Marilo Nuñez
Hamilton,ON
Summary
Innovative Theatre Director and Dramaturge specializing in the Fornés Playwriting Method, uniquely teaching this approach across Canada. Leverages advanced staging techniques, effective team leadership, and project management skills to drive successful productions. Strong in creative problem-solving and communication, ensuring effective execution of theatrical visions.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
University of Winnipeg
Winnipeg, MB
11.2025 - 04.2026
- Directed 4th year Honours Acting Students in their final production of Unity (1918) by Kevin Kerr, fostering collaboration, ensemble, and enhancing performance skills.
Director/Dramaturge
Toronto Metropolitan University & Tarragon Theatre
Toronto, ON
10.2025 - 12.2025
- Led students from initial script reading to staged workshop production at Tarragon Theatre, fostering practical application of dramaturgical skills.
- Partnered with a local playwright to refine and develop a theatrical work, contributing to its successful presentation.
- Facilitated an eight-week intensive for fourth-year acting students on new play development processes, enhancing their understanding of theatrical creation.
- Instructed students on dramaturgical techniques essential for workshop settings.
Co-Facilitator
York University
04.2024 - 04.2024
- Symposium co-facilitator for Facing Backlash: Performance in the Age of Reactionary Politics
Director/Dramaturge
Toronto Metropolitan University & Tarragon Theatre
Toronto, ON
10.2024 - 12.2024
- Led an eight-week intensive for fourth-year acting students on new play development processes, enhancing their understanding of contemporary theatrical practices.
- Guided students through script reading to staged workshop production at Tarragon Theatre, fostering practical experience and collaborative skills.
- Collaborated with a local playwright to refine and develop a theatrical work, contributing to the creative process and supporting new voices in theatre.
- Instructed students on dramaturgical techniques essential for workshop settings.
Co-Editor
Canadian Theatre Review, 193: Casting and Race
2023 - 2023
- Co-edited Casting and Race, 193 for Canadian Theatre Review
- Edited submissions for clarity, coherence, and adherence to publication standards.
- Reviewed peer feedback to ensure diverse perspectives in content.
- Coordinated with the design team on layout and visual presentation.
- Participated in editorial meetings to discuss content direction and themes.
- Conducted research on industry trends related to race in theatre.
- Collaborated with writers to refine articles on casting and race.
Fornes Playwriting Workshop- Faculty
National Theatre School
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Three-week intensive workshop in the Fornes Method of Playwriting with the NTS playwriting students (years 1-3)
- Taught and incorporated the five elements of the method- embodied movement, visualization, drawing, found object, communal writing
Instructor
Theatre Aquarius
12.2016 - 01.2019
- Designed engaging lesson plans for diverse student groups in theatre arts.
- Facilitated workshops to enhance students' performance and creative skills.
- Directed rehearsals, guiding actors through character development and staging.
Playwright-in-Residence, Theatre & Film Dept.
McMaster University
Hamilton, ON
01.2018 - 11.2018
- Socrates Project Playwright-in-Residence- themes of democracy
- collective creation with 3rd year theatre and film students
- wrote a full-length play, Demos Kratos, for their final 3rd year production
Interim Executive Director
Hamilton Fringe Festival
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Led festival planning and execution to deliver engaging cultural experiences.
- Collaborated with artists and vendors to enhance festival offerings and logistics.
- Managed budgets and resources to ensure the financial sustainability of the festival.
- Developed marketing strategies to promote events and increase audience engagement.
- Oversaw volunteer recruitment, training, and management for event support.
- Fostered community partnerships to strengthen festival presence and outreach efforts.
- Advocated for diverse programming that reflects local culture and artistic expression.
- Cultivated relationships with key stakeholders, including board members, donors, sponsors, partners, and community leaders.
General Manager
Hamilton Fringe Festival
Hamilton, ON
03.2014 - 01.2016
- Oversaw festival planning and execution for community arts events.
- Managed team of staff and volunteers during festival operations.
- Coordinated logistics for performances and artist accommodations.
- Developed partnerships with local businesses and organizations for support.
- Organized volunteer training sessions to enhance service delivery during events.
- Managed all aspects of daily business operations, including budgeting, staffing, scheduling, inventory control, customer service and sales.
Founding Artistic Director
Alameda Theatre Company
12.2004 - 12.2014
- Developed artistic vision for the company- to develop the voice of Latinx artists in Canadian theatre
- Collaborated with and developed the new works of Latinx playwrights to create original works and adaptations.
- Directed rehearsals, guiding actors toward compelling performances and character development.
- Established partnerships with local schools for educational outreach programs in the arts.
- Managed budgeting and resource allocation for multiple theatrical projects annually.
- Fostered a creative environment, encouraging collaboration among artists and staff members.
- Curated season programming, selecting plays that resonate with community interests and values.
- Maintained accurate records of expenses associated with productions or events.
- Oversaw the development of marketing materials to promote events and performances.
- Organized and facilitated meetings with board members to discuss upcoming projects.
- Participated in fundraising, grant writing and donor cultivation events.
- Developed and implemented an artistic vision for the organization.
Dramaturge-in-Residence
Polyphonic Multilingual Creation Program
Vancouver, BC
05.2023 - 06.2023
- worked with playwright Yulissa Campos to develop her play I, Frida
- presented a workshop production of the piece
Education
Ph. D. - Theatre & Performance Studies
York University
Toronto12-2026
Master of Arts - Creative Writing- Playwriting
University of Guelph
Toronto10-2019
Bachelor of Arts - Acting
Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson)
Toronto01-1996
Skills
- Theatre direction
- Script analysis and review
- Dramaturgical techniques
- Script development
- Playwriting fundamentals
- Performance critique
- Ensemble collaboration
- Budget management
- Time management
- Analytical thinking
- Problem-solving strategies
Selected Directing
Unity (1918)- University of Winnipeg, 4th Year Final Production, 2026
Agency- Toronto Metropolitan University/Tarragon Theatre Project, 2025
Foxy : Tales of...Zorra Tarragon Theatre, Developmental Workshop- Playwright/Director 2025
New Wave Your Behaviour Fringe- Hamilton, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Victoria, Kingston 2025/24/23
Ice/berg Toronto Metropolitan University/Tarragon Theatre Project 2024
Foxy: Tales of ...Zorra Boca Del Lupo SLaM program, Vancouver) 2024
Foxy: Tales of ...Zorra Brave New Works Festival-Theatre Aquarius 2024
Understory The Mule Spinner- Director/Dramaturge, 2024
I, Frida Polyphonic Playwrights Festival- Director/Dramaturge 2024
Foxy: Tales of an Urban... Tarragon Theatre workshop- Playwright/Director 2023
One Perfect Day OPD Collective/Caminos Festival 2023- Director/Dramaturge 2023
Josephs Centre for Indigenous Theatre- Dramaturge/Director 2023
Unwanted Theatre Aquarius Brave New Works Festival- Director 2023
Understory Sing from the Start Collective-Director/Dramaturge 2022
One Perfect Day OPD Collective- Director/Dramaturge (wksp) 2022
The Two Natashas Red Betty Theatre- Director/Dramaturge (wksp) 2021
Unwanted Red Betty Theatre- Director (wksp) 2021
Mercy Industry Theatre, SuperCrawl, Co-director 2017
El Retorno/I Return Why Not Theatre Riser Project 2017
Gettysburg Address First Stage Festival - workshop production 2015
Paradise Red Alameda/Cocodrilo Triste Collective, SummerWorks 2014
Soliciting Temptation Assistant Director, Tarragon Theatre/Andrea Donaldson 2014
Paradise Red Alameda/De Colores Festival – workshop 2013
Chile Con Carne Alameda Theatre Company- Director 2013
Hallaj Modern Times Stage/ Soheil Parsa- Assistant Director 2012
Nueva Voz Ensemble Co-Director, Alameda Theatre Company- collective creation 2011
The Intruder Alameda Theatre Company/SummerWorks 2010
Artistic Director Alameda Theatre Company- founder 2004-2014
Plays
- MAPU, Commission for TYA production – Carousel Players, 06/01/24
- Huinca (The Foreigner), Touring Production, Milagro Theatre (Portland, Oregon), 06/01/20
- Last Supper, Short, Production, Frost Bites Festival - film/theatre hybrid, 06/01/19
- Foxy: Tales of an Urban Zorra, In Development, 01/01/22
- DEMOS KRATOS, Production, McMaster University, The Socrates Project, 06/01/18
- Signs Preceding the End of the World, In Development, adaptation of novel by Yuri Herrerra, 01/01/20
- INQUEST, In Development, 01/01/20
- Mercy, Co-writer, Production, Supercrawl, 06/01/19
- El Retorno/I Return, Radio Aluna Theatre- Podcast Radio Drama, Theatre Aquarius- Studio Series- Production, Riser Project, Why Not Theatre- Production, 06/01/17
- La Reunion, Translator, (Playwright: Trinidad Gonzalez- Chile), 06/01/17
- Three Fingered Jack & the Legend of Joaquin Murieta, Published, Fronteras Vivientes: Eight Latino/a Canadian Plays, Production, Summerworks, 06/01/16
Selected Acting
- Bella Luz, Mama, Kevin Kerr/University of Victoria, 06/01/25
- El Terremoto, Luz, Guillermo Verdecchia/Tarragon Theatre, 06/01/24
- Bella Luz, Mama, Steven Drover/Arts Club Radar Festival, 06/01/23
- Seven Virgins, Beth, Mandy Roveda/Hamilton Fringe, 06/01/23
- El Retorno/I Return, Vero/Playwright, Bea Pizano/Radio Aluna Theatre Podcast, 06/01/21
- El Teremoto (workshop), Luz, Richard Rose/Tarragon Theatre, 06/01/19
- Clean, Marisol, Christine Quintana-Urjo Kareda Workspace, 06/01/18
- The Enchanted Loom, Dr. Mendoza, Marjorie Chan/Cahoots Theatre (workshop), 06/01/16
- La Communion, Juana, Bea Pizano/Aluna Theatre, 06/01/10
- Madre, Various, Nightwood Theatre/Emma Tibaldo, 06/01/07
- Three Fingered Jack.., Rosita/Playwright, Alameda Theatre Company/Natalie Alvarez, 06/01/04
- The Refugee Hotel, Cristina, Factory Theatre/ Soheil Parsa (workshop), 06/01/03
- Chile Con Carne, Manuelita, 4 Devils Productions/ Guillermo Verdecchia, 06/01/99
- Veins of Copper, Carmela, Theatre Centre/ David Duclos, 06/01/93
Agent
Ian Arnold, ian@catalysttcm.com, 416-568-8673
Personal Information
Title: Director/Playwright
Publications
- Three-Fingered Jack and the Legend of Joaquin Murieta, Fronteras Vivientes: Eight Latina/o Canadian Plays. Playwrights Canada Press., 2001
- Francis, Marilo Nunez, 06/01/20, PANK Magazine: Latinx Lit Series, https://pankmagazine.com/2020/07/07/latinxlit-mnunez/?fbclid=IwAR3LMsXVyv1HZzJ45yx1yCEWyeYPIcHLu5hBsOBcSBPNEqcJF6wPCh9jSd8,
- We All Want to Change The World, Marilo Nunez, The New Quarterly: Canadian Writers and Writing, #150, p. 81-85, 2019
- Solo/Mas: An Anthology of Latinx Canadian Plays, Marilo Nunez, Playwrights Canada Press, 2027
- Decentering Playwriting, Writing with Irene: Sustaining the Fornes Method of Playwriting, Routledge, 2023
- Recipes for (Un)Learning to (Re)Member: Ripples, Responses, Responsibilities., Marilo Nunez, 11/17/23, Performance Research, vol. 28, no. 8, pp. 52–55, Casting & Race, Marilo Nunez, 01/01/23, Canadian Theatre Review, An Open Letter to the Artist as a Young Woman or Man; Or Why We Need to Talk About Race, Marilo Nunez, 01/01/16, Canadian Theatre Review: Equity in Theatre, North Meets South, Marilo Nunez, 06/01/99, Canadian Women Studies: Immigrant and Refugee Women. York University Publication Vol 19, No. 3: 94-95
Training
- Fornes Playwriting Workshop, Tisch School of the Arts/INTAR, New York City, 06/01/25
- Directing Workshop, Dawn Walton (UK)/Why Not Theatre, 06/01/24
- Director’s Lab North, Various, 06/01/24
- Directing Workshop, Katie Mitchell (UK)/Why Not Theatre, 06/01/24
- Arpillera Workshop, Ximena Moreno, DUAL project, 06/01/23
- Teaching Fornes Pedagogy, Anne Garcia-Romero, Notre Dame University, 06/01/20
- Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg, online, 06/01/20
- Fornes Playwriting Workshop, Migdalia Cruz/Notre Dame University, Chicago, 06/01/18
- Director’s Lab North, Various, 06/01/14
- Playwriting Workshop, Brian Quirt/Tarragon Theatre, 06/01/13
- Playwriting Master Class, Guillermo Verdecchia/ Alameda Theatre, 06/01/13
- Directing Workshop, Richard Rose/ Tarragon Theatre, 06/01/13
Residencies Playwright Units Grants Awards Conferences
- Equity Showcase Cayle Chernin Award for Theatre- Foxy: Tales of an Urban Zorra, 06/01/25
- CATR Lawrence Scholarship for Phd Research, 06/01/25
- Playwright-in Residence- Carousel Players, 06/01/23
- Winner Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize, 06/01/21
- Recipient Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)- York University, 06/01/21
- Decolonizing Activation (Un)Conference Co-Organizer, York University, 06/01/21
- Playwright-in-Residence- Aluna Theatre, 06/01/22
- Member of The Maria Irene Fornes Institute, 01/01/20
- Hamilton Arts Award- Established Artist- Theatre- Winner, 06/01/18
- McMaster University- Playwright-in-Residence, Theatre & Film Dept., 06/01/18
- Playwright-in-Residence, Aluna Theatre, OAC, 06/01/16
- Founding Artistic Director- Alameda Theatre Company, 01/01/04
Timeline
Director
University of Winnipeg
11.2025 - 04.2026
Director/Dramaturge
Toronto Metropolitan University & Tarragon Theatre
10.2025 - 12.2025
Director/Dramaturge
Toronto Metropolitan University & Tarragon Theatre
10.2024 - 12.2024
Co-Facilitator
York University
04.2024 - 04.2024
Dramaturge-in-Residence
Polyphonic Multilingual Creation Program
05.2023 - 06.2023
Fornes Playwriting Workshop- Faculty
National Theatre School
01.2021 - 01.2022
Playwright-in-Residence, Theatre & Film Dept.
McMaster University
01.2018 - 11.2018
Instructor
Theatre Aquarius
12.2016 - 01.2019
Interim Executive Director
Hamilton Fringe Festival
01.2016 - 01.2017
General Manager
Hamilton Fringe Festival
03.2014 - 01.2016
Founding Artistic Director
Alameda Theatre Company
12.2004 - 12.2014
Co-Editor
Canadian Theatre Review, 193: Casting and Race
2023 - 2023
Ph. D. - Theatre & Performance Studies
York University
Master of Arts - Creative Writing- Playwriting
University of Guelph
Bachelor of Arts - Acting
Toronto Metropolitan University (Ryerson)