Biography

Juan Francisco Villa is a New York City 1st generation Colombian-American who grew up in LOISAIDA. He proudly calls Chicago his artistic home and has made the recent move to Los Angeles. He is an artistic creator focusing on Acting, Directing, Writing and Teaching Artist.

TV Acting Highlights include being Directed by Eric Stoltz on MADAM SECRETARY (CBS) and acting with Tea Leoni, working with the cast of CHICAGO PD (NBC), and his first Guest Starring role as Detective Orjuela on BETRAYAL (ABC).

Theater Acting Highlights include the NY Times Critics Pick OEDIPUS EL REY by MacArthur Genius Luis Alfaro, Directed by Chay Yew at the lauded Public Theater and playing the iconic role of TENNESSEE WILLIAMS in THE GENTLEMAN CALLER by Phillip Dawkins, Directed by Tony Especiale at the infamous Cherry Lane Theater in NYC.

He will be shooting an upcoming Independent Feature EYES UPON WAKING by Jennifer Scott, playing a suicidal American War Vet whom has been working through PTSD after serving 4 tours in the Iraq War.

Theater Directing highlights include Co-Directing the upcoming docu-drama COLUMBINUS, April 2019, in Washington D.C. at 1st Stage Theater which is based on interviews with those affected by the Columbine shooting 20 years ago. 1st Stage is the same theater that provided him with an opportunity to Co-Direct JESUS HOPPED THE A-TRAIN by Stephen Adley-Guirgis which received 2 Helen Hayes Awards along.

Playwriting Highlights include his autobiographical solo play EMPANADA FOR A DREAM which chronicles his life growing up in The Lower East Side of NYC. It has been presented in NYC, Chicago, LA, San Diego and Washington DC along with cracking the list of Top Ten Shows for the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader and Los Angeles Times. His ensemble play DON CHIPOTLE World Premiered at the Chicago DCASE Storefront Theater presented by terraNOVA Collective and The Playground Theater. He is currently developing his follow up solo play FINDING PANCHO which traces his relationship to his father who has disappeared deep into Colombia.

This past summer Juan was accepted into the Maria Irene Fornes Playwriting Workshop in Chicago developing his newest work False Evidence Appearing Real or Cosmic Lovers. He has partaken in writing workshops led by MacArthur Geniuses Luis Alfaro and Han Ong along with Erin Courtney, John Jesurun, Zakiyyah Abdul-Rahim Alexander and April Yvette-Thompson. He is a 4 time recipient of the Chicago DCASE grant, PBS Latino New Media Finalist.

Juan's other written works include THE BIG APPLE (Brooklyn Generator), TEARS OF HOPE (Something Marvelous Theater ), CAN YOU HEAR ME... (Chicago Blue Ring Radio Play), WANNA BE STARTING SOMETHING (Chicago Black Box Academy) COPPAZZ and WHEN MY FATHER DIED... (NYC INTAR OMPF).