Elena Velasco is a freelance theater artist whose 26 year career has encompassed many aspects of production. A member of SAG, AFTRA, and AEA, she has performed at the Kennedy Center, Theatre Alliance, Discovery Theatre, Imagination Stage, Signature Theatre STAGES, and in several films, commercials, and TV shows. She has worked as a director and choreographer throughout the Washington D.C area, including GALA Hispanic Theatre, Keegan Theatre, Source Theater, Discovery Theater, Mead Theatre Lab, Capital Fringe and Helen Hayes recommended productions at Synetic Theater, which also featured her playwriting and music compositions in their family theater. She is an Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts at Bowie State University and has served as a teaching artist in residencies and outreach programs throughout the D.C. metro area, partnering with such organizations as Imagination Stage, Synetic Theater Studio, Theater Lab of DC, Interact Story Theater, Smithsonian, the Hirschhorn Museum, the National Zoo, and in public and private schools. As Director of Outreach for Educational Theatre Company, she developed over a dozen original student musicals and for 10 years served as director for their adult performing company, Shakespeare in the Schools. She is the Artistic Director of Convergence Theatre, a performance collective focused on evolving theatrical language to invite discourse on issues of social justice. Additionally, she is an affiliated artist for Óyeme, Imagination Stage's collaborative project that responds to the surge of refugee children fleeing violence in Central America who have arrived in the DC area.
Education: M.F.A. in Directing and B.A. in Drama, Magna Cum Laude, from Catholic University.
Awards: Young Faculty Award, Bowie State University, 2019; Anacostia Arts Center Resident Company and ARCH Development Grant Recipient, 2017-2018 (Convergence Theatre); Tom Behm Professional Development Scholarship, SETC 2017; CulturalDC Mead Theatre Lab Grant, 2015-2017 (Convergence Theatre); Catholic University Graduate Assistantship, 2012-2015.
Theatre Washington Feature
Take Ten Interview with Elena Velasco, Artistic Director of Convergence Theatre
theatrewashington.org/content/take-ten-elena-velasco
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RESUME
POSITIONS HELD
Bowie State University
Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts; Theatre Program Coordinator August 2017-present
American Alliance for Theatre and Education
Co-Chair, Youth Theatre Network, July 2016-August 2017
Joint Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access, July 2017 - present
Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
Instructor, Introduction to Speech Communications (DR 205)
Teaching Assistant, Theater I (DR 101) and Theater 2 (DR 104)
Professor, Summer Drama Institute (DR 99)
August 2012-July 2015
July 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 (Summer Drama Institute)
Synetic Theater, Arlington, VA
Family Theater Guest Director; Associate Artist; Summer Camp Director; Faculty, June 2006-present
Imagination Stage & Imagination Quest, Bethesda, MD
Affiliated Artist/Co-Creator for Óyeme - 2014 - present
Guest Director of Student Companies – 2002-2005; 2015
Teaching Artist and Theater Curriculum Specialist, Dec. 1999-June 2008; Fall 2014-Fall 2017
Outreach Coordinator, August 2001-July 2002
· Imagination Stage highlights include:
o Co-creator of and affiliated artist with Óyeme, Imagination Stage's collaborative project that responds to the surge of refugee children fleeing violence in Central America who have arrived in the DC area.
o Co-presenter for Professional Development Workshops for public and private school educators.
o Developed Arts Integration lesson plans for K-12 addressing language arts, history, and science.
o Directed and choreographed conservatory students on a full length production.
Educational Theatre Company, Arlington, VA
Director of Outreach; Director of Musical Revue; Teaching Artist – August 2001– August 2015
COURSES TAUGHT
Bowie State University - Fall 2017 - present
Senior Seminar (THEA 461/462)
Directing (THEA 407/408)
Play Production (THEA 401/402)
Advanced Acting (THEA 306)
Stage Movement (THEA 108)
Beginning Acting (THEA 106)
Intro to Theatre, Culture and Society (THEA 105)
Catholic University of America – Fall 2012-Spring 2015
Summer 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019
Instructor, Introduction to Speech Communications (DR 205)
Teaching Assistant, Theater I (DR 101) and Theater 2 (DR 104)
Summer Drama Institute (DR 99)
Extracurricular Instructor, Physical Conditioning and Fitness
American University, Summer 2006
Guest Lecturer, Arts Integration Professional Development, (CPDE)
Synetic Theater, 2006-2018
Teen Acting 1: Process and Character
Street Theater
Musical Theater
Teaching Artist Professional Development
Educational Theatre Company, 2000-2015
Improvisation
Creative Drama
Musical Theater
Shakespeare: Performance
Shakespeare: Text Analysis
Imagination Stage, 1999-2008
Improvisation
Creative Drama
Musical Theater
Classika Theater, 2000-2004
Improvisation
Creative Drama
Musical Theater
Mount Vernon Community Theater, Fall 1996-2002
Improvisation
Creative Drama
Interact Story Theater, Silver Spring, MD – September 2000-2002
Storybook Drama
ARTS INTEGRATION RESIDENCIES – IMAGINATION STAGE, 2000-2008; 2014-2016
Gaithersburg High School, English as Second Language, Gaithersburg, MD
SEED Secondary School, Washington, DC
Galway Elementary School, Silver Spring, MD
Jefferson-Houston School, Alexandria, VA
Kenmore Middle School, Alexandria, VA
Simon Elementary School, Washington, DC
Green Elementary School, Washington, DC
Nalle Elementary School, Washington, DC
Potomac Elementary School, Potomac, MD
ARTS INTEGRATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS – IMAGINATION STAGE, 2003-2008
Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore, MD
DC Public Schools, Washington, DC
Kenmore Middle School, Alexandria, VA
Jefferson-Houston School, Alexandria, VA
Harmony Hills School, Silver Spring, MD
Montgomery County Public Schools, Bethesda, MD
SOLO ARTIST WORKSHOPS
Devising for Social Action, AATE Theater in Our Schools Conference, Bethesda, MD, April 2016
Bridging Languages: From Verbal Text to Physical Performance, AATE Theater in Our Schools Conference, 2015
Day of the Dead Mask and Movement Workshop, Catholic University, 2014
Street Theater Intensive, Co-taught with Brian Foley, Synetic Theater, 2013
Slapstick and Physical Comedy in Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria, VA, 2004-2012
Creative Classroom: K-1 Integration, McKinley Elementary School, Arlington, VA, 2011-2014
Creative Collaboration: Parent and Child Arts Workshop, McKinley Elementary School, Arlington, VA 2010
The Arts and Core Curriculum, McKinley Elementary School, Arlington, VA, 2007-2009
Repurposed Puppets, Newseum @ Sursum Library, Washington, DC 2005
Hand-made Puppets, Hirschhorn Museum, 2002
SOLO ARTIST FAMILY PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS
Hirschhorn Museum, Newseum, National Zoological Park, DC Public Libraries, Prince George’s Public Library, City of Gaithersburg, Montgomery County Public Schools and Class Acts Arts
PUBLICATION
"Representation and Advocacy through EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion): Forward Momentum," Incite-Insight AATE Online Magazine, Co-written with Jason Joel Rodriguez. January 2018.
"The Bilingual Classroom: Teaching through Verbal and Physical Text." Arts Integration in Education - Teachers and Teaching Artists as Agents of Change. Edited by Dr. Gail Humphries Mardirosian and Yvette Pelletier Lewis. Bristol: Intellect Publishing, May 2016.
www.amazon.com/Arts-Integration-Education-Teachers-Teaching/dp/1783205253/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473272129&sr=8-1&keywords=Arts+integration+in+Education
NATIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
The Voiceless Must Shout: Agitprop, Mask and Gesture, Co-Presenter with Professor Johanna Smith (California State University San Bernardino), American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, New York, NY, August 2019.
Telling Our Story: Claiming Space for Diverse Populations, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region IV, Clemson University, South Carolina, February 2019.
The Mask Movement: Heightening Social Action, Co-Presenter with Professor Johanna Smith (California State University San Bernadino), American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, Minneapolis, MN, August 2018.
Telling Our Story: Claiming Space for Diverse Populations, Co-Presenter with Professor Joel Jason Rodriguez (Chair, South Texas College), American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, Minneapolis, MN, August 2018.
DIG-En - Define-Investigate-Generate-Engage Diversity in Theatre. Co-Presenter with Professor Shontelle Thrash (Clayton State University), Southeastern Theatre Conference, Mobile, AL, March 2018.
Cultural Reboot: Descubre las maravillas en su vida, Co-Presenter with Professor Johanna Smith (California State University San Bernadino), American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, New Orleans, LA August 2017.
Devising through Puppetry: Tools for Kinetic Collaboration, Co-Presenter with Johanna Smith, American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, Boston, MA, July 2016.
Giving Voice to the Voiceless: The Óyeme Project, Panel, Theatre Communications Group National Conference, Washington, DC, June 2016.
DC AREA CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
“Devising for Social Action.” Presented at the AATE Theater in Our Schools Conference, Bethesda, MD, April 2016.
“Dual Language: Translating Verbal Text into Physical Performance.” Presented at AATE Theater in our Schools Mini-Conference. Hosted by American Alliance for Theatre and Education. Silver Spring, MD, March, 2015.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
New Playwriting Program Guest Artist/Respondent, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Clemson University, South Carolina, February 2019.
"Navigating Cultural Competency." Professional Development presented at the Southeastern Theatre Conference Fall Convention and Board Retreat. Charlotte, NC, August 2018.
“Unveiling the Witch: Defying Gender-Based Fate through Performance.” Presented at Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Luce Center, Washington, DC, October 8, 2016.
Panel Speaker, Director’s Forum, Theater J, Washington, DC, 2013.
Lecturer, “Arts Education: Process versus Product.” Joint conference with Educational Theatre Company and Russian State Academic Theatre. Hosted by Arlington Public Schools and The Center for Global Connections, Arlington, VA, February 2011.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
M.F.A. in Directing, Catholic University
B.A. in Drama, Magna cum Laude, Catholic University
AWARDS
Young Faculty Award, Bowie State University, College of Arts and Sciences, 2019
Anacostia Arts Residency and ARCH Development Grant, 2017-2018 (Convergence Theatre)
Tom Behm Scholarship for Professional Development, Southeastern Theatre Conference 2017
Affiliated Artist with Óyeme - Building Demand for the Arts Grant, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, 2015-2017
CulturalDC Mead Theater Lab Grant, 2016-2017 (Convergence Theatre)
CulturalDC Mead Theater Lab Grant, 2015-2016 (Convergence Theatre)
Graduate Assistantship, Catholic University, 2012-2015
AEA/SAG/AFTRA
CELL: 703-328-8868
EMAIL: elenavelasco.director@gmail.com
Education: M.F.A. in Directing and B.A. in Drama, Magna Cum Laude, from Catholic University.
Awards: Young Faculty Award, Bowie State University, 2019; Anacostia Arts Center Resident Company and ARCH Development Grant Recipient, 2017-2018 (Convergence Theatre); Tom Behm Professional Development Scholarship, SETC 2017; CulturalDC Mead Theatre Lab Grant, 2015-2017 (Convergence Theatre); Catholic University Graduate Assistantship, 2012-2015.
Theatre Washington Feature
Take Ten Interview with Elena Velasco, Artistic Director of Convergence Theatre
theatrewashington.org/content/take-ten-elena-velasco
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESUME
POSITIONS HELD
Bowie State University
Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Theatre Arts; Theatre Program Coordinator August 2017-present
- Provide instruction and build curriculum for courses Theatre, Culture and Society (THEA 105), Beginning Acting (THEA 106), Stage Movement (THEA 108), Children's Theatre (THEA 304), Advanced Acting (THEA 306), Play Production (THEA 401/402), Directing (THEA 407/408) and Senior Seminar (THEA 461/462)
- Serve as Program coordinator for all Theatre and Dance courses
- Lead BSU's First Improvisation Troupe
- Advisor for Student Theatre Guild
- Serve on College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee
- Co-Chair and co-curator of Annual BSU/Build Serve Unite Socially Engaged Art Symposium
- Build, maintain and deliver content for hybrid coursework (Blackboard)
- Provide students with individual counseling, written and verbal progress reports, and performance opportunities
- Collaborate with Fine and Performing Arts faculty for season planning
American Alliance for Theatre and Education
Co-Chair, Youth Theatre Network, July 2016-August 2017
Joint Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Access, July 2017 - present
- Facilitate workshops on inclusion, diversity and equity through community engagement
- Establish communication among theatre artists and educators to provide a virtual space to exchange programming ideas, lesson plans, discuss human resource issues, and build community.
- Lead professional development sessions at the annual AATE National Conference.
- Lead workshops for local Theatre in our Schools conferences.
Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
Instructor, Introduction to Speech Communications (DR 205)
Teaching Assistant, Theater I (DR 101) and Theater 2 (DR 104)
Professor, Summer Drama Institute (DR 99)
August 2012-July 2015
July 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 (Summer Drama Institute)
- Create and implement the syllabus for Speech Communications, a course focused on the fundamentals of public speaking, development of presentations, dramatic interpretation and non-verbal communication.
- Provide students with individual counseling, written and verbal progress reports, and performance opportunities.
- As teaching assistant for Drama 101, grade weekly student essays, manage course blackboard, and conduct lectures and discussions on contemporary dramatic works.
- Provide instruction on movement theater, non-verbal performance, and stage composition.
Synetic Theater, Arlington, VA
Family Theater Guest Director; Associate Artist; Summer Camp Director; Faculty, June 2006-present
- Create and implement syllabus for Teen Acting courses.
- Design and implement instruction for Teaching Artist professional development.
- Devise Summer Curriculum and Camp programming.
- Manage camp budget exceeding 100K.
- Supervise summer programs and administration – hire and schedule teaching artists, communicate with families and students, manage facilities and staff.
Imagination Stage & Imagination Quest, Bethesda, MD
Affiliated Artist/Co-Creator for Óyeme - 2014 - present
Guest Director of Student Companies – 2002-2005; 2015
Teaching Artist and Theater Curriculum Specialist, Dec. 1999-June 2008; Fall 2014-Fall 2017
Outreach Coordinator, August 2001-July 2002
· Imagination Stage highlights include:
o Co-creator of and affiliated artist with Óyeme, Imagination Stage's collaborative project that responds to the surge of refugee children fleeing violence in Central America who have arrived in the DC area.
o Co-presenter for Professional Development Workshops for public and private school educators.
o Developed Arts Integration lesson plans for K-12 addressing language arts, history, and science.
o Directed and choreographed conservatory students on a full length production.
Educational Theatre Company, Arlington, VA
Director of Outreach; Director of Musical Revue; Teaching Artist – August 2001– August 2015
- Educational Theatre Company highlights include:
- From 2002-2012, directed and managed Shakespeare in the Schools, a secondary school offering of repertory performances and workshops on classical text. Featured plays included Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and As You Like It. This program reached over 2000 students annually.
- Designed and taught Professional Development workshops for public school educators on Arts Integration and Arts Education.
- Created four new theater education programs:
- Musical Revue – Summer training program for Grades 3-12.
- Creative Classroom - elementary language arts drama.
- Drama Days – daylong, multidiscipline performance Master Classes.
- Creative Collaboration - Parent-child workshop on home-based dramatic creation and learning.
COURSES TAUGHT
Bowie State University - Fall 2017 - present
Senior Seminar (THEA 461/462)
Directing (THEA 407/408)
Play Production (THEA 401/402)
Advanced Acting (THEA 306)
Stage Movement (THEA 108)
Beginning Acting (THEA 106)
Intro to Theatre, Culture and Society (THEA 105)
Catholic University of America – Fall 2012-Spring 2015
Summer 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019
Instructor, Introduction to Speech Communications (DR 205)
Teaching Assistant, Theater I (DR 101) and Theater 2 (DR 104)
Summer Drama Institute (DR 99)
Extracurricular Instructor, Physical Conditioning and Fitness
American University, Summer 2006
Guest Lecturer, Arts Integration Professional Development, (CPDE)
Synetic Theater, 2006-2018
Teen Acting 1: Process and Character
Street Theater
Musical Theater
Teaching Artist Professional Development
Educational Theatre Company, 2000-2015
Improvisation
Creative Drama
Musical Theater
Shakespeare: Performance
Shakespeare: Text Analysis
Imagination Stage, 1999-2008
Improvisation
Creative Drama
Musical Theater
Classika Theater, 2000-2004
Improvisation
Creative Drama
Musical Theater
Mount Vernon Community Theater, Fall 1996-2002
Improvisation
Creative Drama
Interact Story Theater, Silver Spring, MD – September 2000-2002
Storybook Drama
ARTS INTEGRATION RESIDENCIES – IMAGINATION STAGE, 2000-2008; 2014-2016
Gaithersburg High School, English as Second Language, Gaithersburg, MD
SEED Secondary School, Washington, DC
Galway Elementary School, Silver Spring, MD
Jefferson-Houston School, Alexandria, VA
Kenmore Middle School, Alexandria, VA
Simon Elementary School, Washington, DC
Green Elementary School, Washington, DC
Nalle Elementary School, Washington, DC
Potomac Elementary School, Potomac, MD
ARTS INTEGRATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS – IMAGINATION STAGE, 2003-2008
Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore, MD
DC Public Schools, Washington, DC
Kenmore Middle School, Alexandria, VA
Jefferson-Houston School, Alexandria, VA
Harmony Hills School, Silver Spring, MD
Montgomery County Public Schools, Bethesda, MD
SOLO ARTIST WORKSHOPS
Devising for Social Action, AATE Theater in Our Schools Conference, Bethesda, MD, April 2016
Bridging Languages: From Verbal Text to Physical Performance, AATE Theater in Our Schools Conference, 2015
Day of the Dead Mask and Movement Workshop, Catholic University, 2014
Street Theater Intensive, Co-taught with Brian Foley, Synetic Theater, 2013
Slapstick and Physical Comedy in Shakespeare, Thomas Jefferson High School, Alexandria, VA, 2004-2012
Creative Classroom: K-1 Integration, McKinley Elementary School, Arlington, VA, 2011-2014
Creative Collaboration: Parent and Child Arts Workshop, McKinley Elementary School, Arlington, VA 2010
The Arts and Core Curriculum, McKinley Elementary School, Arlington, VA, 2007-2009
Repurposed Puppets, Newseum @ Sursum Library, Washington, DC 2005
Hand-made Puppets, Hirschhorn Museum, 2002
SOLO ARTIST FAMILY PERFORMANCES AND WORKSHOPS
Hirschhorn Museum, Newseum, National Zoological Park, DC Public Libraries, Prince George’s Public Library, City of Gaithersburg, Montgomery County Public Schools and Class Acts Arts
PUBLICATION
"Representation and Advocacy through EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion): Forward Momentum," Incite-Insight AATE Online Magazine, Co-written with Jason Joel Rodriguez. January 2018.
"The Bilingual Classroom: Teaching through Verbal and Physical Text." Arts Integration in Education - Teachers and Teaching Artists as Agents of Change. Edited by Dr. Gail Humphries Mardirosian and Yvette Pelletier Lewis. Bristol: Intellect Publishing, May 2016.
www.amazon.com/Arts-Integration-Education-Teachers-Teaching/dp/1783205253/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473272129&sr=8-1&keywords=Arts+integration+in+Education
NATIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
The Voiceless Must Shout: Agitprop, Mask and Gesture, Co-Presenter with Professor Johanna Smith (California State University San Bernardino), American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, New York, NY, August 2019.
Telling Our Story: Claiming Space for Diverse Populations, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region IV, Clemson University, South Carolina, February 2019.
The Mask Movement: Heightening Social Action, Co-Presenter with Professor Johanna Smith (California State University San Bernadino), American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, Minneapolis, MN, August 2018.
Telling Our Story: Claiming Space for Diverse Populations, Co-Presenter with Professor Joel Jason Rodriguez (Chair, South Texas College), American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, Minneapolis, MN, August 2018.
DIG-En - Define-Investigate-Generate-Engage Diversity in Theatre. Co-Presenter with Professor Shontelle Thrash (Clayton State University), Southeastern Theatre Conference, Mobile, AL, March 2018.
Cultural Reboot: Descubre las maravillas en su vida, Co-Presenter with Professor Johanna Smith (California State University San Bernadino), American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, New Orleans, LA August 2017.
Devising through Puppetry: Tools for Kinetic Collaboration, Co-Presenter with Johanna Smith, American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, Boston, MA, July 2016.
Giving Voice to the Voiceless: The Óyeme Project, Panel, Theatre Communications Group National Conference, Washington, DC, June 2016.
DC AREA CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
“Devising for Social Action.” Presented at the AATE Theater in Our Schools Conference, Bethesda, MD, April 2016.
“Dual Language: Translating Verbal Text into Physical Performance.” Presented at AATE Theater in our Schools Mini-Conference. Hosted by American Alliance for Theatre and Education. Silver Spring, MD, March, 2015.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
New Playwriting Program Guest Artist/Respondent, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Clemson University, South Carolina, February 2019.
"Navigating Cultural Competency." Professional Development presented at the Southeastern Theatre Conference Fall Convention and Board Retreat. Charlotte, NC, August 2018.
“Unveiling the Witch: Defying Gender-Based Fate through Performance.” Presented at Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Luce Center, Washington, DC, October 8, 2016.
Panel Speaker, Director’s Forum, Theater J, Washington, DC, 2013.
Lecturer, “Arts Education: Process versus Product.” Joint conference with Educational Theatre Company and Russian State Academic Theatre. Hosted by Arlington Public Schools and The Center for Global Connections, Arlington, VA, February 2011.
EDUCATION/TRAINING
M.F.A. in Directing, Catholic University
B.A. in Drama, Magna cum Laude, Catholic University
AWARDS
Young Faculty Award, Bowie State University, College of Arts and Sciences, 2019
Anacostia Arts Residency and ARCH Development Grant, 2017-2018 (Convergence Theatre)
Tom Behm Scholarship for Professional Development, Southeastern Theatre Conference 2017
Affiliated Artist with Óyeme - Building Demand for the Arts Grant, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, 2015-2017
CulturalDC Mead Theater Lab Grant, 2016-2017 (Convergence Theatre)
CulturalDC Mead Theater Lab Grant, 2015-2016 (Convergence Theatre)
Graduate Assistantship, Catholic University, 2012-2015
AEA/SAG/AFTRA
CELL: 703-328-8868
EMAIL: elenavelasco.director@gmail.com
Godspell. Produced at Bowie State University. Directed by Elena Velasco, music direction by Joseph Regan. Featuring Thuliso Dingwall as Judas. Set design: Kathryn Kawecki; Lighting design: Amanda Kircher; Costume design: Kima Williams; Stage management: Chanel Trent; produced by Bob Bartlett. Photo credit: Teresa Castracane.