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How To Defend Yourself is the stage name of Lily Padilla (also credited as Liliana Padilla), a prominent playwright and performer whose work blends intimate storytelling with sharp social observation. A Yale Drama Series Prize winner in 2019 and a Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist, Padilla has made a significant impact on contemporary theatre with bold premieres and resonant character work.
Cast & creatives
People behind the production
Known for festival showings and major city presentations, Padilla’s work has appeared at the Humana Festival in Louisville and Victory Gardens Theatre in Chicago, with further development and performances at New York Theatre Workshop in 2023. In 2025, audiences in Berkeley, CA will have a new opportunity to experience the artist’s voice as part of a waitlist-worthy run at Shotgun Players from March 31 to April 1, 2025. We’ve got you covered for updates and seats as soon as they’re announced.
Cast & creatives
People behind the production
Below you’ll find a detailed biography, highlights from discography, and the most reliable information on upcoming performances. Secure your seats with us for a smooth, no-fuss experience.
Cast & creatives
People behind the production
As your trusted connection for tickets, we provide current venue and city details to help you plan your theatre outings. If you’re seeking more background on Lily Padilla’s prolific career, you can follow official updates and engage with the community through her social channels listed below. Remember: dates and availability can shift, so check back for the latest information and secure your seats when production pages go live.
The essentials
Lily Padilla, who performs under the name How To Defend Yourself, has emerged as a distinctive voice in contemporary theatre. Recognized for sharp, intimate storytelling, Padilla’s writing explores power, identity, and community with a candid and lyrical perspective. The Yale Drama Series Prize in 2019 marked a milestone in her early career, underscoring her ability to craft compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and critics alike. Padilla’s work often transcends the stage, using theatre as a space to examine personal and social dynamics with nuance and impact.
Padilla is also credited as Liliana Padilla in some productions, reflecting her evolving artistic identity across projects. Her theatre career includes notable premieres and collaborations with leading American theatres, contributing to a growing, engaged community around her work.
As a playwright-performer, How To Defend Yourself centers on new writing and performance pieces rather than traditional music discographies. Highlights include commissioning, development, and premieres at major regional theatres and Off-Broadway venues, with ongoing collaboration on new plays and performance texts. For fans, the most reliable way to track new material is through official theatre company pages and Padilla’s own professional channels.
Upcoming projects and tour dates bring Padilla’s voice to audiences across the country. Notable recent and forthcoming appearances include:
To secure seats for these performances, check back for the latest availability and booking windows. We’ll help you lock in reliable, straightforward tickets with no hassle.
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