BIO/CV
Elena Velasco (she/ella) is a theatre artist whose work encompasses performance, education, and activism, serving the DC and Greater Boston regions. A Helen Hayes nominee and associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, her directing and choreography aesthetic is rooted in visceral, kinesthetic language, staging productions that range from poetic text to musicals to devised theatre, focused on Latiné voice. Her directing and choreography credits include Convergence Theatre, GALA Hispanic, 1st Stage, NextStop Theatre (Helen Hayes nomination), Synetic Theater, Arts on the Horizon (Helen Hayes nomination), Adventure Theatre, Keegan Theatre, Kennedy Center’s New Visions New Voices Festival and Central Square Theater (Greater Boston) A member of SAG/AFTRA, Ms. Velasco has performed in several films and commercials, and was a company member for two decades with Synetic Theater, DC’s premier physical theater ensemble.
Ms. Velasco firmly believes in theatre’s capacity to manifest change, from fostering mind-body connection to reframing perspectives through radical representation. Her work as Founding Artistic Director of Convergence Theatre, a DC-based social justice performance collective, engages audiences through immersive experiences, intersecting verbatim text, spoken word, and physical theatre to galvanize social movements. Her yogic training and DEI experience informs her culturally responsive processes, practices she has shared as a consultant for organizations such as American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE), Southeastern Theatre Conference, Women’s Theatre Festival, and TheatreWashington.
Her father immigrated to this country to ensure that his children would have access to education, one of the greatest gifts he taught her to value and share. For over 10 years she was the Director of Outreach and Shakespeare in the Schools for Educational Theatre Company. A commissioned playwright and theatre researcher, she has contributed to publications for Routledge and Intellect Books, and has served on panels for Boston Conservatory, George Mason University, Hollins University, and Theatre Washington. Ms. Velasco currently teaches theatre in higher ed and bilingual community arts programs. She is an associate professor of theatre and movement at Bowie State University and serves on the board for DC Theatre Arts, on Southeastern Theatre Conference's Equity & Inclusion Council, and as AATE’s Professional Theatre Network chair. Ms. Velasco has presented workshops and served on industry panels for Boston Conservatory at Berklee, the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, George Mason University, Hollins University, SETC, and TheatreWashington. Most importantly, she is the proud mother of seven children, all who have varied paths and passions.
MFA in Directing, Catholic University; Vinyasa Yoga RYT-200, Rising Sol Yoga School.
Unions/Professional Organizations: Stage Director and Choreographer Society, SAG-AFTRA, Yoga Alliance Member, National Alliance of Acting Teachers; Southeastern Theatre Conference.
Education: M.F.A. in Directing and B.A. in Drama, Magna Cum Laude, from Catholic University.
Additional Certification: RYT-200 (Vinyasa Yoga), Rising Sol Yoga School.
Awards:
Orlin Corey Award for Excellence in Theatre, American Alliance for Theatre and Education, 2025.
Maryland Board of Regents 2024 Excellence in Creativity Award.
Helen Hayes 2024 Nomination, Outstanding Director and Outstanding Musical, In the Heights, NextStop Theatre.
Helen Hayes 2024 Nomination, Charles MacArthur Best New Play, Arco Iris (playwright/director), Arts on the Horizon
National Alliance of Acting Instructors 2024 Regional Award of Excellence.
Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation 2023 Barbara Whitman Award.
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.
Outstanding Creative Works Award, Bowie State University, 2021.
DCBX Veinte Award, 2019.
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.
"In the Heights at NextStop Theatre," Embracing Arlington Arts hosted by Janet Kopenhaver
embracing-arlington-arts.org/elena-velasco-nextstop-theatre/
American Theatre Artists Online hosted by Stefan Sittig
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elena-velasco/id1517333279?i=1000477118554
"Cultural Equity" - Podcast with Elena Velasco and Embracing Arlington Arts
https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/embracing-arlington-arts/id/14712599
Theatre Washington Feature:
Take Ten Interview with Elena Velasco, Artistic Director of Convergence Theatre
theatrewashington.org/content/take-ten-elena-velasco
American Theatre Artists Online Podcast Interview - hosted by Stefan Sittig
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elena-velasco/id1517333279?i=1000477118554
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CURRICULUM VITAE
Click file below for full CV.
Elena Velasco (she/ella) is a theatre artist whose work encompasses performance, education, and activism, serving the DC and Greater Boston regions. A Helen Hayes nominee and associate member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, her directing and choreography aesthetic is rooted in visceral, kinesthetic language, staging productions that range from poetic text to musicals to devised theatre, focused on Latiné voice. Her directing and choreography credits include Convergence Theatre, GALA Hispanic, 1st Stage, NextStop Theatre (Helen Hayes nomination), Synetic Theater, Arts on the Horizon (Helen Hayes nomination), Adventure Theatre, Keegan Theatre, Kennedy Center’s New Visions New Voices Festival and Central Square Theater (Greater Boston) A member of SAG/AFTRA, Ms. Velasco has performed in several films and commercials, and was a company member for two decades with Synetic Theater, DC’s premier physical theater ensemble.
Ms. Velasco firmly believes in theatre’s capacity to manifest change, from fostering mind-body connection to reframing perspectives through radical representation. Her work as Founding Artistic Director of Convergence Theatre, a DC-based social justice performance collective, engages audiences through immersive experiences, intersecting verbatim text, spoken word, and physical theatre to galvanize social movements. Her yogic training and DEI experience informs her culturally responsive processes, practices she has shared as a consultant for organizations such as American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE), Southeastern Theatre Conference, Women’s Theatre Festival, and TheatreWashington.
Her father immigrated to this country to ensure that his children would have access to education, one of the greatest gifts he taught her to value and share. For over 10 years she was the Director of Outreach and Shakespeare in the Schools for Educational Theatre Company. A commissioned playwright and theatre researcher, she has contributed to publications for Routledge and Intellect Books, and has served on panels for Boston Conservatory, George Mason University, Hollins University, and Theatre Washington. Ms. Velasco currently teaches theatre in higher ed and bilingual community arts programs. She is an associate professor of theatre and movement at Bowie State University and serves on the board for DC Theatre Arts, on Southeastern Theatre Conference's Equity & Inclusion Council, and as AATE’s Professional Theatre Network chair. Ms. Velasco has presented workshops and served on industry panels for Boston Conservatory at Berklee, the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, George Mason University, Hollins University, SETC, and TheatreWashington. Most importantly, she is the proud mother of seven children, all who have varied paths and passions.
MFA in Directing, Catholic University; Vinyasa Yoga RYT-200, Rising Sol Yoga School.
Unions/Professional Organizations: Stage Director and Choreographer Society, SAG-AFTRA, Yoga Alliance Member, National Alliance of Acting Teachers; Southeastern Theatre Conference.
Education: M.F.A. in Directing and B.A. in Drama, Magna Cum Laude, from Catholic University.
Additional Certification: RYT-200 (Vinyasa Yoga), Rising Sol Yoga School.
Awards:
Orlin Corey Award for Excellence in Theatre, American Alliance for Theatre and Education, 2025.
Maryland Board of Regents 2024 Excellence in Creativity Award.
Helen Hayes 2024 Nomination, Outstanding Director and Outstanding Musical, In the Heights, NextStop Theatre.
Helen Hayes 2024 Nomination, Charles MacArthur Best New Play, Arco Iris (playwright/director), Arts on the Horizon
National Alliance of Acting Instructors 2024 Regional Award of Excellence.
Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation 2023 Barbara Whitman Award.
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.
Outstanding Creative Works Award, Bowie State University, 2021.
DCBX Veinte Award, 2019.
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.
"In the Heights at NextStop Theatre," Embracing Arlington Arts hosted by Janet Kopenhaver
embracing-arlington-arts.org/elena-velasco-nextstop-theatre/
American Theatre Artists Online hosted by Stefan Sittig
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elena-velasco/id1517333279?i=1000477118554
"Cultural Equity" - Podcast with Elena Velasco and Embracing Arlington Arts
https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/embracing-arlington-arts/id/14712599
Theatre Washington Feature:
Take Ten Interview with Elena Velasco, Artistic Director of Convergence Theatre
theatrewashington.org/content/take-ten-elena-velasco
American Theatre Artists Online Podcast Interview - hosted by Stefan Sittig
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elena-velasco/id1517333279?i=1000477118554
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CURRICULUM VITAE
Click file below for full CV.
| velasco_-_cv_may_2026.pdf |
Hansel and Gretel. Co-adapted, directed and choreographed by Elena Velasco and Tori Bertocci. Featuring Justin Jarod Bell, Sharisse Taylor, and Raven Wilkes. Set Design by Phil Charlwood. Prop and Puppet design by Phil da Costa. Costumes by Dominique Gabby.
Stage managed by Tess Wagner.
Photo credit by Johnny Shyrock.