Winner of the Nancy Dean Lesbian Playwriting

Award January 2021

Sponsored by Open Meadows Foundation

I was selected for the inaugural Nancy Dean Lesbian Playwriting Award. Very honored to be chosen for my play I KISSED CHAVELA VARGAS. Award sponsored by Open Meadows Foundation. Chicana lesbians write plays! Si se puede!

STAND UP STAND OUT: The Making of A Comedy Movement wins BEST DOCUMENTARY @ Santa Fe Film Festival February 2021​

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WE WON! The documentary I am featured in: STAND UP STAND OUT: The Making of A Comedy Movement, about the queer comedy crusade that came out of the Valencia Rose Cabaret, the first gay comedy club in the nation, in San Francisco during the 80s, wins BEST DOCUMENTARY at Santa Fe Film Festival. Honored to be part of this important historical LGBTQ film by the brilliant David Pavlosky. 

More info - https://standupstandoutfilm.com

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May 16, 2021 3PM PST

Online Reading of my play:

I KISSED CHAVELA VARGAS

Produced by Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble & Proud Palacios Productions

FREE!

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Mark your calendars, gente, cuz the cast is stellar: Marga Gomez, Cristina Frías, Diana Burbano and Shanelle Darlene. So honored to have these dynamic Latina actors as my dream team. Grateful for these important artists: Sylvia Cervantes Blush as director, Moises Vasquez as musical director. Kiki Chavez as stage directions and Santi Sámano as stage manager/technical director. Happy to be collaborating again with Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble. 

Limited space. Zoom RSVP: https://www.breathoffire.org

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​Lakes Writer-in-Residence @ Smith College 2019

I was selected as the Lucille Geier Lakes Writer-in-Residence @ Smith College Spring 2019, sponsored by the Department of Spanish & Portuguese, and the Department of English. I was a badass and taught my fabulous creative writing/performance course Comedy Y Cultura: Your Humorous Life, I was part of the Smith College community, I collaborated with other Chicana/Latina artists and scholars and we empowered all of New England! I wore earmuffs the whole time because it was so damn cold! 

Monica was selected as one of the 41 LGBTQ Latina/o 2014 Role Models by Honor41.org 

 May 2, 2019

I Kissed Chavela Vargas by Monica Palacios

A reading of my play I Kissed Chavela Vargas, May 2, 2019 @ 7PM. FREE! Wistariahurst Museum, 238 Cabot St., Holyoke, MA. Reception and Q & A to follow. Directed by Patricia Sandoval-Chair/Professor Communication Media Theater Arts Holyoke Community College. Dramaturgy by Priscilla Page-Dramaturgy Faculty of Theater UMass Amherst. Supported by MassHumanities and Holyoke Community College. Spread the word!

May 1, 2019

Acting Class @ Holyoke Community College

Guest lecturer in the course Acting 1 @ Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA. Speaking about my career, presenting my work and doing a Q & A with students. 

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April 17, 2019

Multicultural Theatre Class @ UMass Amherst

Guest artist in the course Multicultural Theatre @ UMass Amherst, MA. Students will interview me about everything. They better not ask me about my priors.  

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Nominated as

2014 LGBT Pride Month Local Heroes,

KCET TV