ABOUT MAGALY
ACTRESS.WRITER.PRODUCER.DIRECTOR.
Acting and writing are my primary creative mediums. Acting is my pathway to continued growth, self awareness, and re-examining the complexities of human interaction. Writing allows me to be a conduit for perspectives and truths waiting to be revealed.
I write screenplays and plays from a viewpoint heavily influenced by the complexities and wonders of Haitian culture and history, family stories, as well as my experiences as a born-and-bred New Yorker.
As the Founder/Producing Artistic Director of Conch Shell Productions my mission is to be instrumental in the development, production, and showcasing of new works by Caribbean Diaspora & Caribbean writers in order to infuse American theatre and film with unique, diverse stories that inspires social change.
I received my B.A. from Columbia University, MBA from Binghamton University, and MFA in Acting from Geffen School of Drama at Yale.
upcoming events
DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR
ON THE FLY festival at The Actor's Studio
Performance date:
May 20th
Time: 7pm
TEACHER
DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR
2023 works-in-progress
access granted
I am honored to announce that I am the recipient of the 2023 Queens Arts Fund (QAF) New Work Grant in support of the development of her new play Access Granted, a mixed-media play with music that will explore a Haitian American woman's quest to heal generational trauma and the impact of immigration.
STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES.
About QAF New Work Grant
QAF offers New Work Grants of $3,000 to Queens-based individual artists, unincorporated artist collectives, or collaborations between multiple artists of all disciplines to support the creation of new work. “New Work” is defined as work that has not been produced or presented to an audience before. Queens Arts Fund, is a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts. To learn more go to: https://www.nyfa.org/awards-grants/queens-arts-fund/2023-recipients/
2023 works-in-progress
re-enacted testimonials from the people of Haiti.
This series features separate standalone re-enactments of adapted/translated testimonials from people living in Haiti today. The identity of each Haitian person who contributed their stories is anonymous.
The goal is to awaken the awareness of the international community to the courage and strength of the Haitian people, and to help end the inhumane conditions of their existence. The film will feature subtitles in Dutch, English, French, Haitian Creole, Papiamentu, and Spanish (the languages spoken in the Caribbean).
In response to the daily injustice and violence in my ancestral lands, I have begun shooting rough cuts of this project and sharing them via social media as a public service. Can art affect social change? Did Picasso’s “Guerina” help raise awareness of the war and raise necessary funds? Yes. Just as the image of women and children make Guernica the image of innocent, defenseless humanity victimized, I hope this anthology will do the same for the plight of Haitians who choose to stay in their homeland.
You may wonder “Is there a war being waged in Haiti?” There is an undeclared war occurring in Haiti - a war of the wealthy ravaging the middle class and the poor. May this anthology universalize the story and the struggle of Haiti’s people to attain autonomy and liberty.
I am currently raising funds to fully produced this film as a Conch Shell Productions project.
Contact me if you would like to make a tax deductible donation to support this project.
my inspirations
CICELY TYSON
SIDNEY POITIER
SIDNEY POITIER
First generation Caribbean America (her parents were from Nevis) Cecily Tyson's impact on my life started when I saw "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" on television. Her transformational portrayals of complex, multi-layered women continue to inspire me. Ms. Tyson's decades long commitment to her craft set an example that keeps my faith and creative flame blazing.
SIDNEY POITIER
SIDNEY POITIER
SIDNEY POITIER
Bahamian American Sidney Poitier made a huge impression on me as a child. So elegant. So confident. Favorite movie: IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT. The fire in his eyes. His presence....powerful. His contributions as an actor, director, activist...well let's just say when I am directing, producing my own plays/screenplays...when I am producing works by Caribbean Diaspora artists who are "artivists" like me... I thank Mr. Poitier for demonstrating "yes I can be someone better."
grants & awards
