about

Raisa Donato (any pronouns) is a Bay Area based fight choreographer, director, actor and producer. Born in Manila and raised in Los Angeles, Raisa developed an affinity for martial arts and action movies at a young age. In high school, they discovered theater, where soon enough, their love for acting and Bruce Lee, turned into a passion for performing and stage combat. Their experience training in various forms of Martial Arts, including Sandodai Ryu Karate and Zen Kobudo, became foundational influence in their choreography and fighting style.

In 2007, Raisa began teaching stage combat with Passado Action Theatre in LA. They have since gone on to teach and stage fight sequences for regional theaters across the Bay Area, including: Shotgun Players (The Goat, Magnolia Ballet, Man of God, Yerma, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Collective Rage and Choir Boy), Golden Thread Productions (ReOrient Festival 2023), Bindlestiff Studio (Stories High, The Geek Show, and Forbidden Futures), Cinnabar Theater (Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood, Steel Magnolias), Pacifica Spindrift Players (Spring Awakening), Cal Shakes (Long Sword Workshops) and more.

RESUMé

  • THE FRE, Oakland Theater Project, 2026

    • Wrestling, Slapstick

    CONTINUITY, Shotgun Players, 2026

    • Unarmed

    OKLAHOMA! California Theatre Conservatory, 2026

    • Unarmed Melee, Knife

    THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA Shotgun Players, 2026

    • Unarmed

    LIMP WRIST ON THE LEVER (world premiere) Crowded Fire Theater, 2025

    • Unarmed, Slapstick

    SHERWOOD: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD Cinnabar Theater, 2025

    • Épée, Quarterstaff, Long Sword, Slapstick

    ROMEO & JULIET, University High School, 2025

    • Unarmed brawl, Knife

    VINETRA THE TERRIBLE Bindlestiff Studios - Stories High ‘25

    • Dao, Katana

    MAGNOLIA BALLET Shotgun Players, 2025

    • Unarmed, Wrestling

    HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF Shotgun Players CSRS, 2025

    • Unarmed, Self-defense

    STEEL MAGNOLIAS Cinnabar Theater, 2025

    • Slapstick

    COMPTON’S CAFETERIA RIOT Tenderloin Museum, 2025

    • Unarmed

    CHOIR BOY Shotgun Players, 2024

    • Unarmed

    COLLECTIVE RAGE Shotgun Players, 2024

    • Boxing Technique

    A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Shotgun Players, 2024

    • Spear, Gladius, Shield, Slapstick

    STAGE KISS Chabot College 2023

    • Slapstick, Prat falls

    SUICIDE BOMBER Golden Thread Productions - ReOrient Festival 2023

    • Unarmed, Slapstick

    EDIT ANNIE Crowded Fire Theater 2023

    • Unarmed, Self-defense

    YERMA Shotgun Players 2023

    • Slapstick, Unarmed

    MAN OF GOD Shotgun Players 2022

    • Dao, Unarmed

    MISSED CONNECTION Bindlestiff Studio - Stories High 2019

    • Slapstick

    THE CLEANER Bindlestiff Studio - Stories High 2019

    • Unarmed

    MERMAID OF SAINT MALO Bindlestiff Studio - Stories High 2019

    • Rapier, Cutlass

    TO DUST WE RETURN Bindlestiff Studio - Forbidden Futures 2018

    • Eskrima, Knife

    MORTIMER, MISHA AND THE FAIRY MORTICIAN Bindlestiff Studio - Stories High 2018

    • Slapstick

    PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED Bindlestiff Studio - The Geek Show 2 2018

    • Lightsabers

    THE ENCOUNTER Frank Chavez 2017

    • Unarmed, Self-defense

    CHARLIE DON’T DIE Bindlestiff Studio - Stories High 2017

    • Unarmed

    KUNG PAANO AKO NAGING LEADING LADY Bindlestiff Studio - Tagalog 2017

    • Slapstick

    LA LLORONA Eagle Rock High School 2012

    • Macuahuitl, Rapier, Spear

    SHAKESPEARE UNPLUGGED Passado Action Theatre 2012-2014

    • Rapier, Broadsword, Dagger, Slapstick, Unarmed

    ROMEO & JULIET Eagle Rock High School 2007

    • Épée

  • THEATER

    A WALK IN THE PARK (WORKSHOP READING) - 2025

    MERMAID IN SAINT MALO (WORKSHOP PRODUCTION) - Urban School’s Performing Arts Center, 2025

    THE LOVE EDITION 8: SAVE THE DATE (PRODUCTION) Bindlestiff Studios, 2025

    MERMAID IN SAINT MALO (STAGED READING) Pirate Supply Store, 2023 (Co-producer)

    THE LOVE EDITION: SPRUNG EDITION (PRODUCTION) Bindlestiff Studios, 2025

    FILM

    MISS HOT MESS (SHORT FILM), 2023 (Associate Producer)

    HAMILTON: FIRST BURN (MUSIC VIDEO), 2022

    SIX THE SERIES (MUSIC VIDEOS), 2021

    • I DON’T NEED YOUR LOVE

    • SIX

    • DON’T LOSE YOUR HEAD

    PODCAST

    ARTISTRY IN LIFE (PODCAST SERIES), 2021 (Co-producer)

    PIMPIN’ PEACE (PODCAST SERIES), 2020 (Co-producer)

    RADIO BASA (RADIO PLAY SERIES), 2020

  • THEATER

    BROKEN RECORD, Bindlestiff Studios - Stories High 2020, co-written with Sofia Chanco

    OKAY, SO I LIED, Bindlestiff Studios - Stories High 2020

    IN YOUR EYES, Bindlestiff Studios - Love Edition: The Sprung Edition 2021

    FILM

    FIRST BURN (Music Video inspired by Hamilton: the musical), Rise Above It Productions 2022

    SIX - THE SERIES (Music Video inspired by Six: the musical), Haus of Win, 2021

    • I Don’t Need Your Love

    • Six

    • Don’t Lose Your Head

    ZOOMSICALS (Livestreamed Zoom Concert Series), Produced by Juan Castro, 2020

    PODCAST

    RADIO BASA (Radio Play, Episodes 1-4) Rise Above It Productions, 2020

  • THEATER

    COLLECTIVE RAGE: A PLAY IN FIVE BETTIES (Betty 5) Shotgun Players, dir. Becca Wolff

    LUMINOUS STREETS (Ensemble) Roots & Wings Project, dir. Jesse Bliss

    QUEER AS FUCK (Ensemble) Bindlestiff Studio, dir. Judith Ferrer & Dina Ramos

    NO COUNTRY FOR OLD HENCHMEN* (Nero) Pianofight: ShortLived, dir. Joe Cascasan & MGB

    THE GEEK SHOW 2 (Ensemble) Bindlestiff Studios, Thomas Paras & Marc Abrigo

    THE LOVE EDITION:TIME AFTER TIME (Ensemble) Bindlestiff Studio, dir. Oliver Saria

    THE GEEK SHOW (Ensemble) Bindlestiff Studio, dir, Thomas Paras & Marc Abrigo

    A DOLLAR( Comedian) 51st Street Theatre Co., dir.Jeff Kimmich

    STORIES HIGH XVII (Ensemble) Bindlestiff Studio, dir. Juan Berumen & Melanie Elvena

    SHAKESPEARE UNPLUGGED (Helena/Laertes/Tybalt/Samson) Passado Action Theatre, dir. Dennis McLaughlin & Ri Walton

    FILM + COMMERCIAL

    STATIC AGE (Lead) Bindlestiff Studio, dir. Nic Feliciano

    DRUNK THEATRE: MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA (Lead) 51st Street Theatre Co., dir. Greg Armstrong

    BIRDIE SANDERS (Lead), dir. Greg Armstrong & Nate Visconti

    THE WAY THINGS ARE (Supporting) dir. Greg Armstrong

    STATE OF CALIFORNIA PSA (Voter 1) One World Communications, dir. Fiona McDougall

    WEARHAUS (Extra) Wearhaus, dir. Gracel Catacutan

    TAI PEI RICE (Lead) Competitive Edge Media, dir. Wayne De Jagar