Rook Reilley is a playwright, director, published poet, musician, and composer. Originally from Grantsville, UT, they earned their B.S. in Theatre at Utah Tech University in 2024. As an artist, their work explores the tensions between cultural heritage, Queer identity, family, and place. They are drawn to stories that explore the large emotional landscapes of small places, and are deeply committed to building arts access and opportunities in rural communities. Rook currently works as the Marketing Manager here at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta! In their free time, they like to go to the movies, play D&D, and write. 

Their full-length play, ‘The Orbital Decay of Saturn’ opens this August at the Denver Theatre Ensemble. Their 10-minute plays, ‘Razors in Our Teeth’, and ‘Onboarding’ were written for and performed at the 2024 Utah Tech New Play Festival. Directing credits include: ‘This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing’ by Finegan Kruckmeyer; ‘John Proctor is the Villain’ by Kimberley Belflower; ‘Secondhand Stevie’ by Joss Carlisle; ‘Leaving Eden’ by Joss Carlisle; and ‘Finding Nemo Kids!’ by Robert Lopez & Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Rook directed ‘Persuasion, a modern romance’ by Lisa Quoresimo during the 2025 Kayenta New Play Lab, and was recently assistant director to Rob Goodman for ‘The Caregiver’s Guide’ by Jami Brandli at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta.

Now in its fourth year, the Kayenta New Play Lab is where bold new voices in American theater come to life. Over three weeks, six visionary playwrights—chosen by a panel of esteemed local and national theatermakers—dive into an intensive creative residency, shaping fresh, original works for the stage.

Audiences are invited to witness the magic unfold through staged readings of these brand-new plays—raw, real, and alive with possibility. Stay after each reading for an engaging dialogue with the artists, where your feedback helps shape the evolution of each piece.