Nilsa Reyna

Nilsa Reyna (she/her) actor, writer, and teaching artist is third generation Mexican-American. She co-founded the South Texas New Play Festival at South Texas College, was part of the founding ensemble of Teatro Luna, and served as Founder/Artistic Director of Chicago Fusion Theatre. She’s an inaugural Candela Summer Jam Fellow, an Askins Playwright Fellow, and was produced in the 6th and 7th Annual INTAR One-Minute Play Festivals. 

Select writing credits: Audio drama short: Día de la Sirena (The SolProject/Pregones/PRTT); Staged readings of full length plays: The Bride of Moyamoya (The Road Theatre Company); Legends of Texas (South Texas Latinx New Play Festival/South Texas College Theatre; Latinx Playwrights Circle’s Intensive Mentorship 2019-2020/Primary Stages; Frank Silvera Writers’...

Nilsa Reyna (she/her) actor, writer, and teaching artist is third generation Mexican-American. She co-founded the South Texas New Play Festival at South Texas College, was part of the founding ensemble of Teatro Luna, and served as Founder/Artistic Director of Chicago Fusion Theatre. She’s an inaugural Candela Summer Jam Fellow, an Askins Playwright Fellow, and was produced in the 6th and 7th Annual INTAR One-Minute Play Festivals. 

Select writing credits: Audio drama short: Día de la Sirena (The SolProject/Pregones/PRTT); Staged readings of full length plays: The Bride of Moyamoya (The Road Theatre Company); Legends of Texas (South Texas Latinx New Play Festival/South Texas College Theatre; Latinx Playwrights Circle’s Intensive Mentorship 2019-2020/Primary Stages; Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop; Lone Star Theatre) Stroke Vagina, a Moyamoya Story (Daughters of Troy; Rising Sun Performance Company/Governor’s Island; Lone Star Theatre; Monarch Theater). Staged readings of short plays: Plastic (New York Madness); Stay Woke, Stay Dope (New York Madness); Here Everything’s Better (Lone Star Theatre); Service Animal (New York Madness).

She’s a proud member of DIEZ, Latinx Playwrights Circle, The Playground Experiment, Dramatists Guild, and SAG-AFTRA. She’s currently based in Los Angeles. Connect: @nilsareyna.

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Scripts

The Bride of Moyamoya

by Nilsa Reyna

Cast Size
5
Genre
comedy,
drama,
immersive,
movement/physical

Six and a half years after an unexplainable stroke, The Bride of Moyamoya, is the semi-autobiographical journey of
playwright Nilsa Reyna as she heals from left side brain bypass surgery to treat moyamoya, a rare cerebrovascular
disease. This ensemble show is about resilience and finding joy and gratitude when recovery has so many
unexpected turns. It’s about flying across the country at the height of wildfire...

Six and a half years after an unexplainable stroke, The Bride of Moyamoya, is the semi-autobiographical journey of
playwright Nilsa Reyna as she heals from left side brain bypass surgery to treat moyamoya, a rare cerebrovascular
disease. This ensemble show is about resilience and finding joy and gratitude when recovery has so many
unexpected turns. It’s about flying across the country at the height of wildfire season, MRI tubes filled with Christmas
music to rival Hallmark movie soundtracks, and tests that make you feel as if you’re being poisoned from your feet to
your eyeballs by a Russian spy. It’s also about navigating an intense landscape because your caregiver and partner is
flirting with a severe mental health breakdown, your best friend recently died, and the only solace is your eight year
old niece and her YouTube videos.

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Legends of Texas

by Nilsa Reyna

8
Cast Size
6
Genre
comedy,
drama,
holiday,
political,
tragedy

The 2016 presidential election has happened, the holidays are in full swing, and Nancy and Reagan, two sisters on opposite sides of the political spectrum, grieve the death of their father, and wage war over their father’s gun store. Set in the South Texas border town of San Juan, Legends of Texas explores the debate around gun culture and whether some wounds can ever heal.

The 2016 presidential election has happened, the holidays are in full swing, and Nancy and Reagan, two sisters on opposite sides of the political spectrum, grieve the death of their father, and wage war over their father’s gun store. Set in the South Texas border town of San Juan, Legends of Texas explores the debate around gun culture and whether some wounds can ever heal.

Stroke Vagina, a Moyamoya Story

by Nilsa Reyna

2
Cast Size
1—6
Genre
adventure,
comedy,
drama,
immersive,
movement/physical

A weary medical administrative assistant/actor suffers a stroke and must learn to care for herself. Stroke Vagina is a story about blockages, overcoming them and living the life you've always wanted to live...no matter how long it may be.

A weary medical administrative assistant/actor suffers a stroke and must learn to care for herself. Stroke Vagina is a story about blockages, overcoming them and living the life you've always wanted to live...no matter how long it may be.

Plastic

by Nilsa Reyna

1
Cast Size
4
Genre
drama,
experimental,
immersive,
movement/physical,
political

Fire, Water, Air, and Earth have been left to deal with climate change, but does it no longer matter? Plastic is an indestructible force accelerating doom. Are we just one event away from the greatest downfall?

Fire, Water, Air, and Earth have been left to deal with climate change, but does it no longer matter? Plastic is an indestructible force accelerating doom. Are we just one event away from the greatest downfall?

Stay Woke, Stay Dope

by Nilsa Reyna

Cast Size
5
Genre
dark comedy,
political

Racial blindspots are confronted when a beloved black Hollywood couple agrees to appear on a new talk show.

Racial blindspots are confronted when a beloved black Hollywood couple agrees to appear on a new talk show.

Service Animal

by Nilsa Reyna

1
Cast Size
3
Genre
adventure,
comedy,
movement/physical

Many turn to dogs for emotional support but who does a person scared of dogs turn to? Are service animals the answer?

Many turn to dogs for emotional support but who does a person scared of dogs turn to? Are service animals the answer?

Here Everything's Better

by Nilsa Reyna

1
Cast Size
6
Genre
adventure,
comedy,
fantasy,
farce

A heart broken woman holds up an H-E-B pharmacy in McAllen, Texas to win back her love.

A heart broken woman holds up an H-E-B pharmacy in McAllen, Texas to win back her love.