Leah Nanako Winkler

Hiro is a self-made woman making it in New York. But she is also single, almost thirty, and estranged from her dysfunctional family who lives in Kentucky. When her little sister, a born-again Christian, decides to marry at twenty-two, Hiro takes it upon herself to do whatever she can to stop the wedding and salvage any shred of hope she had about her sister’s future. The themes of identity, religion, and love collide in this unique coming-of-age story.

Note on casting: An alternative version of the play, adjusted for 9 actors (6F, 3M) is available for purchase in manuscript form through Dramatists Play Service upon request.
“KENTUCKY marks the full-length debut of a distinctive new voice—mouthy, sly and bourbon sweet, with the expected kick.” —The New York Times. “…the show’s voice is refreshing and witty…a fresh, affecting play…” —Time Out NY. “Leah Nanako Winkler has created a sort of millennial Odyssey…[KENTUCKY] has an antic, unruly spirit. Still, Winkler’s story is ultimately a serious one, about the commonplace nature of childhood trauma and the radically different paths people take to recovery.” —The New Yorker. “…exceptional…There is an excitement and charm to Nanako Winkler’s language…KENTUCKY has not only put Leah Nanako Winkler on the map but ensured her as an important player in contemporary theater.” —TheaterInTheNow.com.

It’s classic rom-com. Beguiling Lane works in a bakery and in short order wins over cool customer Steph with her warmth, wit, and homemade desserts. Their blossoming relationship also opens the door to romance for Lane’s older sister Della, who hasn’t been on a date in years. But the skies dramatically darken as each woman must come to terms with her own limitations. The Brightest Thing in the World is a funny and compassionate new play about people we all know and people we all love.

When the Donnelly’s gather for a weekend in the country to gather their belongings for their recently sold estate—both an internal storm and a literal storm brews (uh oh!). As this brood of famous, longing-to-be-famous and kind of a mess but totally Caucasian family comes together with their non-white personal assistant, Charlotte, some really really really really really complicated and totally unique secrets are revealed over white wine. A satirical takedown coupled with moments of disorienting sincerity, TWO MILE HOLLOW explores the age old theater genre of affluent white families retreating to their lake houses for a weekend of secrets and fights with brutality, awe and compassion. Only this time, none of the white characters are played by white actors.

James, a recovering alcoholic seeks redemption from his family when his wife is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of uterine cancer. John, a thirty-something single dad searches for a legacy for his only son while Hiro, a single NYC transplant struggles to let go of the demons she inherited. Sophie, a born again Christian, confronts her faith as she comes to terms with the inevitable death of her parents, her own shortcomings and some broken dreams. This is a play about five Godless and God-loving people in Lexington, Kentucky who face mortality in very different ways.
 
(God Said This has so far been developed by the Dorothy Streslin New American Writers Group at Primary Stages and Second Generation Productions)

David and Jenny meet up on Tinder and ask each other the thirty-six questions that are supposed to lead to love.

Emi, a twenty-something biracial woman, begins to urgently question her own legacy. Afraid that she is whitewashing her Asian culture, she dumps her perfect white boyfriend of three years in pursuit of a hot Asian doctor husband. But nobody is what they seem to be in this highly theatrical romantic comedy that asks the question: is love truly blind? Or are our relationships just a carefully curated conglomeration of our own racial bias?

It’s Diversity Awareness Week at Johnson-Brown University! This means even the employees of the tele-FUN-draising department is required to participate in the mandatory Diversity Awareness activity at 3pm. As six employees ponder which color of the rainbow they might be and attempt to speak candidly with each other, uncomfortable tensions, anger and true love arise.

Walking a line between being pointedly truthful and horribly offensive this play is a dark comedy about six teenage girls navigating the treacherous landscape of Northeast Valley High. When the new girl, Nancy, comes to town she must channel her entire self-worth into over throwing the most popular girl at school: Sydney Black. As she takes this journey, led by her quirky, Asian sidekick Jen, she discovers both the overt and covert girl-on-girl violence perpetrated throughout the school.With live music, original songs, and a talented all female cast, this promises to be quite the ride, a side-splitting satire about what it means to grow up as an all-American girl.

Bethany and Charles, a wholesome American couple, become owners of Android Minami, a Japanese robo-maid. As Minami becomes integrated into their mundane lives, repressed emotions arise and the line between servitude and fetishism begin to collide. Part of the collection Off Off Broadway Festival Plays, 39th Series.
Winner of the 39th Annual Samuel French Off Off-Broadway Short Play Festival, presented at Playwrights Horizons in August, 2014.