A Conversation with Brian Quijada & Reza Salazar

Join us for a special public conversation between HB Studio faculty member Reza Salazar and playwright, actor, and composer Brian Quijada.

Brian recently created and performed in the new musical MEXODUS, which played to sold-out audiences at Baltimore Center Stage, Mosaic Theater in Washington, DC, Berkeley Rep, and Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre. Together, they’ll discuss the creative process, experiences in the rehearsal room, and the journey of bringing new work to life.

About Brian Quijada

Brian Quijada is a playwright, actor, and composer. Quijada has spent most of his career acting in Off-Broadway and regional theaters including The Public Theater, Roundabout Theatre Company, Playwrights Realm, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Victory Gardens, and Actors Theatre of Louisville. He is also a member of the Lucille Lortel Award–winning group The Pack.

As a playwright and composer, his works have been developed at Pittsburgh CLO’s Spark Festival, Victory Gardens’ Ignition Festival, Ars Nova’s Ant Fest, New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Festival, The Kennedy Center’s Page-to-Stage, and The O’Neill’s National Musical Theatre Conference.

His live-looped hip-hop solo show Where Did We Sit on the Bus? has been produced across the country, earning a Jeff Award and nominations from the Drama Desk and Drama League. His musical Somewhere Over the Border garnered six Jeff Award nominations, including Best New Work and Best Musical. Most recently, his live-looped hip-hop musical MEXODUS played to sold-out audiences at Baltimore Center Stage, Mosaic Theater (DC), Berkeley Rep, and Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre. Brian is a proud member of Ensemble Studio Theatre.

About Reza Salazar

Reza Salazar is an actor, writer, and director who began his career as a child in South America, performing with his mother as a clown duo. He originated the role of Rafael in the Tony-nominated play Clyde’s by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, and also appeared on Broadway in Sweat (Studio 54).

Off-Broadway credits include Richard II, The Tempest (Mobile Unit), and Oedipus El Rey (The Public Theater), as well as My Mañana Comes (Playwrights Realm). Regionally, he has performed at major theaters across the country including the Mark Taper Forum, Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theater, and Arena Stage.

On screen, Reza’s work includes Elsbeth (CBS), Inside Amy Schumer (Paramount+), The Accidental Wolf (Topic), Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Daredevil, The Blacklist, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Louie, and The Knick. Film credits include A Complete Unknown, The Imperialists Are Still Alive, See Girl Run, and The Inquisition of Camilo Sanz.

As a director, he adapted and directed Missing Them with journalist Anjali Tsui and created Tejido de Historias (Woven Stories), performed by an ensemble of community members, immigrants, and workers at the Whitney Museum.