In the Heights. Nominated for 8 Helen Hayes Awards. NextStop Theatre. Joseph Edwards Photography.
ELENA VELASCO (she/her/ella) Unions: SDC; SAG/AFTRA EMAIL: [email protected]
PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE Directing Credits * Also Choreographer #Helen Hayes Award Nominee +Helen Hayes Recommended Séneca, Ratón de Biblioteca GALA Hispanic (opens March 2026) Woman on Fire * Creative Cauldron Native Gardens * + NextStop Theatre Laughs in Spanish * + 1st Stage Frida Libre * GALA Hispanic Theater Picasso * GALA Hispanic Theater Arco Iris * # Arts on the Horizon In the Heights # NextStop Theatre Mojada * + 1st Stage 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
STAGED READINGS DIRECTING CREDITS Last Song for My Father Kennedy Center REACH Local Arts Residency Walter Mercado presents a queer Puerto Rican (not just) Christmxs Carol Avant Bard Kairos Contemporary American Theatre Fest Cebollas Contemporary American Theatre Fest Belonging without Strings Transformation Theatre DMV QFest: Virtual BIPOC 10 Minute Play Festival Convergence Theatre On the Wings of a Mariposa (virtual) Adventure Theatre MTC Snapshots Convergence Theatre American Triage Georgetown University Borders and Their Shadows International Festival The QoL Mandate NextStop Theatre Entre el Cielo y la Tierra Kennedy Center New Visions New Voices Her, Across the River Avant Bard Theater Crossing the Street is…. Young Playwrights Theatre Silence is Violence Young Playwrights Theatre Miranda Avant Bard Theater Bhavi the Avenger Convergence Theatre, 2015
University Productions Bob Marley's Three Little Birds Bowie State University (co-directed with LaShay Fletcher) Ride the Cyclone Bowie State University Men on Boats (co-director w/KenYatta Rogers) University of Maryland Medea (aerial choreographer) Bowie State University 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
ACTING/PERFORMER EXPERIENCE Theater White Rabbit, Red Rabbit Performer NextStop Theatre The Decameron (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 Myth of Control Maria's Mother Myth of Control 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) American's Most Wanted America’s Most Wanted: Top Cops Sra. Diaz America's Most Wanted
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
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
CommissionedYouth 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/CERTIFICATION M.F.A. in Directing, Catholic University B.A. in Drama, Magna cum Laude, Catholic University RYT-200 (Vinyasa Yoga), Rising Sol Yoga School.
TRAININGS 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 Orlin Corey Award for Excellence in Theatre, American Alliance for Theatre and Education, 2025. University Systems of Maryland Board of Regents 2024 Creativity Award. Helen Hayes 2024 Nomination - Best Director and Best Musical, In the Heights, NextStop Theatre. Helen Hayes 2024 Nomination - Charles MacArthur Best New Play, Arco Iris (playwright/director), Arts on the Horizon. Excellence in Acting Instruction, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival and National Alliance of Acting Instructors. 2023 Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) Barbara Whitman Award - sdcfoundation.org/2023-recipient-and-finalists-barbara-whitman-award/. The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful, Keegan Theater, (Director/Choreographer), Broadway World DC Best Theatre For Young Audiences Award, 2022 - www.broadwayworld.com/washington-dc/article/Winners-Announced-For-The-2022-BroadwayWorld-Washington-DC-Awards-20230127. Pipeline, Special Achievement in Direction by a Faculty Artist, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, 2022 Outstanding Creative Works, Bowie State University, 2021. DCBX Veinte Award, Washington DC, 2019. Young Faculty Award, Bowie State University College of Arts and Sciences, 2019. Guerrilla Theatre Works: A New Nation, Convergence Theatre (Director/Choreographer), Best of Professional Productions, DC Metro Theatre Arts, 2018. Guerrilla Theatre Works: A New Nation, Convergence Theater (Director/Choreographer), Helen Hayes recommendation, 2018. Anacostia Arts Center/ARCH Development Residency (Convergence Theatre), 2018. 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.