Debra Cardona
Actress and Dramaturg / New York & Los Angeles
Classical Theatre of Harlem
Ninth Ward, New Orleans
Classical Theatre of Harlem
Production Dramaturgy
Classical Theatre of Harlem, Resident Dramaturg 2003-2012
Three Sisters, dir. Christopher McElroen, 2009.
Marat/Sade, dir. Christopher McElroen, 2007.
King Lear, dir. Alfred Preisser. Co-production with Folger Theatre, 2006.
Waiting for Godot, dir. Christopher McElroen.
Production invited to New Orleans and restaged in the Ninth Ward, 2006.
Ending scene from production recreated for HBO series Treme, 2012.
Funnyhouse of a Negro, dir. Billie Allen, 2006.
The Cherry Orchard, dir. Christopher McElroen, 2005.
Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death, dir. Alfred Preisser, 2005.
Dream on Monkey Mountain, dir. Alfred Preisser.
Production featured on cover of American Theatre, July/August 2004.
Macbeth, dir. Alfred Preisser, 2003.
Bonn Biennale
Macbeth, dir. Alfred Preisser, 2004.
Women's Project
Antigone Project, an evening of five short adaptations of Antigone by playwrights Lynn Nottage, Caridad Svich, Karen Hartman, Tanya Barfield, and Chiori Miyagawa. Production featured on cover of American Theatre, March 2005.
The New School
The Laramie Project, dir. Rose Bonczek, 2004
Brooklyn College
The Laramie Project, dir. Rose Bonczek, 2004
New Play Development
Reading and Play Selection Committees
Judge, Ebell of Los Angeles Playwright Prize, 2015
Script Selection Committee, New Harmony Project, 2014
Administrator, Playwright’s Playground, Classical Theatre of Harlem, 2012–2013
Administrator, Future Classics play reading series, Classical Theatre of Harlem, 2010
Reader, Source Festival, Washington, D.C., 2012
Reader, Public Theater Emerging Writers Group, 2009 and 2011
Reader, Active Cultures Sporticulture Series, 2010
Script Selection Committee, New Harmony Project, 2008
Plays
Mr. Wheeler's, by Rob Zellers, New Harmony Project, 2014
Furies, by Matt Bukovic, Kennedy Center MFA Playwrights Workshop, summer 2010
. . . And L.A. is Burning, by Y York, New Harmony Project (2008 Smith Prize winner) Article here
Oneida, by Beth Blatt (musical)
Dancing with Abandon, by Karen Hartman (musical)
Emancipation, by Ty Jones, Classical Theatre of Harlem
Beige, by Desi Moreno-Penson, readings at Repertorio Español and Greenwich Theater
Desert Gods, by Desi Moreno-Penson, reading at Flea Theater
3 to a Session, by Desi Moreno-Penson, workshopped at INTAR
Grants Panels
LMDA Dramaturgy Residency Grant, 2008
TCG/NEA Playwright Residency Grant, 2007
Publications
LMDA Review, “Classics in a New Light: Dramaturgy at the Classical Theatre of Harlem,” Volume 21, Issue 1, pp. 11 – 15. Article here
American Theatre, “Mainstream Remix: Frank talk about casting, training, and presenting actors and works of color,” initiated by Caridad Svich and Ephraim Lopez, moderated by Debra Cardona; introduction by Caridad Svich, April 2008, pp. 42-47. Article here
The Mary Poppins Production Handbook, published by Disney Theatricals, 2014.
The Mary Poppins Choreography Manual, published by Disney Theatricals, 2014.
Other Professional Activities
Advisory Board, Ebell Playwright Prize, 2016
Board Member, Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas, 2006 – 2012
Advisory Board, Active Cultures Theater, 2011
2010 - present
2010 - present
Education
New York University
BFA, Major: Drama (Tisch School of the Arts, Stella Adler Studio)
Minor: Broadcast Journalism
Brooklyn College
MFA, Dramaturgy (Dept. Head: Charles McNulty)