Once an Emo... A mother and teacher gets the opportunity to follow her rock star dreams. Does she take it? Does she not? That is the question. Follow her on this pop-punk musical journey.
Full Lengths
We Both Suck Our Teeth 5 W, 3 M (Running time: 1hr 30 mins) Igbo class is a safe space for Black students at Texas Light University. When that class becomes the backdrop of a viral video of an intense argument between Faith, a Black American Senior and Uchenna, a Nigerian American graduate student, the divide between the African community and the Black American community on campus is pushed to the forefront. In order to alleviate her campus' issues, Dean Thompson assigns Faith and Uchenna a mandatory project that will seek to connect the members of the Black community... if only they can put aside their differences long enough to create it. In this funny, ensemble-driven love story, We Both Suck Our Teeth explores the division and unity within the African diaspora.
Development History Rec Room Writers Audio Recording, Rec Room, January 2021 Scriptworks Salon, Online, March 2021 Rec Room Writers Room, December 2019-June 2020 Esurient Arts, Fall 2020
Awards ScriptWorks Ground Works Grant, 2020 Maison Baldwin Fellows Residency in France, 2020
The Stories of Us (Running Time 1 hr.) The Stories of Us is a collection of stories that dig deep into intercultural conflict between African Americans and Latinos, African Diaspora identity and Afrolatinidad. Think of it as a scrapbook of experiences, histories and feelings on the stage. It’s takes you through stories about African roots in Mexico, the time you told your brother you were dating a “Black girl” and that moment you were proud of your heritage. The Stories of US details our stories as people of color trying to navigate each other’s worlds and build one together. Production University of Houston-Downtown Fall 2021 Full Production (Houston, Texas) Teatro Vivo- April 2016 Full Production (Austin, Texas) Development History Workshop Production with Teatrx June 2019 (Houston, Texas) Vision Latino Theatre Company Residency and Reading-August 2017 (Chicago, Illinois) The Now Africa Festival at New York University-October 2016 Excerpt Reading (New York, New York) The Black and Brown Fest-October 2016 Excerpt Reading (Detroit, Michigan) Teatro Vivo- October 2015 Workshop Staged Reading (Austin, Texas) Austin Latino New Play Festival-May 2015 Staged Reading (Austin, Texas) University of Texas at Austin-Spring 2013 Staged Reading (Austin, Texas)
Delivery (Running time: 1 hr and 10 minutes.) 3 W, 2 M When high school seniors Murdr, Mani and Javier find themselves in Ms. Tolivar’s English class, they begin to find themselves and express their views of the world around them. They compete for a space in the end of the year poetry competition for scholarship money and bragging rights. Welcome to the world of Black and Brown voices as they navigate living in the hood, police brutality, and the adventures of teen-hood.
Development History New American Voices Festival at the Queens Theatre-Virtual-New York, August 2020 Developmental Residency at the Black and Latino Playwrights Celebration-Texas State University, September 2019 SEED Developmental Staged Reading in Houston, Texas-August 2018 Reading/Residency at the National Playwrights Retreat in Creede, Colorado-January 2018 Reading at the Mexican American Cultural Center-June 2017 Reading (Scriptworks Monthly Salon) at Austin Playwrights Studio - May 2017
Awards Bay Area Playwrights Festival Semi-Finalist 2020
"Jelisa’s play, Delivery, reminded me of the nuances of both, being a student in a Texas public school classroom, and being a in front of the classroom as a substitute teacher in my hometown. I love how it empowers Black and Brown kids to use art as an avenue to express themselves."-Ja'Michael De'Shawn
Circle (Running time: 2 hrs) 3 W, 3 M Hakeem is a recent college graduate who doesn't drive, has no job and is nowhere close to achieving his dream of being a famous writer. After reconnecting with a high school sweetheart, Hakeem goes on a journey of self-discovery and gratitude, realizing that your path might not be a straight line; sometimes life is like a circle.
Development History Developmental Reading through The Landing Local Program at the Landing Theatre, June 2020
Fae and Paciencia (Running time: 1 hr.) 3 W, 4 M Set in Texas, Fae and Paciencia tells the story of Jorge, a Mexican-American college student whose life is quickly spiraling out of control until he has an unexpected encounter with Fae, an optimistic Black millennial who has a habit of being in the right place at the right time. The play depicts young people of color navigating college, family, mental health issues.
Development History Staged reading at the Rec Room (Houston, Texas), 2017 Staged reading at the Off Center (Austin, Texas), 2016 Commissioned by the Echame Un Ojo Festival 2016
Short Plays and Monologues
Your Dad and I Monologue: A woman shares love for her unborn son. Fantasy Theatre Factory (FTF), 2021 Performed by actress Lisa Arrindell Anderson at the Billie Holiday Theatre, 2020
Special Delivery 1 W, 1 W 5 mins A teacher tries to convince her student to come back to school. Austin Community College, May 2021 Findeth a Wife 1 M, 1 W 10 mins A relationship progresses over a zoom call, but which way will it go? The Vortex Virtual Programming, May 2020
Morning Affirmations 3 W 5 mins Three women stand in front of a mirror, and what do they see? Reading-Thank you, Ten, Rec Room December 2022 Reading-Self-Love Mixer, February 2020
Minutes and Digits 1 M, 2 W 10 mins 14/48 Festival, 2018
Fight til' the Death 3 W 10 mins 14/48 Festival, 2017
Pop-Buelo 1 W, 1 M 5 mins Maria Irene Fornes Playwright Workshop Presentation, 2016