Photos by Bronwen Sharp
"VIA dreamy vignettes and his lovely poetic dialogue, Mr. Meneses offers a simple, artful and powerful exploration of grief, familial discord and reconciliation." - Darryl Reilly
BIO:
James Manuel Meneses is a Chilean Chinese American playwright, actor, and theater producer committed to developing bold, original work that amplifies underrepresented voices and explores the complexities of the human experience. His play HEALING MINED premiered at Theaterlab in New York City in April 2025. He is currently a co-producer on Michael McKeever’s Play THE CODE opening in London this Fall. Previously, he wrote the libretto and produced an industry reading of HERE IS GONE, a sci-fi jukebox musical featuring the music of the Goo Goo Dolls. His plays DREAM FRAGMENTATION and WHILE YOU WAIT were produced by the Greenhouse Ensemble and staged at the Bernie Wohl Center and Theater 97, respectively.
Before shifting his focus to playwriting and producing, James performed in over a dozen plays in NYC, including SUNSHINE QUEST at The Wild Project and SECOND SEAT, winner of the Best Play award at the New York Theater Festival. On screen, he co-starred alongside Judith Roberts (Orange is the New Black) in the film REUNION, which screened at the European Independent Film Festival and Chelsea Film Festival.
A proud member of the Dramatists Guild, James is currently a Lyricist in the Musical Theatre Writing Collective and a former member of Next Stage, a theater producing mentorship program led by Tony Award–winning producer Ken Davenport.
James studied playwriting at HB Studio with Julie McKee and at Primary Stages with Lia Romeo, trained in acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts Conservatory, and holds a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Architectural Technology from Alfred State College.
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"A DELIGHTFUL MIX OF STORYTELLING, DANCE, AND MUSIC"
HI! DRAMA - ED MALIN
Industry Reading Presentation of HERE IS GONE a GOO GOO DOLLS Musical (March 7th 2024)
Synopsis
Driven by a premonition that her unborn son will be separated from her at birth, Bianca Sullivan a loyal civilian begins to defy the rules set by her country’s authoritarian leadership. HERE IS GONE intertwines the evocative tunes of the GOO GOO DOLLS to tell a tale of sacrifice, rebellion, and the limitless power of dreams, while exploring a futuristic world where genuine human connection is overridden by laws and technological advancements.
"LET LOVE IN"
written by Johnny Rzeznik
"FEARLESS"
written by Johnny Rzeznik
"MIRACLE PILL"
written by Johnny Rzeznik
SITZPROBE REHEARSAL
HEALING MINED: NYC PREMIERE SET FOR APRIL 2025 at THEATERLAB:
An epic tale told through magical realism, music, and dance — following a son's journey to reach his father and pull him from the depths of grief.
Synopsis: After the death of his wife, Gonzalo—a middle-aged father —withdraws into a world of dreams, fairytales, and faded memories that bring him moments of peace. In these other worlds, he seeks connection, hoping to feel understood and less alone. But as reality and fantasy begin to intertwine, he’s forced to confront a difficult truth: the comfort he’s been chasing isn’t in the past or his dreams but in accepting the uncertain future that’s waiting for him.
IN DEVELOPMENT:
"FOOTBALL BALLERINA" In this play, the bond between two sisters, Michelle and Sarah Lombardo, takes center stage. Michelle, who is autistic, uses rituals to summon the spirits of their ancestors to convince Sarah to return to playing football. When words fail her, Michelle finds solace in song, using music to express the depth of her emotions. The story unfolds like a memory, shifting between this period and 11 years earlier when Sarah was entering the college football stage, a time when their father, a recovering alcoholic, grapples with the grief of losing their mother, and begins to withdraw from his children. A time when Sarah must navigate the demands of taking care of Michelle, while facing the pressure of pursuing her own dreams of becoming the first female professional football player.
WHILE YOU WAIT (a play with dance and performance art) by James Meneses
at the West 97th Theater. Produced by the Greenhouse Ensemble
“Always exciting to see a Greenhouse show because you never know what to expect! Congratulations to the cast and crew of While You Wait on such an honest, vulnerable and sincere performance. Thank you for the courage to explore and share your intimate feelings about art, human relationships and the theater. Cannot wait to see it again in the future!”
– Di Zhu, Managing Director, The Russian Arts Theatre and Studio
On set with Margaret Reed, Judith Roberts and Ruya Koman
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At the Players with Cristhian Andrews
Reading of HERE IS GONE at The Players, with Daniella Caggiano and Kaelin Elizabeth