SMJ is a mixed-Latiné, non-binary, and NYC-based playwright, theatermaker, and educator originally from Mount Vernon, OH. They are proud to be the Co-Artistic Director of Andy’s Summer Playhouse. They were a 2022-2023 Dramatists Guild Foundation Fellow. As a writer, their work has been seen in various forms with Ars Nova, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, New York Stage and Film, Latinx Playwrights Circle, The Orchard Project, Latiné Musical Theatre Lab, Carnegie Mellon University, New York University, and Otterbein University. SMJ has been a finalist for the 2024-25 Princess Grace Award in Playwriting at New Dramatists, 2024-25 Ars Nova Vision Residency, 2024 June Bingham New Playwright Commission, 2024 Diverse Voices Playwriting Initiative at Illinois State University, 2023 Parity Development Award, the Write Out Loud Contest. They were a semifinalist for the 2024 Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival, the 2023 Van Lier New Voices Fellowship, the 2022-23 Princess Grace Award in Playwriting at New Dramatists, and the O’Neill’s National Playwrights Conference (four times). Their comedy show, Straight Icons, has been seen and developed at Ars Nova, The Second City NYC, The Center at West Park, and the 20th New York Comedy Festival. Education is a huge part of SMJ's creative life. They have directed the US high school premieres of Fun Home (2022) & John Proctor is the Villain (2025) for the Ohio Educational Theatre Association. They are a member of the Dramatists Guild and Ring of Keys. www.smjwrites.com.