Bios:
Juan Villa (Writer/Performer Empanada for a Dream) Juan’s original stomping grounds was the Lower East Side of New York City. He’s a second generation Colombian immigrant and recovering Catholic. Like a good Native New Yorker he left for Chicago where he performed at Improv Olympic, Second City, The Goodman Theater, Steppenwolf Theater, with esteemed playwrights such as Jose Rivera, Laura Eason, Ifa Bayeza, Migdalia Cruz and Quiara Alegria-Hudes. His NYC credits include Rattlestick, Mabou Mines/SUITE, INTAR, Monarch, HERO Theater, Lark Play Development, Collaberation Town, BAX, Barrow Group Theater, New Ohio Theater, TerraNOVA, Rising Phoenix Rep and 59E59. He has worked as a Teaching Artist with Manhattan Theater Club, Pegasus Players, Salsation, Teatro Vista and currently with The Peoples Theater Project Harbor Heights 8th graders in Washington Heights. He has been an ensemble member of SALSATION, Chicago’s first Latino Sketch/Improv Group. He is a current ensemble member of Teatro Vista in Chicago and InViolet Theater Company in NYC. You most likely have heard him as the original voice of Miller Chill and in the international Spanish commercial for Hellmans Lite. He just completed a sold out April run of Empanada For A Dream in NYC and was then immediately invited to remount it for the NYC soloNOVA Art Fest in June. He is a proud member of AEA-SAG/AFTRA.
Alex Levy’s (Director Empanada for a Dream) Alex's work has been seen throughout the United States and around the world. He recently directed Empanada For a Dream in New York for Ballybeg and later for the soloNOVA Arts Festival. His directing credits include the national tour of America Amerique for Jena Productions. His production of My Soul is a Witness was featured in the Hindu Metro-Plus International Theatre Festival in Chennai, India and toured several cities throughout India. In Los Angeles, he has directed the world premiere of In the Red for the ARK Theatre. For UCLA, he directed Copenhagen, Dead Man’s Cell Phone and he conceived, adapted and directed A Dark Sun and Home Front. Before moving to Los Angeles, Alex served as Artistic Director of Pegasus Players where he directed Continental Divide, Golda’s Balcony (Jeff Award for “Outstanding Solo Performance),The Upper Room (Jeff Citation for “Best New Work”), Black Caesar (Three Black Excellence Nominations), Still Life, Broadway Bound (Jeff nominated for four citations including “Best Production” and winner of the After Dark Award for “Best Ensemble”) andThe One-Eyed Man is King as well as nine productions for the Chicago Young Playwrights Festival. Alex has an MFA from The University of California-Los Angeles.
Alex Levy’s (Director Empanada for a Dream) Alex's work has been seen throughout the United States and around the world. He recently directed Empanada For a Dream in New York for Ballybeg and later for the soloNOVA Arts Festival. His directing credits include the national tour of America Amerique for Jena Productions. His production of My Soul is a Witness was featured in the Hindu Metro-Plus International Theatre Festival in Chennai, India and toured several cities throughout India. In Los Angeles, he has directed the world premiere of In the Red for the ARK Theatre. For UCLA, he directed Copenhagen, Dead Man’s Cell Phone and he conceived, adapted and directed A Dark Sun and Home Front. Before moving to Los Angeles, Alex served as Artistic Director of Pegasus Players where he directed Continental Divide, Golda’s Balcony (Jeff Award for “Outstanding Solo Performance),The Upper Room (Jeff Citation for “Best New Work”), Black Caesar (Three Black Excellence Nominations), Still Life, Broadway Bound (Jeff nominated for four citations including “Best Production” and winner of the After Dark Award for “Best Ensemble”) andThe One-Eyed Man is King as well as nine productions for the Chicago Young Playwrights Festival. Alex has an MFA from The University of California-Los Angeles.