Miranda Holliday is an Afro-Latine, queer, gender non-conforming playwright, librettist, dramaturg, musician, vocalist, and designer from Columbus, NJ. Their works (Brother, Arroz Con Pollo, Reign of Smoke and Lust: Seduced by the Shadow King’s Son) have been performed at Feinstein’s/54 Below, Prospect Theatre, Rattlestick, and NYU. Performance credits include Ain’t Misbehavin’, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun (Kennedy Center Honor), and 504: A Disability Rights Act Musical, on stages such as St. Anne’s Warehouse and at The Public. A creative partner with Flux Theatre Ensemble, they have contributed as writer, assistant director, composer, and dramaturg. Miranda holds a dual degree in Theatre and Political Science from Albright College, a certificate from the Eugene Oniel National Musical Theatre Institute, and an MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU Tisch. In addition, they are part of the Miranda Family Fellowship awarded to exemplary artists of color.

My art is grounded in the belief that storytelling is a powerful vehicle for connection, healing, and change. Growing up in a military family in rural New Jersey, I learned early the importance of belonging and community—values that continue to shape my artistic practice. As an Afro-Latin, queer, gender non-conforming artist, I approach my work with an open embrace of my identities, understanding that they are not burdens to bear but gifts that allow me to navigate and deepen the collective human experience.

A deep love for history drives my creative practice. I am constantly drawn to uncover the truths that often lie hidden beneath the surface of mainstream narratives. This exploration of the past informs my work, from the untold stories of Black and Puerto Rican communities to the unspoken legacies of hardship and resilience. My goal is to shine a light on these hidden histories and ensure they are not forgotten, allowing them to reverberate in ways that shape our understanding of who we are today.

As a teacher, I see firsthand the impact of silencing history and excluding the lessons of the past from today's conversations. The students I teach are often ignored, their struggles and experiences dismissed as irrelevant. I am deeply committed to changing this. I want to share my experiences as a young person and demonstrate how vital it is that we keep the lessons of our past close to our hearts. Our children are the future, and we must equip them with the full scope of history, both the beautiful and the painful, so they can build a society that is truly for everyone. 

I believe that art must serve as a mirror to our society, reflecting not just its beauty but also its flaws. It is my mission to create spaces where people can come together to reflect, confront difficult truths, and ultimately heal. As a recipient of the Miranda Family Fellowship and a graduate of NYU Tisch and the Eugene Oniel National Musical Theatre Institute, I am honored to be part of a growing community of artists committed to fostering change. Through my work, I strive to encourage the next generation to recognize the power of their voices, to understand the importance of history, and to work toward a future that includes all of us.

Art is not just my passion—it is my responsibility. It is my way of giving back, of ensuring that the struggles and triumphs of those who came before us are never forgotten and that our children inherit a world where their stories, too, are heard and valued.