Bio - Ed Vela

Born on August 30, 1959, Ed is a native Texan, and spent his formative years in San Antonio. Ed began acting in 1978, at the age of 18, as part of the MHMR (Mental Health Mental Retardation) Creative Arts Unit of Bexar County. His acting credits while in San Antonio included: "The Silver Whistle," "Black Comedy," "Don’t Drink the Water," "The Gazebo," and "Geniuses," as well as many children’s theatre productions through SAFAC (San Antonio Fine Arts Council). Ed began writing sketch comedy way back then, and helped pen a variety revue for an MHMR fundraiser entitled "The 1980 Floor Show." He later wrote and starred in an original sitcom for Public Access Cable Television in San Antonio entitled: "Under My Roof." The next year he won a Cammy award for his work on "Vela Video," a comedy showcase in which he wrote, produced, directed, edited, and starred.

In 1986, Ed received an Associate’s in Applied Sciences degree from San Antonio Junior College in Radio, Television and Film, and while attending this school wrote, produced and served as talent for a movie review show on KSYM-FM radio called "The Campus Critique." After seeing, and reviewing, more bad movies than the crew of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, including such treasures as: "Electric Boogaloo," "Lifeforce," Bill Murray in "The Razor’s Edge," and Brooke Shields in "Sahara," Ed got a break in the his constant and continuing quest for employment, and landed his second job in television at KXLN-TV in Houston, Texas.

Since coming to Houston in 1989 Ed has made it his unofficial hometown, working at several television stations along the way: KPRC-TV, KUHT-TV, and KTMD-TV to mention a few. But, his favorite assignment in television so far was a brief stint at KNWS, writing, producing, editing, and serving as talent for a "new to video stores" movie review segment on the morning show "Texas Today."

In 1993, Ed broke back into theatre with several children’s shows at Ft. Bend Theatre, including: "The Ugly Duckling," "Follow That Rabbit," and "Robin Hood." It was Ft. Bend Theatre that produced his first, and as yet, only attempt at a children’s theatre piece: "Santa’s Shoes," in December of 1997. It was also that year that Ed joined Scriptwriters/Houston and entered his first "Ten by Ten" ten-minute play contest, he came in eleventh that first year and felt a little like a bridesmaid at a Kennedy wedding.

In 1998, his first ten-minute play: "Malebonding," was produced at the "Ten by Ten" and his one-act play: "Collaborators," was entered in the TNT (Texas Non-profit Theatres) competition for Quad IV, it later went on to the state finals in Irving, Texas where one of his cast members won an acting award for his work in the play. Ed next hit the boards at Theatre Southwest in their annual Festival of Originals with his short one-act: "Remembrance." He followed that up later that same summer with a second consecutive appearance in the "Ten by Ten" festival with his play "Prenuptial Bereavement." Also in 1999 he won the Scriptwriters/Houston One-Act play contest with: "The Sisters of Smithville County," a piece he later expanded into a full length play.

In the summer of 2000, at the TSW Festival of Originals his taut, psychological thriller "The Lake at Calvary," left not a dry eye, or seat in the house. "The Lake at Calvary" also took first place at the Houston Writers Conference in the play/screenplay category. In the fall of 2000, Theatre On the Bay, in Clear Lake, Texas, produced Ed’s full length play "The Sisters of Smithville County," the one-act version of which later went on to serve as TOB’s entry into the Texas Non-Profit Theatre Festival.

In early 2001, Ed tackled the TNT Festival again, after winning (for the second year in a row) the Scriptwriters/Houston One-Act Play Contest, with his scathing indictment of Hollywood: "Twinkle," where Ed was forced out of semi-retirement as a stage actor to appear in a small role. In spring of 2001, Baytown Little Theatre produced Ed’s "Malebonding" again, and another ten-minute venture: "Meeting the Date." Both got consistent and big laughs, which was good as they were both comedies. In summer of 2001, Ed’s short one-act, "Cryptic," (a murder/mystery set in 1947 Los Angeles) premiered at the TSW Festival of Originals. Also that same summer at TSW, Ed (who enjoyed his experience in "Twinkle" so much) once again took a turn at acting in his own play in a one night workshop production of his short one-act "Natural Enemies," which was well received from both a writing and performing standpoint. As "Cryptic" closed, Ed’s ten-minute piece, "Wine and Wafers" (about a teen coming out to his father and brother while at the communion rail) bowed at the Scriptwriters/Houston annual Ten by Ten Festival.

In 2002, Ed had his one act play "Bats in the Belfry" was produced for a limited run at the University of St. Thomas-Jones Hall. Ed had his short one act "The Last Twenty Minutes" produced at the TSW Festival, mesmerizing fans, it was thought to be the hit of the five presented. Ed’s 10-miunute play "Clown Heart" enjoyed a two week run at the Ten by Ten Festival at Stages Repertory Theatre. In October Ed’s "Meeting the Date" made its West Coast debut in the Camino Real Theatre’s ShowOff 10-Minute Play Festival and was voted Best Play of the Festival by audience vote tallied at the end of the three weekend run.

In 2003, Ed’s playlet "Estranged Bedfellows" was produced in Santa Cruz, California as part of the Actor’s Theatre of Santa Cruz’ 10-minute play festival there in January. In February Ed directed a workshop of his 10 minute comedy: "Cookies," which got so many laughs that night it ran 15 minutes, over at TSW. Ed also work-shopped three other pieces that year at TSW: "Loathe Letters," "Two Choices," and "Halvzies," all comedies (under his direction), all well received. Ed’s one act play "Bullets for Bakersfield," runner up in the 2002 Scriptwriters/Houston One Act Play Contest, was produced in April as part of an Educational Evening of One Acts presented at the University of St. Thomas. Also in April, "Wine and Wafers" was produced again by Theatre Oxford in Mississippi, after it won their National Contest, and received the L.W. Thomas Award. Ed’s full length play: "Urning It" after having come close in so many other competitions (Top Ten in contests in California and Vermont), finally won, coming in first place in a National Contest run by the Jewel Box Theatre of Oklahoma City. Ed then had yet another short one act: "Tidy Corners" produced as part of the TSW-FOO.

In 2004, Ed started out with a first public reading of his controversial, dark period piece: "Poseidon’s Gate," a play that elicited so much audience response, debate and thought provoking discussion in the talk-back session, that it almost felt like the Q & A was longer than the piece itself. 2004 also saw Ed’s "father/son" collection of short plays: "Tributaries" enjoy a four-week run at, what Ed now calls his home theatre, Theatre Southwest, marking his second "full-length" play to be produced in the Houston area, in the last four years. Also in that year Baytown Little Theatre produced three of his ten minute plays: "Clown Heart," "Wine and Wafers," and "Prenuptial Bereavement," all enjoyed new life at their Mary Lou Burkett Texas Playwright’s Festival in April. Ed also fulfilled what had been an all encompassing dream of his, and finally got all the stars to align (time, work schedule, and the right piece) and directed his own short one act for the TSW-FOO (his unprecedented sixth year in a row to be honored with a production in the festival). When the Sci-Fi morality tale: "Chrysalis" bowed at the FOO in the summer of 2004 with Ed at the helm, it was FINALLY cast, blocked and paced to specs, with a stalwart cast, and a hands off producer that made the experience one of the most fulfilling Ed has had in the theatre in his 27 years on and off the boards.

On April 14th, 2005, Ed got to see what the Jewel Box Theatre of Oklahoma City did with "Urning It" and was delightfully pleased with their production, and overwhelmed with the thoughtfulness, and generosity that Chuck Tweed and his staff showed to him and his wife on their sojourn there. Four days later, on April 18th, Ed got the call from the Dayton Playhouse that "Poseidon’s Gate" had been named as one of the six finalists in their annual Future Fest, and was given staged reading in July. Ed’s play "The Wimp Factor" was presented as part of the TSW-FOO, bringing his participation in the festival up to an unprecedented seventh year in a row, in late July, early August. Also in August, the absurdist comedy "Desperate Houseflies" was produced at the 10 by 10 Showcase, and "Wine and Wafers" got another production, this time for a festival put on by Unhinged Productions. Also in 2005, Ed enjoyed success outside the Houston area as well, as two of his short plays were being produced outside Texas. "God Dog" was produced in August by the Lebanon Community Theatre in Pensylvania, and Stormy Weather Players of Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, New York performed his playlet: "Two Choices" as part of their repertory ten minute play festival.

In 2006, Ed's 10-minute play "Cookies" knocked 'em dead, and won an award for Highest Judge's Score for play writing at the S/H 10 by 10, while Trevor Cone was directing the hell out of his screwball comedy "Expedient Family" at the TSW-FOO, both local Houston productions. Whiile out in Oceanside, California the Sunshine Brooks Theatre was doing his 10-minute political statement playlet "If you deny a mouse a cookie...? as part of their first ever play fest out there.

In 2007, Ed's play "The Wake" was produced as  part of a 10-minute play festival at SUNY-Brockport (that's the State University of New York at Brockport for those of you who had no clue-like me) in late February/early March. The University also toured "The Wake"  in Debrecen, Hungary after the festival closed.  "The Wake" has also been picked to be part of PharePlay, a festival in New York City, New York, and his short one act: "The Soul's Midnight" was produced in August at a new play festival at Ft. Bend Theatre in Stafford, Texas.  In October, Edmond North High School of Edmond, Oklahoma took 1st Place in UIL State Regionals with Ed's hard hitting period piece: "Poseidon's Gate" the entire cast of four made it into the All-State Ten performers, and the production was honored for tops in Set/Tech.

In 2008, Ed's new piece "Scenario..." got some big laughs, and thoughtful comments when workshopped at TSW in June.  His new dark 10-minute play "A Mirror for Futility" will open in August as part of the S/H 18th Annual 10 by 10 Festival. Also in August Ed will do one more workshop at TSW of new short work "The Road to Summer Fun."