About Theatre Philadelphia

Founded in 2012, Theatre Philadelphia is dedicated to bringing together and celebrating Philadelphia's diverse and growing theatre community. We are committed to leading efforts that grow audiences and promote the public participation in theatrical work. Over the past several decades, Philadelphia has transformed into a major regional theatre community, with a remarkable blossoming of new companies and new buildings, a growing pool of exceptional artists, and fiercely committed and curious audiences and supporters. Theatre Philadelphia envisions a region that celebrates this growing and ever-changing theatre community – nurturing local theatre artists, fostering the creation of extraordinary work, forging stronger connections between our art and audiences – recognizing that a diverse, robust, and thriving theatre community can play a pivotal role in making Philadelphia a world-class city. Theatre Philadelphia's programs include this website, the annual Barrymore Awards, and strategies for audience awareness and growth.

Staff

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Darnelle Radford, Executive Director
Darnelle Radford is a Philadelphia-based theater producer, media entrepreneur, and arts administrator with a significant presence in the local theater community. He is the founder of Represented Theatre Company and Em3ry, a media company that produces podcasts like the Broad Street Review Podcast, Rep Radio, The Business of Theater, A Working Title where he hosts or co-hosts the shows. He is the outgoing Director of Operations at Theatre Exile, South Philadelphia’s only theater company. Radford's work often involves supporting and promoting the arts, including managing technical systems and producing arts-focused content.

Darnelle has also worked in cultural organizations such as The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia Art Museum, Freedom Theatre, Historic Philadelphia, Inc., The College of Physicians of Philadelphia and the COVID Containment Division of The City of Philadelphia’s Health Department.

Darnelle studied Multimedia and Web Design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia and Arts Administration at New York University.

CJ Higgins, Director of Programming and Operations

CJ Higgins (they/he) is a theatre artist who specializes in acting, directing, music, devising, playwriting, producing, and whatever else a project needs at a given moment. You may have seen his work as the Artistic Director of The Bards Theatre Troupe, through which they have collaborated on many productions including A Queer Christmas Carol, Fear Itself, and The #Knightlife Renaissance Faire. He is also the co-host of My Gay Agenda, a queer interview podcast, and they were Theatre Horizon’s first season apprentice during the 2015/16 season. CJ’s mission as an artist is to use theatre as a tool for queer liberation and radical empathy. They are so excited and honored to work with Theatre Philadelphia to serve our community!

Ubuntu Young Artist Fellowship

Theatre Philadelphia aims to increase our work with the next generation of artists transitioning into the Greater  Philadelphia Theatre community. With a focus on those currently enrolled or recently graduated within the past year from an undergraduate theater program in the Greater Philadelphia area, The Ubuntu Young Artist Fellowship is an opportunity for young emerging artists interested in learning, supporting, and creating more space for fostering community between theatres, fellow young artists,  theatre community mentors, and theatre-goers. Each spring we welcome four youth fellows to join Theatre Philadelphia and assist with designing and facilitating existing and new Theatre Philadelphia programming and outreach. Fellows are placed into the following sectors: Art Administration, Social Media/PR, and Community Engagement. 

Past Ubuntu Young Artist Fellows 

Aubree House 

Caroline Heins

Paige Bates 

Rose Farrell 

Raven Burckhalter 

Brianna Arce

Emma Price

Alexa Pennington

Board of Directors

Jason Lindner, President
Gilberto Vega, Vice President
Conrad Person, Treasurer
Erlina Ortiz, Secretary 

TS Hawkins
Tai Verley 
Gabrielle Corsaro 
Patreshettarlini Adams 
Jose Alicia 
Shamus
Jasmin Carroll
Cat Ramirez

Gilberto Vega is a queer Pennsylrican and a creator, educator, and administrator for music, theatre, and—most recently—stand-up comedy. He currently serves as the Director of External Relations at Theatre Horizon in Norristown.
Originally hailing from Lancaster, PA, his recent theatre credits include: Dramaturg for Alma (Passage Theatre Company); Dramaturg for Gente del sol (PlayPenn); Director for Mozart’s The Magic Flute (Penn Singers Light Opera Company); Dramaturg for TOWN and The Agitators (Theatre Horizon); Asst. Director/ASL Coach for The Wiz (Theatre in the X); Playwright for Miley Vs. Mozart: An Epic Poperatic Smackdown as part of The Vs. Series (Theatre Contra); and Audio Describer at Arden Theatre Company (12 productions!).
As a stand-up comedian, Gilberto has performed at: Souletri; Your Sunday’s Best at Plays and Players; Tavern on Camac; Sawubona Creativity Project; and Esperanza Health Center. Recently, Gilberto made his New Jersey debut at AC Jokes in Resorts Casino. His writing has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Bonaly Reviews, Revarte, and Motivos Magazine.
As a Costa Rican-American and the son of an immigrant, Gilberto is deeply committed to a more equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible arts community. He is and has been involved in EDIA work with: Theatre Philadelphia; Theatre Horizon; Platt Student Performing Arts House; and the University of Pennsylvania Glee Club, which recently made the transition to a gender-inclusive choir after 159 years as an all-male ensemble. Gilberto serves on the Board of Directors for Theatre Philadelphia, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, and Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia.
Gilberto has curated classes, workshops, and performance opportunities—in both English and Spanish—for youth across the Philadelphia region, where he has connected students with theatre and music leaders, including: Mandy Gonzalez; David Charles Abell; Todd Ellison; Erlina Ortiz; Byron Stripling; and Luis Figueroa.
Gilberto was a Micro-Resident Artist at the Painted Bride Arts Center and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a recipient of the Wallace Award through Platt Student Performing Arts House. Instagram: @soygilbertico | www.gilbertovega.com

Erlina Ortiz (she/her/ella) is a Dominican-American playwright and theatre maker from Reading, PA. Her heartfelt and humorous plays have been presented across the US and with Power Street Theatre where she is proud to be Resident Playwright and Co-Artistic Director.
In 2018 her play Las Mujeres received The Bonaly Award for Creation of Community Joy and in 2019 Morir Sonyando was nominated for six Barrymore Awards including Outstanding New Play. In Fall 2021 Young Money premiered at Azuka Theatre and went on to receive the ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award Citation. In 2022 her play La Egoista was selected for the LTC Comedy Carnaval in Denver going on to win the 2022 National Latine Playwriting Award, premiering at Actors Theatre of Louisville and Skylight Theatre and being featured on the 2023 Kilroy's WEB. It went on to premiere at Philadelphia Theatre Company in October 2024 in association with Edgewood Entertainment.
Erlina has embarked on the Amtrak Writer’s residency where she traveled across the US in an Amtrak sleeper car, the Signal Fire Residency Outpost Residency where she lived on the side of a mountain for a week, and in 2019 she gave the Keynote Address at the Delaware Writer’s Conference on the importance of nurturing your artistic community. Erlina was a member of NEXUS with New York Stage and Film and is a two time recipient of the Leeway Art and Change Grant and the 2021 Leeway Transformation Award. In 2023 she was named as a Dramatist Guild Foundation Catalyst Fellow. Erlina has taught theatre and playwriting with the University of the Arts, Power Street Theatre, and Blue Stoop. She currently serves as secretary of the board for Theatre Philadelphia.
Her new musical, Siluetas, was developed for the O’Neill National Musical Theatre Conference and premiered with Power Street Theatre in June 2024. It went on to be nominated for 7 Barrymore Awards. Erlina believes being an artist is a superpower, she believes in using her powers for good.
erlinaortiz.com - @erlina6ortiz

Jasmin Carroll is a Philly “Blerd” with a knack for media management and public relations. She joined InterAct on December 1, 2021, after several years as media manager for viral Philly nerd spot, Amalgam Comics & Coffeehouse. Under her tenure, the hybrid store became a hub for cultural events that prioritized BIPOC & LGBTQ+ customers. Her notable Amalgam events include: a Black Panther discussion & book signing with award-winning author, Ta-Nehisi Coates. A “Girls Rock Philly” concert and a once in a lifetime graphic novel signing with late civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis.
She has also worked as project manager for North Philadelphia Peace Park in association with Habitat for Humanity and as a personal brand consultant for the national political director of the 2020 Joe Biden campaign (now former Deputy Chief of staff for Vice President Kamala Harris), Erin Wilson.
Jasmin grew up performing on stage as a vocalist and has a passion for artistic expression in many forms. She believes in promoting art that is culturally focused and representative of the wider world we live in. She is a proud product of the arts focused Philadelphia public school system, The Art Institute of Philadelphia’s Acting and Directing workshops, & Temple University’s Film and Theater program.
Her clients have appeared on CNN, The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, MTV, BET, Essence, NPR and more.

Cat Ramirez (they/he/she) is a queer, mixed race, Philly-based performance director and producer who loves logistical puzzles, community meals, and bisexual lighting. Some of their favorite directing projects include She Was a Conquistawhore with Rachel O’Hanlon Rodriguez and Die Cast, Letters to the Moon and deciphering the knots in the pine beams with Mel Hsu, Half Magic with Joseph Ahmed, Meet Murasaki Shikibu with Tiny Dynamite (Barrymore nomination for Outstanding Direction), Young Americans with Theatre Horizon, and Space Opera with Obvious Agency. They have produced and developed programming for the Bearded Ladies Cabaret, Asian Arts Initiative, and Lightning Rod Special, and their writing has appeared in American Theatre Magazine. Cat is the outgoing Creative Director for Philly Asian Performing Artists (PAPA), and the current Creative Producer for Obvious Agency.  They serve as a Board Member of the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation. They are an alumni of the National New Play Network’s Producer-In-Residence Program and have been recognized by Governor Tom Wolf and Pennsylvania Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs for their contributions to Asian American Theatre in the state of Pennsylvania.

Tai Verley (she/her) is a NYC-born, Philadelphia-settled multifaceted artist. While her acting credits include companies like the Arden Theatre Company, New Light Theatre, Delaware Shakespeare, and Philadelphia Artists’ Collective, Tai has also directed pieces for Delaware Shakespeare, Eagle Theatre and  academic institutions like UPenn, Villanova, Arcadia University, and West Chester University. As a 2021 HATCH AT THE SCHOOLHOUSE Resident Lead Artist, Tai began writing her first play, 3Sis, which is an adaptation of Chekhov's Three Sisters, centering joyful, contemporary Black women. She is also currently the Producing Artistic Director of Revolution Shakespeare (aka RevShakes), a small theatre company (here in Philly!) hoping to deconstruct and decolonize the Bard's work. Last but not least, she is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania, challenging her Intro to Acting students towards hyper-specificity within their aural, gestural and emotional capacities. Look for more info here if you dare: www.taiverley.com 

Shamus (he/him) is a Queer theatre maker focused on new works and musical theatre currently serving as Producing Artistic Director of Shakespeare in Clark Park. At SCP he has commissioned & directed original adaptations including All's Well (Barrymore Award), A Bottom’s Dream, New Heaven, New Earth and Comedy of Errors: Real Housewives of Ephesus, directed the Barrymore Award Nominated Two Gentlemen of Verona the musical and produced The Complete Works of Christmas (Abridged), Antonio, or What I Would, and As You Like It. He is the co-creator of the original musical Close Your Legs, Honey alongside Hannah Parke and is a Founding Company Member of physical theatre company Die-Cast. He has developed original work with Playwright's Center, PlayPenn, Boston Playwrights' Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company/Cannonball, PrideFest at the Tank, Samuel French Off Off Broadway Festival & others. Shamus earned his MFA in Directing from Boston University and serves on faculty at Rutgers-Camden.

Alumni Board Members

*Susan D. Atkinson
Iain Campbell
Eileen Cella
Akeem Davis
Ryanne Domingues
Jameson Gilpatrick
*Kevin Glaccum

*Grace E. Grillet
*Leonard C. Haas
James Ijames
Matthew F. Lewandowski II
*Amy L. Murphy
*Terry Nolen
Daniel Perelstein

*Erin Reilly
*Anne Shuff
Patricia Stranahan
Anneliese Van Arsdale
*Thom Weaver
*Steve Pacek
Deborah Block
Kash Goins
Emily Zeck
Meredith Beck
Katrina Foy
Eric Thompson
Mydera Robinson

Rachel Camp

*Founding Board Member

Learn more about our current Barrymore Award Voters

If you are a representative of a professional theatre company and would like more information about participating in the Barrymore Awards, please see our Submit a Production to the Barrymore Awards page. If you are a theatre artist or just love theatre in Philadelphia, there are many other ways for you to get involved with Theatre Philadelphia!