Elena Velasco
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  • What's up and where's elena?
  • Central Square Theater - Alma
  • Convergence Theatre production photos
    • A New Nation
    • This is All Just Temporary
    • Witch
    • Bhavi the Avenger
  • GALA Hispanic production photos
    • Gallery - 2022 La Llamada de Sylvia Mendez (nuevo)
    • Gallery - La Llamada de Sylvia Méndez
    • Gallery - Entre la Tierra y el Cielo
  • Keegan Theatre production photos
    • Gallery - The Magical Piñata
    • Gallery - Hands on a Hardbody
    • Gallery - The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful
  • Synetic Theatre production photos
  • BSU Theatre production photos
    • Dreamgirls
    • Little Shop of Horrors
    • #metoo
    • Godspell
  • La Perdida production photos
  • Production photos - Earlier works

visual and visceral performances.

"The Reid Technique," Boiling Point produced by Convergence Theatre. Virtual immersive performance devised by and featuring Elena Velasco, Nikko Mamdoohi, Maria Simpkins, Camilo Linares and Duane Richards.

ELENA VELASCO (she/her/ella)
Unions: SDC; SAG/AFTRA
CELL:  703-328-8868                                                                                                            
EMAIL:  elenavelasco.director@gmail.com

PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE
Directing Credits                                                               * Also Choreographer           +Helen Hayes Recommended
Alma                                                                                 Central Square Theater 
La Llamada de Sylvia Méndez (new version) *                GALA Hispanic Theatre
The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful * +                 Keegan Theatre
La Llamada de Sylvia Méndez *                                       GALA Hispanic Theatre
El Rostro de la Luna  *                                                      Adventure Theatre (co-director) 
Guerrilla Theatre Works: Boiling Point                              Convergence Theatre
The Magical Piñata *                                                         Keegan Theatre
A New Nation  *                                                                 One Journey Festival (local DC tour)
Hands on a Hardbody * +                                                  Keegan Theatre
Entre la Tierra y el Cielo  *                                                 Gala Hispanic Theatre
A New Nation *+                                                                Convergence Theatre
This Is All Just Temporary *                                               Convergence Theatre
Hansel & Gretel  * +                                                           Synetic Theater (co-director/adapter/choreographer)
Fracture                                                                              South Asian Performing Arts Network (SAPAN Institute)
Best of Ten Minute Plays                                                    Source Theatre Festival 
Witch *                                                                                Convergence Theatre 
At What Cost? *                                                                  Convergence Theatre
Óyeme, the Beautiful*                                                         Óyeme/Imagination Stage Tour
Bhavi the Avenger *                                                            Convergence Theatre 
Nurse Fawn*                                                                       Convergence Theatre (at Catholic University) 
Coriolanas*                                                                         DC Capital Fringe Festival, Atlas Performing Arts
A Bid to Save the World*                                                    Source Theater Festival (Premiere)
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever                                     Synetic Family Theater
Rough Faced Girl * (Helen Hayes Recommended)           Synetic Family Theater
The Magic Paintbrush * (Helen Hayes Recommended)    Synetic Family Theater 
Las Aventuras de Tio Conejo *                                          Synetic Family Theater 
The Armadillo’s Song *                                                      Synetic Family Theater
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat             Chalice Theater
Charlotte’s Web *                                                               Chalice Theater
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Musical) *                           Chalice Theater 
Once on this Island  *                                                         Chalice Theater
Big the Musical *                                                                 Chalice Theater
Seussical *                                                                          Chalice Theater
Anything Goes *                                                                  Chalice Theater
Angel in the Battlefield                                                        Discovery Theater
El Viaje                                                                                Discovery Theater

University Productions
Dreamgirls                                                                        Bowie State University
Little Shop of Horrors                                                        Bowie State University
#metoo *                                                                            Bowie State University
Godspell                                                                            Bowie State University
La Perdida*                                                                       Catholic University Callan Theater (Musical Premiere)
Coriolanus                                                                         Catholic University Lab Theater
So Snow                                                                            Catholic University Lab Theater 

Assistant Director
Three Men in a Boat                                                         Synetic Theater (Derek Goldman)
Hampton Years                                                                 Theater J (Shirley Serotsky)
Shakespeare in Hollywood                                               Hartke Theater (Jay Brock)

Choreography Credits
The Agitators                                                                    Mosaic Theater Company
Guerrilla Theatre Works: At What Cost?                          Convergence Theatre
Midsummer Night's Dream                                               WSC's Avant Bard
The Hampton Years                                                         Theater J (Assistant Director)
1776                                                                                 Keegan Theater
Oliver                                                                                Chalice Theater
The Pajama Game                                                           BFCDS 
Pirates of Penzance                                                         BFCDS
Cinderella                                                                         BFCDS

PERORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Theater
White Rabbit, Red Rabbit                                  Performer                            NextStop Theatre
The Decameron (2020 Digital Adaptation)        Company Member              Synetic Theater
Now This! Musical Improv                                 Co. Member (2003-2016)   Washington, DC
Red Suspenders                                                Cleo                                    Theatre Alliance
Perdita                                                               Carlota                                Signature STAGES
Shakespeare in the Schools                              Helena/Lady Capulet          Educational Theatre Co.
The Pearl                                                           Juana                                  Kennedy Center
Fiesta!                                                                Storyteller                            Kennedy Center
Talking Eggs                                                      Widow/Old Woman             Imagination Stage
Rapunzel and Other Hair Tales                         Rapunzel/Puppeteer            Discovery Theater
Tales from El Salvador                                       Mama                                  Discovery Theater
Measure for Measure                                         Isabella                               Mount Vernon Players
Theodora, She-Bitch                                          Justinian                             Theatre Conspiracy
Carrier                                                                Kim                                     Theater of the First Amendment
Comedysportz                                                    Company Member              Washington, DC

Television, Commercial, and Film
VEEP (HBO Pilot)                                             Nevada Constituent            HBO
Stop N Shop – Stock Up Sale                          Spokesperson                     Oil Factory Company
Health Care Reform:  Man on the Street          Mother                                  GMMB
Giant Food                                                        Spokesperson                      Oil Factory Company
People for American Way                                 Spokesperson                      People for the American Way
Epix Internet                                                      Spokesperson                     JPL Productions
Wendy’s Restaurants                                       Food Sampler                      TEAMVU
Nobel Prize/Smithsonian (V/O)                        Reporter                               Sounds of Science
Game Change                                                  Reporter                               Denali Productions
Head of State                                                   Interviewer                            DreamWorks
Along Came a Spider                                       Tourist                                   Paramount
America’s Most Wanted                                   Josephine Otero (BTK)        AMW
America’s Most Wanted:  Top Cops                 Sra. Diaz                              AMW

Industrials 
NASA, Department of Homeland Security, Zoning for Prince William County, Center for Workers’ Rights, Transportation Security Administration, NIH, INS, IRS, Sodexho-Marriott, Census Bureau, Bell Atlantic, Red Cross, Navy Federal Bank

RELATED PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE

Convergence Theatre - Artistic Director, 2014-present
convergencetheatre.org/

Óyeme - Affiliated Artist and Co-Creator, 2014 - 2020
A theatre arts haven for unaccompanied minors in Maryland, focused on creating creative space, building community and developing advocacy performances in partnership with students and professional artists.  Generously supported by Imagination Stage and the Doris Duke Foundation. 

Young Playwrights' Theater - Guest Director,  April 2016 - April 2018
Young Playwrights' Theater was created to partner theatre artists and DC area school children in an effort to provide a space, both physical and spiritual, where youth could generate plays from their experiences and imagination. As Guest Director, these plays are staged with professional actors and performed on professional area theatre stages, such as Anacostia Playhouse, GALA Theatre and Theatre J. Performances have included Silence is Violence, Crossing the Street: SW is... (a poetic docudrama on gentrification), and the annual YPT Playwriting Festival. 

Solo Artist Performances, 2001-2011
One Woman Show presenting Latin American folktales, performed in the Greater Washington DC area.
Performance locations included Hirschhorn Museum, Newseum, National Zoo, DC Public Libraries, Prince George’s County Public Libraries, Montgomery County Public Schools, City of Gaithersburg, and Class Acts Arts’ sites.

five foot two productions – Co-founder, performer, and writer, 1999-2000
A female puppetry company focused on multicultural folktales.  Public performances hosted by Discovery Theater, National Zoo, Dumbarton House, and DC public schools from 1999-2000. 
 
EDUCATIONAL THEATRE PRODUCTION    * Also choreographer

The Lion King, Jr. *                                                            Burgundy Farm Country Day School
A Thousand Cranes *                                                        Burgundy Farm Country Day School 
Pirates of Penzance  *                                                       HB Woodlawn Secondary School
The Witch of Edmonton *                                                   HB Woodlawn Secondary School

She Kills Monsters*                                                           Imagination Stage Conservatory 
Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory *                               Mount Vernon Children’s Theater
The Wizard of Oz *                                                             Mount Vernon Children’s Theater
Seussical *                                                                         Mount Vernon  Children’s Theater
Anne of Green Gables *                                                     Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theater
Maricela de la Luz Lights Up the World  *                          Imagination Stage Student Company
Anything Goes                                                                    Imagination Stage Student Company
Annie                                                                                  Imagination Stage Outreach Theater
The Demon Headmaster                                                    Imagination Stage Outreach Theater

​Commissioned Youth Musicals (Synetic Theater)
Star Force

The Wild and Wacky Wizarding World of Wiley Skylar
Sha-Zam! the Musical

Original Youth Musicals through Residency Partnerships
What the Dickens!                                                              Educational Theatre Company
Mooin, Bear Child                                                               Educational Theatre Company
The World According To Bill                                               Educational Theatre Company
Liang and the Magic Paintbrush                                         Educational Theatre Company
Zeusical                                                                              Educational Theatre Company
Alice in Wonderland                                                            Educational Theatre Company
Where the Wild Things Are                                                 Educational Theatre Company
Shakin’ Up Shakespeare                                                    Educational Theatre Company
Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator                                 Educational Theatre Company
The True Story                                                                    Educational Theatre Company
Trickster Tales                                                                     Educational Theatre Company
The Lorax                                                                            Educational Theater Company
The Snow Queen                                                                Educational Theatre Company
The Class of Junie B Jones                                                Educational Theatre Company
My Father’s Dragon                                                            Educational Theatre Company

EDUCATION/TRAINING
M.F.A. in Directing, Catholic University
B.A. in Drama, Magna cum Laude, Catholic University
Directors Lab West 2018 (Professional Development Intensive)
Cornerstone Theater - Paula Donnelly, Peter Howard, Daniel Penilla (Professional Development Intensive)

Stage Combat – Casey Kaleba, Catholic University 
Voice -Cathy Manly, Maureen Codelka 
Tap – Diane Braden, Diane Hamilton
Jazz – Maria Watson, Diane Hamilton
Physical Theater–Paata Tsikurishvili, Irakli Kasvade, SyneticTheater
Silks Aerials - Urban Evolution

AWARDS
​
The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful, Keegan Theater, (Director/Choreographer), Broadway World DC Best Theatre For Young Audiences Award, 2022
Pipeline, Special Achievement in Direction by a Faculty Artist, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, 2022

Outstanding Creative Works, 2021, Bowie State University
DCBX Veinte Award, 2019, Washington DC
​Young Faculty Award 2019, Bowie State University College of Arts and Sciences
Guerrilla Theatre Works:  A New Nation, Convergence Theatre (Director/Choreographer), Best of Professional Productions 2018, DC Metro Theatre Arts
Guerrilla Theatre Works:  A New Nation, Convergence Theater (Director/Choreographer), Helen Hayes recommendation 2018
Anacostia Arts Center/ARCH Development Residency 2018 (Convergence Theatre)
Tom Behm Scholarship for Professional Development, Southeastern Theatre Conference 2017
Imagination Stage - Building Demand for the Arts Grant, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, 2016-2017 (Affiliated Artist)
CulturalDC Mead Theater Lab Grant, 2016-2017 (For Convergence Theatre)
CulturalDC Mead Theater Lab Grant, 2015-2016 (For Convergence Theatre)
Graduate Assistantship, Catholic University, 2012-2015

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