romance, HAIL MARY/MARIA is a heartfelt adventure of finding and loving who you are.
  • Not Unusual by RJ Silva
    Recommendations: 1
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    Cast: 
    2
    ·
    Genre: comedy
    ·
    Keyword: filipino, Filipino American + 7 more
    Genre: comedy
    Keyword: filipino, Filipino American, cross-generation humor, grandmother, 1960's music, Kpop, caretaker, caretaking, fandom
    Kyle gives up his plans at a K-pop convention to take care of his grandmother Corazon. However, she strikes a deal that could give them both their weekends back.
  • PTC (Parent-Teacher Conference) by RJ Silva
    Recommendations: 2
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    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: drama
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    Keyword: gay parenthood, gay relationships + 3 more
    Genre: drama
    Keyword: gay parenthood, gay relationships, break-up, break ups, good teacher
    A routine parent-teacher conference takes an awkward turn when Dennis walks into his daughter’s classroom with his husband Evan and sees his ex-boyfriend Jack as her teacher. In order to make their new relationship work, they’ll have to finally come to peace with their past.
  • Simmer by RJ Silva
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    3
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 1 more
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    Keyword: Magic Realism, magic + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, fantasy
    Keyword: Magic Realism, magic, grandmother/granddaughter relationship, gender roles, Family Business
    Kristina has always wanted to learn magic from her grandmother Arabella, but her dad Joseph forbids it. After getting caught making her first potion with Arabella by her dad, she forces both to finally tell her why magic was kept away from her - revealing an old world mentality that will need to change if they want to keep the "family business" alive.