ELENA VELASCO
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      • Frida Libre
      • Picasso 2023
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      • La Llamada de Sylvia Méndez
      • Entre la Tierra y el Cielo
    • 1st Stage >
      • 1st Stage - Laughs in Spanish
      • 1st Stage - Mojada
    • Central Square Theater - Alma
    • NextStop Theatre >
      • NextStop - Native Gardens
      • NextStop Theatre - In the Heights
    • Keegan Theatre production photos >
      • Gallery - The Magical Piñata
      • Gallery - Hands on a Hardbody
      • Gallery - The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Wonderful
    • Convergence Theatre >
      • Convergence Theatre production photos >
        • Bhavi the Avenger
        • A New Nation
        • This is All Just Temporary
        • Witch
    • Arts on the Horizon - Arco Iris
    • Synetic Theater production photos
    • Production photos - Earlier works
    • La Perdida
    • University production photos >
      • Men on Boats - UMD
      • RIDE THE CYCLONE
      • Medea
      • Dreamgirls
      • Little Shop of Horrors
      • #metoo
      • Godspell
  • Yoga Instructor
    • Converge - Healing Arts Space
  • Where's elena?

Theatre Credits

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

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/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.
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  • Home
  • Bio/CV
  • Theatre Credits
  • Reviews
  • Podcasts/Articles
  • Gallery
    • GALA Hispanic production photos >
      • Frida Libre
      • Picasso 2023
      • 2022 La Llamada de Sylvia Mendez (nuevo)
      • La Llamada de Sylvia Méndez
      • Entre la Tierra y el Cielo
    • 1st Stage >
      • 1st Stage - Laughs in Spanish
      • 1st Stage - Mojada
    • Central Square Theater - Alma
    • NextStop Theatre >
      • NextStop - Native Gardens
      • NextStop Theatre - In the Heights
    • Keegan Theatre production photos >
      • Gallery - The Magical Piñata
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