The Big Bad is a video game-inspired odyssey through the mind, soul, and family history of non-binary protagonist Ash. Our story unfolds within the glitching landscapes of Ash’s mind, tracing their identity through layers of memory and myth.
The show delves into the incredibly timely message: "what drives us to keep moving through despair?", and celebrates our shared purpose: to be there for each other in this strange, beautiful existence.
This groundbreaking full-length play is written by Lanford Wilson Award-winning and Showtime series staff writer Ren Dara Santiago.
We’re asking:
“What drives us to keep moving through despair?”
-Ren Dara Santiago
Yonkers & Harlem native. Eldest child. Fili-Rican storyteller and world-builder.
Awards: Dramatist Guild's Lanford Wilson Award (2022), TOW Fellowship (2020), MCC Alumni Award (2018), Playwright’s Week winner at The Lark (2019), Finalist for the National Playwrights Conference (2019), and the inaugural recipient of Rising Phoenix Rep’s Cornelia Street American Playwriting Award (2018).
Plays: The Siblings Play (Cherry Lane Theatre Mentor Project 2017, Ojai Playwrights Conference 2017, TOW Fellowship Recipient 2020, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater premiere 2020), Something in the Balete Tree (Winner: Lark Play Development Center Playwright's Week 2019, Finalist: National Playwright's Conference 2019), All The Time(Drama Club NYC commission), Subliminal (SUNY College commission), I’ll Write You Down in Brick & Mortar (The Theater Co commission), Gods Play (Bushwick Starr Reading Series).
Musicals: Ghosts in the Sky and Remember How, Librettist (BREATHE 2022), See/Unsee, additional material (a Lila Blue Musical 2023-2025).
Shorts (Virtual and Immersive Installations): Someone's Family and Building Models (Homebound Project), Hard as You Can (En Garde Arts commission), In the Shit (Radio Round), Same Shadow (2G Productions commission), Where We At (NY Rep commission), Heard You, Love & Animation.
Audio: MTA Radio Plays Showrunner (Rattlestick Playwright's Theater), See You In Your Nightmares Head Writer (iHeart Media).
Television: Let The Right One In Staff Writer (Showtime).
Upcoming: Ain’t It Though Writer/Actor (C-19 Screenwriter's Group), The Big Bad (Divine Riot and Healing TREE full-length play commission), The Knock Shadow (Healing TREE screenplay commission).
Teaching: Carnegie Mellon, The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Lincoln Center Theater, Williams College University, The Young Women’s Leadership School.
Residencies and Affiliations: The Lark, Middle Voice at Rattlestick, Rising Phoenix Rep, C-19 Writers Group, Clubbed Thumb, Gingold Theatrical Group, Labyrinth Theater, MCC, PLAYxPLAY, SPACE on Ryder Farm, The Theater Co.
Ren Dara Santiago (they / them),
playwright The Big Bad
Timing
Jan-Nov 2025 Reading sessions with the Company as Ren develops the script.
Dec 2025 Full draft complete, Director announcement & begin workshopping
Mar 2026 Workshop production live in NYC
Sep 2026 Prospective world premiere Off-Broadway run
GIVE TODAY
To achieve these deadlines, our goal is to raise $10,000 by December 31, 2025.
At a time when mental health resources, LGBTQIA+ lives, and work that doesn't cower to mainstream marketability and dares to ask the tougher questions are under attack, we hope you will join us in creating this crucial piece of art.
For more information, or if interested in donating through a private fund, please contact:
Cassidy Layton | Cassidy@divineriot.org
Marissa Ghavami | MGhavami@healingtreenonprofit.org
