New York Times Acclaims Theatre and Dance Alumni Dramedies

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This month the New York Times published their annual “Best Theatre of 2023,” which featured two standout UC San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance alumni playwrights. Dubbed the “year of dramedy,” the plays explore serious topics like the complexity of consent and familial dysfunction, each grounded in an undercurrent of humor.

“How to Defend Yourself”

Following the sexual assault of a classmate, sorority members organize a self-defense class to process myriad emotions about the attack and questions about consent in “How to Defend Yourself,” written by 2018 MFA graduate Lilianna Padilla. The work debuted at UC San Diego’s Wagner New Play Festival and was recently performed at the New York Theatre Workshop.

“I think I wrote this first and foremost as a gift to my 17-year-old self who felt deeply alone inside of limiting narratives around what it was to continue living after assault,” Padilla explained in an interview with New York Public Radio. “My hope is that it allows people to connect deeply to parts of themselves that might feel stuck or wounded…”