krystal
ortiz
playwright,
performer
Krystal Ortiz (they/she) is a Cuban-American playwright and performer based in both Chicago and NYC.
Krystal's full-length, bilingual, historical punk-rock musical, LOS FRIKIS, is currently seeking its world premiere production. Krystal is also co-producing a documentary about the history of the frikis cubanos with Carlos Lopez Estrada. Krystal is a playwright-in-residence with the Goodman Theatre's 2024-2025 New Stages Residency (in collaboration with Satya Jnani Chavez) to develop their new musical, Fruition.
As an actor, Krystal was nominated for a Colorado Theatre Guild Henry Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2023, and a Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Performer in a Supporting Role in 2020. They were featured as one of Chicago Tribune's 2019 Hot New Faces of Chicago Theater and nominated for a 3Arts Award in Theater in 2021.
Originally from Miami, FL, Krystal attended New World School of the Arts High School for Music Theatre before moving to Chicago to earn a BFA in Acting from The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Check out this featured shoutout from the Chicago Latino Theatre Alliance in 2020!
Krystal is proudly represented by Stewart Talent Chicago.