SHORT WORKS FOR THE STAGE
by David Davila
MIMEO
a one-act opera
The world is in shambles and Montalon has created a Mimeo of himself in order to ensure that his art and his people are remembered after the fall of humanity. Now there are only minutes left before an extinction-level event and this artificial intelligence is questioning if humanity, with its history of colonialism, racism, and imperialism even deserves to be remembered. Can the artist change Mimeo’s mind in time, or is it the artist who needs to change?
Libretto by David Davila
Music by George Tsz-Kwan Lam
VERONICA'S RECIPE FOR GUACAMOLE
a poetic play
Veronica gives the audience a step-by-step guide to making her famous guacamole, as the painful memories of her ex-lover flood her consciousness with every ingredient she adds to the molcajete.
Premiered at Teatro Vida in Bloomington, IN.
FREE THROW
a one-act play
It's 30 seconds to end of the basketball game and the Indiana University Hoosiers have to make these two free-throws or Simon could lose everything.
Written for the Bloomington Playwrights Project 2021 "Play-Offs." Directed by John Armstrong and starring Jaden Schniderman, Rachel Claussman, and Davis Later.
THE BETRAYAL OF JULIUS CEASAR
a one-act play
Julius Caesar awakens from a terrible nightmare in the middle of the night to discover that his life is being narrated by a mysterious yet familiar figure - betrayal and hilarity ensue.
Premiered as part of Family Bladders at Indiana University in 2022.
SPIN THE BOTTLE
a one-act musical
A group of middle school students gather their nerves at a basement birthday party in order to play a game of spin the bottle. Their deepest fears and confessions are suddenly on display in this musical comedy.
Music & Lyrics by David Davila & Michael Wartofsky
FOR EVERY ACTION THERE IS AN OPPOSITE AND EQUAL REACTION
a one-act play
When Carli, a non-binary, effeminate, LatinX person, is late for their shift at the hotel, it leads them into a tragic altercation with their homophobic, machismo, boss.
Premiered at NY Madness in 2014.
KING CHARLES THE FIRST
a one-act play
Oliver Cromwell questions King Charles the first and members of his court on matters related to high treason. It does not go well.
Premiered as part of Family Bladders at Indiana University in 2022.
WATCH US SIT IN: LIVE
a one-act play
Two University of Texas college students live broadcast their sit-in protest of the secret Texas vote to close many abortion clinics in 2013.
This play was originally produced as part of an evening of plays inspired by Wendy Davis and her fight against Texas law makers trying to take away women's reproductive rights in 2013. THE CAPITOL PLAYS premiered at the Ken Davenport Theatre (formerly the 45th st Theatre) on May 13th, 2013 and featured original plays by David Davila, Lindsay Hicks, Mando Alvarado, and Raquel Almazan. The plays were directed by Christopher Romero-Wilson and starred Claudia Acosta, Anissa Felix, Laura Gomez, Kristoffer Infante, Kristen Leger, and John Mazurek.
THE LAST VIRGIN IN SCHOOL
a one-act play
Seneca Jade must win the Little Miss Big Tex pageant or her brother and her won't eat, and her sister will be stuck in jail. But when the talent portion of her pageant goes terribly wrong she is forced to confront the horrifying nature of her family's history and the emotional trauma it's caused her. Wanting any form of love and affection she can find she turns to her teacher, her gay brother, and the last virgin in school to rid her of the curse of her sexuality. This appalling study of abuse and the impoverished white class marries high camp, dark comedy, and magical realism to tell the tale of an innocent little girl who just wants to be loved.
Written with specific parameters given by a 24 hour play festival hosted by Lone Star Theatre Company in 2014.
RED LIGHT / GREEN LIGHT
a one-act play
An employee at a corporate office returns after taking leave to find that he has missed the new sensitivity training.
Premiered at NY Madness, Crossing Borders Festival in 2018. It was subsequently performed in Family Bladders in 2022.
CRABAPPLE GROVE
an introspective play
This piece was written to be performed by you - in your own mind - at Crabapple Grove in West Side Park on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, NY.
It was originally produced as part of the popular and twice extended “Tree Tales,” an interactive outdoor theatre performance piece that Prospect Theatre Company put together as a response to the indoor theatre bans enacted per Covid-era protocols.
PYRAMID
a short musical
In ancient Egypt, a young woman named Raina must save her brother Ahmed from being buried alive inside the pyramid of the Sun with the Pharaoh who's recently died by mysterious circumstances.
*This musical premiered Lincoln Center through the Across a Crowded Room program at Lincoln Center Library.
Book & Music by David Davila
Lyrics by Ed Levy
IF THEY COME FOR ME IN THE MORNING
THEY WILL COME FOR YOU AT NIGHT
a one-act play
An ICE agent is forced to recall the events that led to his suspension. However, the story he weaves might be far from the actual events which he wishes he could forget. The ten-minute play that inspired the Aztec Pirates Trilogy.
This play was originally written for a Lone Star Theatre Co festival of short plays in 2018. It had a subsequent reading at the PlayGround Experiment, and received its world premiere in 2022 at Bloomington Playwrights Project in collaboration with Teatro Vida, directed by David Davila.
THE TIME SHERIFF AND THE MIRROR OF DESTIKAHN
a one-act play
The Time Sheriff goes back in time to stop his evil nemesis from keeping his own mother from conceiving him through a one night stand.
A comedy written for the Constellation Stage and Screen 2023 One Act Play Festival.
WOMAN ON THE A
a short play
A woman riding the A train confronts her beliefs and her community.
Premiered as part of the 11/9 Festival at Cherry Lane Theatre produced by Primary Stages in 2017.
BETTER THAN SEX
a short play
A single guy gets grilled by his family about his sex life at a small wine and cheese gathering.
Premiered as part of Family Bladders at Indiana University in 2022.
WINE AND THE WAY WE EMBRACE
a short play
At an upscale wine bar, a server confronts his manager about an unfair firing, and the love between them.
THE WITNESS
a short play
What seems like a hook-up in Downtown LA is actually something much much more urgent!