The Plays, Playwrights and Directors

As part of our second reading series, Artists at Play will present Marabella by Boni B. Alvarez along with She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen. Learn more about the respective playwrights and directors below, then join us for the readings on Sunday, April 6. Tickets available here.

Marabella
When her baby's father loses his wife, Marabella returns to her beloved Jason and his two sons whom she once nannied... and the attractive new tutor. A contemporary adaptation of Medea that leads a multi-ethnic cast in a thrilling and provocative journey.

Boni B. Alvarez (Playwright) is a Los Angeles-based playwright whose plays include Dallas Non-Stop, Dusty De Los Santos, The Special Education of Miss Lorna Combonga, Poke Back, and Ruby, Tragically Rotund. His plays have been produced/developed by Playwrights’ Arena, Los Angeles Theatre Center, Chalk Rep, Skylight Theatre, The Vagrancy, and Second Generation (2g). He won a 20/20 Development Award from InterAct Theatre and has been a finalist for the PEN Center USA Literary Award, Aurora Theatre’s Global Age Project, and Clubbed Thumb’s Biennial Commission. He attended Sarah Lawrence College (BA), ART/MXAT Institute at Harvard University (MFA), and USC (MFA).

Peter J. Kuo (Director) is a co-founder of Artists at Play, and an L.A. based theatre artist and administrator. His written plays, The Amazing Wedding Race and Three Steps Back, were developed in East West Players' David Henry Hwang Writers Institute. He wrote the book for The Antique Shop with composer Nathan Wang. Commonly known as a director, his directing credits include: Ching Chong Chinaman, Ordinary Days, Songs for a New World and Letters to a Student Revolutionary. As an arts administrator he's worked at South Coast Repertory, East West Players and LA Stage Alliance, among others.

Tiffany Moon (Dramaturg) is a dramaturg and theatre manager devoted to the development and production of new works. She is a member of the reading committee and the general manager of the Ojai Playwrights Conference, and is currently associate-producing Alice Tuan's Hit with Los Angeles Theatre Center. In addition, she leads post-show conversations and guides audience members through lobby engagement activities at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Tiffany will graduate with her MFA/MBA in Theatre Management from CSULB in May, where she serves as the general manager of California Repertory Company.


She Kills Monsters
After the passing of her younger sister, Agnes finds Tilly's Dungeons & Dragons notebook. What follows is a journey of self-discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was Tilly's refuge. An homage to the geek and warrior in all of us.

Qui Nguyen (Playwright) Originally from Arkansas, Qui Nguyen is a Brooklyn-based writer, fight choreographer, and co-artistic director of the OBIE award-winning Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company. His scripts include Krunk Fu Battle Battle (East West Players); Bike Wreck (produced at Youngblood and Metropolitan Playhouse); Trial By Water (produced at Ma-Yi Theater/Queens Theatre in the Park); Aliens Vs. Cheerleaders (Keen Teens); and the critically acclaimed Vampire Cowboys productions of The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G, Alice in Slasherland, Fight Girl Battle World, Men of Steel, Living Dead in Denmark, Stained Glass Ugly, A Beginner's Guide to Deicide, Vampire Cowboy Trilogy, and Soul Samurai. Additionally, he is a resident playwright of New Dramatists, a member of Ensemble Studio Theatre, co-director of the Ma-Yi Writers Lab, an alumnus of Youngblood, and an advanced actor/combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors. He has an MFA in Playwriting from Ohio University.

Andy Lowe (Director) Finalist of the California Young Playwrights (1994), Founding Artistic Director of the Asian American Repertory Theatre ('95-'05), Andy Lowe has been a producer of events and writer, director and/or producer of over 50 theatrical productions throughout San Diego. Receiving two mayoral commendations, he was recognized as one of 2001's "Top 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under the Age of 30" by Political Circus Magazine. From 2007–12, Andy served as “Theatre-in-Residence Program Coordinator” for the La Jolla Playhouse, while developing projects as producer/director of ChinesePirateProductions.com including a nationally recognized stage adaptation of Joss Whedon’s “Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog” (2011).  Andy is an advisor for Gam3rCon San Diego and current Production Manager for East West Players.


Come enjoy the readings on Sunday, April 6 and stay for dinner, drinks and dessert! Get your tickets now: http://bit.ly/AAPReadings14