Hi there!

My name is Layla Nabavi (she/her) and welcome to my website! I hope you stick around.

I am a queer stage actor, singer, musician and amateur puppeteer who is funny sometimes, based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. I graduated from American University with a BA in Musical Theatre and a minor in Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies, while also completing a Graduate Certificate in Arts Management from my alma mater. I was born and raised on Maui, HI, with an Iranian immigrant father turned local celebrity chef and a white, American-Southern mother, and grew up working seasonally front and back of house in our family owned fast-casual restaurant serving pizza and Mediterranean fare. I am a self-described foodie with a strong passion for home-cooking (did you know you can make yogurt in an instant pot?!), often frequent my local public library, as well as sing and play songs on my guitar or ukulele.

I feel confident and fulfilled when creating art in a healthy, collaborative environment, and I’m very grateful for the professional experiences in the early stages of my career so far. The people I’ve meet and the art that was made has established my aspiring goals as an hyphenate theatre artist; to support groundbreaking work, uplift unheard voices, and create theatre that strikes critical, engaging conversation.

I have built experience working in Theatre for Young Audiences which has led to a current contract with CAMP INC for their Peppa Pig Family Immersive Experience as host and performer. It has allowed me to enter a new area of children’s entertainment that I am grateful for my previous experiences in local children’s theatre such as Imagination Stage and InterAct Story Theatre. After working with Nehprii Amenii and her play Food for The Gods at The Clarice, I have officially been “puppet-pilled;” which has led me to making my own sock hand puppets and invest in a professional grade puppet to help practice puppetry on my own.

Whether it is taking a scene study class, research for new material, or cathartically sing my favorite Sondheim pieces, I strive to find small ways to be proactive towards my craft when I am able. You can sometimes find me spending quality time with my cat Miso while watching director audio commentaries of my favorite films on the Criterion Channel.

If you are interested in working with me, feel free to contact me with the information above.