Early Career Support
Producers in Residence: For over a decade, NNPN’s Producer in Residence program has supported season-long residencies at NNPN Core Member Theaters for those committed to furthering their career efforts toward the creation and production of new plays. While immersed in the day-to-day operations of their Host Theater, Residents learn about NNPN’s successful models for collaboration, deepen their connections to the artists and leaders of the Network, and increase their visibility within the field.
MFA Playwrights’ Workshop: A partnership with the Kennedy Center Education Department (the American College Theater Festival) and Stanford University’s National Center for New Plays, the MFA Playwrights’ Workshop (MFAPW) provides six to eight graduate students with a week-long workshop for their plays and a unique professional development opportunity that connects them with NNPN Member Theaters. This program is currently on hiatus.
National Directors Fellowship: In collaboration with the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, NNPN began the National Directors Fellowship. The program, which concluded in September 2022, offered 18 months of hands-on, practical experience aimed at connecting early-career directors to a vast network of new writers, professional support services, and laboratory-like environments for observation.
2023-2024 Producers in Residence
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Rio Alberto
Host Theater: Perseverance Theatre
Anchorage/Juneau, AK
Rio Alberto (He/They) is a Chicano artist and educator based on Dena'ina Ełnena. Raised in Eastern Washington, Alberto has studied and performed in New England, the Midwest, and across Washington state before settling in Alaska and joining Perseverance Theatre. A member of the 2022 Theatre Communications Group Inheritors' cohort, Alberto has presented at the Theatre Communications Group National convening in 2021 and 2022 and attended the Any Given Child Initiative Conference in 2023, hosted by The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
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Daniel ‘Danny’ Duque-Estrada
Host Theater: Magic Theatre
San Francisco, CA
Daniel Duque-Estrada is thrilled to be able to continue and deepen his work as Producing Director of the Magic Theatre, thanks to the help and support of NNPN. At the Magic, he is helping to develop new plays by Luis Alfaro, Migdalia Cruz, and his own play, "Sucio," based on the short stories of Junot Diaz. Over the past 15 years, Daniel has worked primarily as an actor throughout the country, including company memberships at the Dallas Theater Center, Trinity Repertory Company, and two seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He holds a BA from UC Berkeley and an MFA in acting from Brown University/Trinity Rep.
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Aria Velz
Host Theater: Theater Alliance
Washington, D.C.
Aria Velz is a dedicated director, dramaturg, sound designer, and teaching artist with a passion for storytelling and collaboration. She has directed productions at Olney Theatre Center, Prologue Theatre, NextStop Theatre Company, and Flying V Productions. Her work as an associate director has been featured at Signature Theatre, Keegan Theatre, Constellation Theatre Company, Theater Alliance, and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Aria is proud to serve as a Producer in Residence at Theater Alliance, where she continues exploring innovative theater-making approaches.
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Kadijah Wingo
Host Theater: Cleveland Public Theatre
Cleveland, OH
Kadijah Wingo, also known as "Kwingo," is an actor, comedian, and writer based in Cleveland. She is a familiar figure in Cleveland's local theatre and comedy scene, performing at Imposters Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre, Convergence-Continuum, Snowflake Comedy Club, and Con tú. Kadijah co-founded the artist collective "Inside The Couch," where she aims to support and uplift fellow artists. She is committed to using her talents to build a more inclusive and thoughtful artistic community. She remains dedicated to her growth as an artist and advocate, continually seeking new opportunities to inspire and elevate those around her.