Carla Nell

Carla Nell
Years active2004–present
Known forInnerMission Productions
Notable workWe All Die Alone

Carla Nell is an American actress, theatre director, producer, and artistic director based in San Diego, California. She co-founded the San Diego theatre company InnerMission Productions, directing productions of The Taming of the Shrew, Seven Spots on the Sun, Melancholy Play, and appearing in the film We All Die Alone.

Career

Theatre

Nell was cast as Helen in a 2008 OnStage Playhouse production of Neil LaBute's Fat Pig. She co-founded InnerMission Productions with Kym Pappas which began producing theatre in San Diego in the 2000s.

Nell directed InnerMission's 2011 production of Adam Bock's Swimming in the Shallows. In 2013, Nell and Pappas co-directed The Coffee Shop Chronicles at New Play Cafe, with Nell also appearing in the production. She directed Big Kitchen: A Counter-Culture Musical for the 2015 San Diego International Fringe Festival.

Nell starred in InnerMission's 2017 production of Johnna Adams' two-character play Gidion's Knot.

Directing

In 2016, Nell directed William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, swapping genders for some male roles and setting the story in the 1960s. After the production, Nell described that earlier productions of the playwright's work had influenced her approach.

Later in 2016, Nell directed Martin Zimmerman's Seven Spots on the Sun. She later directed InnerMission's 2018 production of Sarah Ruhl's Melancholy Play. In 2024, she directed BRAT, a Bocón Arts production that toured multiple venues in San Diego County.

Advocacy and storytelling

While studying theatre at San Diego State University, she became involved in a staged production of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues after seeing a lack of leading roles for female students. In 2015, Nell volunteered for the Lilly Awards and InnerMission launched its first full theatrical season.

Nell's interest in gender allowed her to come up with a 2016 interpretation of The Taming of the Shrew after she and Pappas established a reputation for feminist-oriented theatre. In 2019, she participated in a So Say We All VAMP event, presenting a story about wanting a child and the inability to do so.

Film

Nell appeared as Patsy in Jonathan Hammond's 2021 dark comedy short film We All Die Alone, which she also served as executive producer.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2004 Trial by Fire: SDSU Design: The Making of a Theatre Professional/Performance Jury Herself
2018 Isabel Sybil Short film, also producer
2021 We All Die Alone Patsy Also executive producer
2023 The Buck Stop Directed by Jordan Jacobo

Stage credits

Acting roles
Year Title Role Location Notes
2008 Fat Pig Helen OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California
2013 Terminator 4 Tammy Big Kitchen Cafe, San Diego, California by Jonathan Hammond, Coffee Shop Chronicles, co-directed with Kym Pappas
2014 Longview, TX Blanche Duvet Ocean Beach Playhouse, Ocean Beach, San Diego
2017 Gidion's Knot Heather Clark Diversionary Theater, University Heights, San Diego
InnerMission Productions
Year Title Director Sound designer Location Notes
The Vagina Monologues Yes No San Diego State University Director
2006 All in the Timing Co-director No New World Stage, San Diego, California Co-directed with Claudio Raygoza
Dancing at Lughnasa Yes No OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California Director
2007 How I Learned to Drive N/a N/a OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California
2008 The Vagina Monologues N/a N/a OnStage Playhouse, Chula Vista, California
2013 Lock and Key Yes No Big Kitchen Cafe, San Diego, California Coffee Shop Chronicles, co-directed with Kym Pappas
Who-Ha Yes No
Booth Watching Yes No
Witch Cafe Yes No
Message Send Failure Yes No
Between Heaven and Hell Yes No
2015 Precious Little Yes No Diversionary Theater, University Heights, San Diego Director, by Madeleine George
Big Kitchen: A Counter Culture Musical Yes No Spreckels Theatre, San Diego, California Director
2016 Seven Spots on the Sun Yes No Diversionary Theater, University Heights, San Diego Director, featuring Jennifer Paredes
Seminar No Yes Diversionary Theater, University Heights, San Diego Sound designer
The Taming of the Shrew Yes No Diversionary Theater, University Heights, San Diego Director
2017 Ordinary Days N/a N/a Diversionary Theater, University Heights, San Diego
2018 Melancholy Play Yes Yes Diversionary Theater, University Heights, San Diego Director and sound designer
2024 Tiny Beautiful Things No Yes Scripps Ranch Theatre, Alliant International University Sound designer
BRAT Yes N/a Light Box Theater, Liberty Station, San Diego Director, featuring Samantha Ginn and Patrick Mayuyu

Accolades

Festival Year Award Title Result Ref.
Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival 2022 Best Narrative Short – Audience Choice Award We All Die Alone Won
Burbank International Film Festival Best LGBTQ Short Film Won
Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival Best Ensemble Cast Won
Oceanside International Film Festival Best Supporting Actress Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Hebert, James (2015-11-25). "In theater, women fight to get voices heard". San Diego Union-Tribune. ProQuest 1736162358. Archived from the original on 2026-10-03. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  2. 1 2 Smith, Jeff (September 18, 2016). "Ascending Mt. Bard". San Diego Reader.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Accomando, Beth (2016-08-19). "Shakespeare's 'Taming Of The Shrew' Reimagined In The Era Of 'Mad Men'". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  4. 1 2 Smith, Jeff (2008-09-17). "You Are What You Look Like". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  5. ↑ Smith, Jeff (June 17, 2011). "Swimming in the Shallows at InnerMission Productions". San Diego Reader.
  6. 1 2 Smith, Jeff (2013-04-28). "The Coffee Shop Chronicles at New Play Cafe". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  7. 1 2 Smith, Jeff (2015-07-28). "San Diego Fringe: Big Kitchen: A Counter Culture Musical". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  8. 1 2 Launer, Pat (2017-06-02). "Untying an Emotional 'Gidion's Knot' at InnerMission Productions". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  9. 1 2 Lowerison, Jean (2017-05-30). "Theater Review: "Gidion's Knot"". San Diego Gay and Lesbian News. Archived from the original on 2017-06-12. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  10. 1 2 Reimer, Jon (2016-08-21). "At first gentlemanly". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  11. 1 2 Westlin, Martin Jones (2016-08-14). "Fair 'Shrew': Can't Blame Innermission, Nell for Trying". San Diego Story. Archived from the original on 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  12. 1 2 Launer, Pat (2016-12-02). "War Is Hell: InnerMission Does Battle with 'Seven Spots on The Sun'". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  13. 1 2 Westlin, Martin Jones. "Innermission's Fine 'Seven Spots' Holds the World Between the Lines". San Diego Story. Archived from the original on 2024-09-08. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  14. 1 2 Coddon, David L. (2016-12-06). "InnerMission's 'Seven Spots on the Sun' brings the heat". San Diego CityBeat. Archived from the original on 2016-12-08. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  15. 1 2 Westlin, Martin Jones (2018-11-15). "InnerMission's Great 'Melancholy Play' Unearths a Vital Emotional Truth – San Diego Story". San Diego Story. Archived from the original on 2024-10-11. Retrieved 2025-12-26.
  16. ↑ Coddon, David L. (November 14, 2018). "Melancholy Play". San Diego CityBeat.
  17. 1 2 Lowerison, Jean (2018-11-16). "An alluring melancholy". San Diego Uptown News. Archived from the original on 2019-12-07. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  18. 1 2 "'BRAT,' Play Inspired by Military Children, Starts Free Local Tour at Liberty Station". Times of San Diego. 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  19. ↑ Wilkens, John (2019-04-07). "San Diego storytellers share their darkest secrets: 'You hear stuff that you think you have no business hearing'". San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on 2019-04-07. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  20. 1 2 Ng, Alan (2021-12-17). "WE ALL DIE ALONE". Film Threat. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
  21. ↑ Bollinger, Rick; Launer, Pat (2004). "Box 05, Folder 15: "Trial by Fire: SDSU Design: The Making of a Theatre Professional/Performance Jury," 2004". San Diego State University. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
  22. 1 2 Hebert, James (2013-03-28). "A show with your joe". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  23. ↑ Kragen, Pam (2017-05-27). "InnerMission's 'Gidion's Knot' a dark battle over blame". San Diego Union-Tribune. ProQuest 1902726466. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  24. ↑ "All in the Timing". The Los Angeles Times. 2006-07-20. p. 109. Retrieved 2026-01-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Performing Arts Calendar". The Star-News. 2006-02-24. p. 14. Retrieved 2026-01-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "The Star News OnStage Playhouse". The Star-News. 2007-09-07. p. 15. Retrieved 2026-01-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "OnStage to host V-Day benefit productions". The Star-News. 2008-02-15. p. 11. Retrieved 2026-01-04 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ Kragen, Pam (2015-11-06). "Review: Words fly, land in 'Precious Little'". San Diego Union-Tribune. ProQuest 1731143058. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  29. ↑ Hebert, James (2016-11-30). "Quick tip: InnerMission's new season rises with 'Sun'". San Diego Union-Tribune. ProQuest 1844723210. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  30. ↑ Kragen, Pam (2016-12-04). "InnerMission's 'Seven Spots' a dark, mystical fable". San Diego Union-Tribune. ProQuest 1845549927. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  31. ↑ Hebert, James (2016-03-11). "'Seminar' crackles with verbal volleys". San Diego Union-Tribune. ProQuest 1772398052. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  32. ↑ Lowerison, Jean (2016-08-15). "Theater Review: "The Taming Of The Shrew"". San Diego Gay and Lesbian News. Archived from the original on 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  33. ↑ Launer, Pat (2016-08-23). "Small Theater, Big Undertaking in InnerMission's 'Taming of The Shrew'". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  34. ↑ Coddon, David L. (2017-07-29). "InnerMission's 'Days' finds magic in the ordinary". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  35. ↑ Dixon, David (2018-11-19). "Talkin' Broadway Regional News & Reviews: San Diego - "Melancholy Play"". Talkin'Broadway. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  36. ↑ Hebert, James (2018-11-12). "Sarah Ruhl's 'Melancholy Play' casts the blues in eccentric hues at InnerMission". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  37. ↑ Smith, Jeff (2018-11-21). "Pessimistic, paralyzed, and sexy". San Diego Reader. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  38. ↑ Kragen, Pam (2024-11-30). "Review: Scripps Ranch Theatre's 'Tiny Beautiful Things' is funny and heartbreaking". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2025-12-30.
  39. ↑ "Indie: U-Z". LA Film Festivals. Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  40. ↑ "2022 AWARD WINNERS / NOMINEES". Burbank International Film Festival. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  41. ↑ "2022 DTLA Film Festival Announces Award Winners". DTLA Film Festival. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  42. ↑ "OIFF 2022 Winners". Oceanside International Film Festival. Retrieved 17 April 2022.