Ryan M. Luevano

Ryan M. Luevano

Ryan M. Luévano (he/him) is a Latinx playwright, screenwriter, talent manager and theatre critic in the greater Los Angeles area. He’s worked as a professor of music at Woodbury University, Santa Ana College and Rio Hondo College. He is also a board member of the Foundation for New American Musicals, a regular teaching artist at A Noise Within Theatre Company and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of...
Ryan M. Luévano (he/him) is a Latinx playwright, screenwriter, talent manager and theatre critic in the greater Los Angeles area. He’s worked as a professor of music at Woodbury University, Santa Ana College and Rio Hondo College. He is also a board member of the Foundation for New American Musicals, a regular teaching artist at A Noise Within Theatre Company and a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

Most recently he was accepted as Artists-in-Residence at Chateau d’Orquevaux in France for summer 2021, awarded the Denis Diderot Grant for his work on the musical 57 Bus and won the Full Circle Players’ New Works Play Festival in 2021.

Plays

  • 57 Bus by Ryan M. Luevano
    Cast: 
    8–30
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama + 2 more
    ·
    Keyword: nonbinary protagonist, Gay and LGBTQ + 7 more
    Genre: comedy, drama, musical, young audiences
    Keyword: nonbinary protagonist, Gay and LGBTQ, Non-binary characters, coming of age, colleges and high schools, bipoc, LGBTQ, black actors, features characters of color
    Inspired by a real incident in Oakland, California, in 2013, “57 Bus” delves into the aftermath of a hate crime where an 18-year-old non-binary high school student’s skirt was set on fire. The musical intricately explores how this traumatic event forever alters the lives of the victim, Skylar, and the perpetrator, John Michael. Confronted with the harsh reality of intolerance, Skylar grapples with the profound...
    Inspired by a real incident in Oakland, California, in 2013, “57 Bus” delves into the aftermath of a hate crime where an 18-year-old non-binary high school student’s skirt was set on fire. The musical intricately explores how this traumatic event forever alters the lives of the victim, Skylar, and the perpetrator, John Michael. Confronted with the harsh reality of intolerance, Skylar grapples with the profound question of whether the pursuit of self-expression is worth the challenges in an unforgiving world. John Michael faces a crucial decision—to embrace the repercussions of his actions and navigate a path that transcends societal expectations, emerging from his circumstances stronger and wiser than ever before.

    As Skylar navigates the complexities of their quest for self-expression, a journey of self-discovery unfolds. The musical becomes a poignant exploration of identity, resilience, and healing. “57 Bus” offers an unfiltered perspective on the impact of intolerance on young lives, highlighting the transformative power of understanding and empathy. Ultimately, it aims to contribute to breaking the cycle of hate, fostering a narrative of peace and unity.

  • Dance Plague by Ryan M. Luevano
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    12
    ·
    Genre: adventure, comedy + 8 more
    ·
    Keyword: great roles for young actors, dance + 5 more
    Genre: adventure, comedy, dark comedy, drama, immersive, movement/physical, satire, science fiction, young audiences, zoom
    Keyword: great roles for young actors, dance, play for teens, future, plague, colleges and high schools, middle school
    In the futuristic realm of 2120, the dance plague of 1518 resurfaces on a global scale, intertwining past, present, and future. A determined group of young female dancers initiates clandestine conversations to navigate the challenges of fear, anxiety, isolation, and an irresistible primal compulsion to move. "Dance Plague" probes the consequences of history literally repeating itself, compelling us to...
    In the futuristic realm of 2120, the dance plague of 1518 resurfaces on a global scale, intertwining past, present, and future. A determined group of young female dancers initiates clandestine conversations to navigate the challenges of fear, anxiety, isolation, and an irresistible primal compulsion to move. "Dance Plague" probes the consequences of history literally repeating itself, compelling us to confront the inevitability of chaos and our duty to intervene in a quest to break the cycle.
  • La Lavadora by Ryan M. Luevano
    Recommendations: 1
    ·
    Cast: 
    8
    ·
    Genre: comedy, drama
    ·
    Keyword: Latinx family, Latinx experience + 6 more
    Genre: comedy, drama
    Keyword: Latinx family, Latinx experience, Latinx, Mexican American, hispanic, memory play, english/spanish, Spanish
    When the la lavadora (the washing machine) breaks down, Rafael Sr. and Esperanza Mendez, a Mexican couple living on the same property but under different roofs, are forced to collaborate. Their adult son, Rafael Jr., steps in as the mediator. In this reflective play, the Mendez family's odyssey from Juarez, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, and finally to Los Angeles, California, unfolds—a journey marked by the...
    When the la lavadora (the washing machine) breaks down, Rafael Sr. and Esperanza Mendez, a Mexican couple living on the same property but under different roofs, are forced to collaborate. Their adult son, Rafael Jr., steps in as the mediator. In this reflective play, the Mendez family's odyssey from Juarez, Mexico, to El Paso, Texas, and finally to Los Angeles, California, unfolds—a journey marked by the erosion of a marriage fueled by pride, tradition, and an unwavering commitment to family.

    Simultaneously, in the present, a mound of dirty laundry accumulates as the supply of clean clothes dwindles. The central question emerges: Can they find common ground to repair not only the washing machine but also the fragments of their marriage?
  • Love is Dead by Ryan M. Luevano
    Cast: 
    4
    ·
    Genre: dark comedy, drama + 1 more
    ·
    Keyword: bisexuality, metaphysics + 7 more
    Genre: dark comedy, drama, tragedy
    Keyword: bisexuality, metaphysics, Ancient Greek Myth, American Indian, threesome relationship, love triangle, LGBTQ, ritual, Ancient Greek Philosophy
    Exploring profound desires, longtime friends Stacy and Will reunite in North Carolina during the spring. Having both experienced heartbreak in the past, they enter into a pact devoid of love—an arrangement fueled by detached lust and fantasy. However, the simplicity of their agreement takes a complex turn when Daisy, a local girl, becomes entangled in their dynamics.

    Woven with elements of...
    Exploring profound desires, longtime friends Stacy and Will reunite in North Carolina during the spring. Having both experienced heartbreak in the past, they enter into a pact devoid of love—an arrangement fueled by detached lust and fantasy. However, the simplicity of their agreement takes a complex turn when Daisy, a local girl, becomes entangled in their dynamics.

    Woven with elements of ancient myths, metaphysics, and prehistoric rituals, "Love is Dead" transforms into a contemporary ritual of sacrifice and feast. In this metaphorical banquet, the players find themselves served on a plate, with an audience eagerly poised to partake in the unfolding drama.
  • Passing Time: A Quarantine Play by Ryan M. Luevano
    Cast: 
    5–20
    ·
    Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic + 4 more
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    Keyword: Quarantine, Covid-19 + 3 more
    Genre: comedy, docudrama/historic, drama, political, romantic comedy, zoom
    Keyword: Quarantine, Covid-19, contemporary romance, black lives matter, Pandemic and social distancing
    As the mandated quarantine stretches on for days, weeks, and months, Ethan grapples with the challenge of filling his time. Isolated and yearning for genuine connections, he seeks the motivation to exercise, the inspiration to complete his screenplay, and the resilience to maintain hope. Unexpectedly, amidst the monotony, Ethan discovers the courage to confront his insecurities and even stumbles upon the prospect of falling in love.