Ryan Oliveira is a Brazilian-American playwright, performer, dramaturg, and songwriter. He is originally from Miami, FL. He has lived in New York City, NY and currently resides in Chicago, IL. He received his B.A. in Theatre Arts at Cornell University (2008) and his M.F.A. in Playwriting at the University of Iowa (2015).
Recent works include: The Queers Present: A Gender Reveal Party (College of Wooster, Wooster, OH, 2021); Desire in a Tinier House (Pride Films and Plays, 2019); and Soccer Player in the Closet (Nothing Without a Company, 2019).
His work has been developed with the Fornés Institute, Austin Latinx New Play Festival, RefrActed Theatre Company, New Coordinates, Broken Nose Theatre, Prop Thtr, El Semillero, Sewanee Writers’ Conference, and Chicago Dramatists.
Ryan has been a two-time finalist for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference as well as a finalist for the New Harmony Project New Play Conference, Goodman Playwrights’ Unit, and Science@Play. He is currently a 2025 IADF Grant Recipient to develop a new play about Brazilian-American experience with the generous support from the City of Chicago’s DCASE (Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events).
Ryan is also an avid songwriter, gamer, and karaoke aficionado.