Written by Jose Romero
When Reina Macias found out she’d been awarded the 2024 Lee & Anna Strasberg Scholarship, she was stunned. “It was amazing—and unexpected,” she admits. “I’d wanted to go to LSTFI my entire life.” After graduating college, she went after the opportunity full force. “I’m so big on education, using my resources, and making the most out of where I’m at,” she says. That mindset defined her time at LSTFI from the start.
Reina curated her experience intentionally: choosing her classes and teachers carefully, working the front desk for her volunteer hours, and using that chance to meet everyone who walked through the doors. She got involved in everything—from student film festivals to the No Rights Reserved Short Play Festival, where she reimagined A Doll’s House through the lens of a Black and Latina woman. “I wanted to put myself out there as a woman,” she says, proudly. That drive, and her commitment to showing up, paid off.
The Spark Behind Dinner Party
That No Rights Reserved performance was the spark that led to her current project: Dinner Party, an original play she’s directing with an all-LSTFI cast. The piece is a bold mashup of classics like A Doll’s House and Hills Like White Elephants, transformed into a sitcom-style narrative that addresses pressing, relevant themes. “We’re always trained on the classics, which I love,” she says, “but let’s be real—those stories weren’t made for Black or Brown people,” she adds. Her goal? To reshape those old works through a modern, intersectional lens.
“People in Latin America had money, had businesses, had lives. They weren’t just colonized. There were stories there,” Reina continues. “Why can’t we tell those? Why can’t we see ourselves in them?” That’s the mission behind Dinner Party, which she describes as a comedic drama that breaks the fourth wall, flashes through time, and tackles both political and personal topics with humor and heart. “We laugh until we cry. Or cry until we laugh. That’s how a lot of us cope.”
Reina stars in the show as Sheila, a character rooted in her earlier A Doll’s House role. “It’s a lot of work,” she says of wearing both actor and director hats, “but it came out of necessity.” With the help of mentors like Alani iLongwe (her coach), Sasha Krane (who’s been guiding her with notes), and David Strasberg (“He told me, ‘Don’t sacrifice your vision for anybody—your project is yours’”), she’s built a production that’s both personal and collaborative. Guest artists, including sitcom veterans, have also led director sessions to help nail the rhythm and timing of the format.
Developing Artistry Beyond LSTFI
Reina’s artistry isn’t confined to The Institute. One of her standout professional experiences was performing in an Off-Broadway reading of Buena Vista Social Club at the Atlantic Theatre. “I had never been in a space full of Brown and Black people doing theatre,” she says. “Hearing those songs—the ones I grew up with—was amazing. Surreal. To bring those stories to Broadway…it’s something I’ll never forget.”
She credits her time at LSTFI for unlocking her voice and confidence. “Sitting in that chair, doing relaxation—it’s like a portal. It’s in my body now. Strasberg technique freed me. As a person. As a writer. As an actress.” Reina shouts out MJ Karmi as one of her favorite teachers: “She talks about the freedom of the actor. There’s nothing inside you that can’t help you build a character. That applies to writing, too.”
Community, Collaboration, and Collective Growth
Reina’s vision doesn’t stop with her own growth. “I like to create opportunities for myself—and for others.” Raised in a community-focused household, with a social worker mother and a background in team sports, she thrives in ensemble energy. “I didn’t want to do a one-person show. I wanted to do something together. Learn from each other. Highlight different voices.”
That’s why Dinner Party is more than a play—it’s also a collaboration with Black Women for Wellness, a California-based nonprofit advocating for Black and Brown women through leadership and education. “A lot of the reason people can’t grow out of their conditions is lack of education about the resources available to them,” Reina says. “So I wanted to use this piece to bring voice—and tangible change.”
As for what’s next? “I’d love to keep developing the play,” she says. But she’s not tied down to one identity. “I see myself as both a writer and a performer. I’m interested in all of it.” Additionally, Reina was awarded the Chandra Wilson Scholarship and will be heading to LSTFI New York this upcoming term.
Advice for Aspiring Actors
When asked what advice she has for anyone considering LSTFI or applying for scholarships, Reina doesn’t hesitate: “Apply. For everything. Look for resources and go after them fully. The worst thing you can get is a no—and then you just start over.”
But her biggest takeaway? “Know your community. Learn everyone’s name, from the front desk to the janitor. Volunteer. Stick around. Be a team player. Appreciate your teachers—they want you to win. Truly, with their whole hearts.”
Catch Dinner Party this August
Catch Reina’s play Dinner Party on August 8th & 9th at 8:00 PM at the Marilyn Monroe Theatre in Los Angeles. The workshop production is held in partnership with Black Women for Wellness, where part of the proceeds will go towards helping Black and Brown women from marginalized communities in California. Expect a dinner party where you’ll cry until you laugh—and laugh until you cry. Find tickets on Eventbrite.
Reina would like to send a last “huge shoutout” to her assistant director Ben Swayze, who’s been a strong supporter throughout the entire process, as well as her parents for all their support throughout her journey.