“the rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.” V.i.27-28

Misao McGregor (they/them) is a writer, singer/songwriter & playwright based in Louisiana.

They earned their BA in Theater & Music from Connecticut College and are currently pursuing their master’s degree at Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English.

Their works explore themes such as queerness, mixed race identity, genderfuckery, Asian American diaspora, inherited grief, memory, trauma, and above all, joy.

creative works

plays

WHITE PARTY (formerly ADULTING), full length play, 2023

This ensemble piece takes a look into the personal lives of a diverse group of individuals who find themselves having to navigate their divergent personalities and experiences together at a faculty gathering for the prestigious private high school Brighton. Centering the experiences of women and non-binary people of color within professional settings, this play explores the respectability politics that go into sustaining institutionalized forms of racism, homophobia, classism, and misogyny.

WHITE PARTY” (formerly ADULTING) was developed during PlayGround-LA’s 2020-2021 Playwright Residency where it received a developmental workshop and staged reading. During Summer 2023, “WHITE PARTY” also received a developmental reading from the Bread Loaf Acting Ensemble.

SHITTING BRICKS, ten-minute play, 2022

Twins Clea and Chase return home for their 10-year high school reunion, reminiscing on the bullying and abuse they endured at the hands of their classmates. While Chase is inclined to take the high road, Clea conjures up an alternative solution to make their bullies confront the abuse they inflicted head-on.

SHITTING BRICKS” premiered at Cherry Picking NYC’s “Magical Thinking” New Play Festival in August 2022.

hellokitty55, ten-minute play, 2020

While home for Japanese New Year, Kimi is butt-hurt after a failed attempt to launch a successful social media campaign to make herself known as an artist in the digital age. When her sister, Ari, confronts her about being overly consumed with her online presence, Kimi receives a single order from the anonymous username “hellokitty55”. The two sisters challenge each other over who is considered more successful in their parent’s eyes as the children of immigrants working to achieve their own American Dream.

hellokitty55” premiered at PlayGround-LA’s Monday Night Playground series in December 2019, where it was voted “Best of PlayGround.” It was later presented at the PlayGround-LA Annual Gala in April 2020. “hellokitty55″ was also published in the Bread Loaf Journal’s 2023 Edition.

firefly / a foreigner’s tale, full length play, 2018

“a firefly that flies too far and burns too bright” – these are the words to describe a generational line of women whose spirits are forced to be contained by their political surroundings. as hotaru looks back on her life, confronting her time in the japanese internment camps, her granddaughter, chiyako, looks forward to her future, unsure of how to proceed in a way that will both fulfill her own desires and live up to the sacrifices her family has made for her. in this new play, inherited experience ties these two generations together as they fight for the freedom to love while inhabiting a skin they can’t escape.

firefly / a foreigner’s tale” premiered as a staged reading at the Theater Capstone Festival at Connecticut College in April 2018.

Pizza Over Flowers, ten-minute play, 2017

Ramira is quick to deliver a pizza to a grieving Mieko, who has just lost her grandfather, in full delivery outfit and all. They examine the differences and similarities between ceremonies of death between Japanese and Cuban families, until Ramira steers the conversation toward prom. Mieko has ten minutes in this short play to reconcile her duty to her family and her budding love for Ramira.

Pizza Over Flowers” was developed in Prince Gomolvilas’s class “Perfecting the Ten Minute Play” at East West Players. It premiered as a staged reading in Slingshot New Works’ “from the ashes!” playwriting festival in Seattle in September 2017.

Dandelions Conquer, one-act play, 2016

It’s Maya’s first time home since she suffered brain trauma from a car accident and Avery wants—needs—everything to be perfect. In Maya’s current state, Avery doesn’t know if she’ll get Maya at age five or age twenty-two—a symptom of her brain not being able to distinguish what’s past, present, or future. If only the home nurse will give Avery enough time to walk Maya through the various stages of her life, finally pulling her back to the present. Compacting Maya’s life into this 30-page play, all Avery can hope for is that she guides her love back home again.

Dandelions Conquer” premiered at Connecticut College as a Wig & Candle Production in April 2017, and previously received the Anne S. Richardson Awards in LGBTQ Studies for Best Creative Work in 2016.

music

caught in the act of living, album, 2024

meet me at the river, single, 2024

santa monica (therapy), single, 2023

Kid in the Corner, album, 2020

When You Go Away, single, 2020

Make U Feel My Love, cover, 2020

She Was Worlds Above Me, single, 2019

Runaway, single, 2019

Brave, EP, 2014

My Love, single, 2014

essays

water baby 操 substack, 2025 – present

featured on sacrosanct, 2020 – 2023

publications

it was heaven while i had you, Bread Loaf Journal 2024

shitting bricks, Bread Loaf Journal 2024

hellokitty55, Bread Loaf Journal 2023

residencies / workshops

María Irene Fornés Playwriting Workshop, 2021

PlayGround Playwright Residency Program, 2020-2021