Mr. Cruz is a dynamic, bilingual (English/Spanish) theater creator and educator with a passion for process-oriented work. His career began as a dancer in Puerto Rico, where he quickly advanced to cultural heritage projects sponsored by Compañía de Turismo and Oficina de Asuntos de la Juventud. As a performing artist Cruz has performed in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Las Vegas, New York City and Washington D.C.

 

As an educator, Cruz specializes in devising and developing process-oriented new works, teaching students of diverse ages and cultural backgrounds, blending techniques to foster engagement and creativity, cultivating positive collaborative relationships, and challenging students to incorporate various theater elements for effective storytelling. 

 

Whilst residing in New York City, Cruz produced and devised the following productions under Night Lights Theater Group: "Tape" by Stephen Belber, "Say You Love Satan" by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, and a short film which was nominated for Best Short at Official Latino Short Film Festival in 2015. Other selected theatrical New York City collaborations include LAByrinth Theater Company, La MaMa ETC, Teatro SEA, Off-Broadway's 777 Theater, and more. 

 

Since residing in the DMV area, Cruz has collaborated as a performing and teaching artist with Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Kennedy Center, GALA Hispanic Theatre Company, Imagination Stage, Adventure Theatre & ATMTC Academy, Discovery Theatre, Smithsonian Institute, Round House, Washington Revels; and served as an adjunct professor at American University. 

 

Cruz obtained a BA in Theatre with a minor in Psychology from Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, an MFA in Classical Acting from Academy for Classical Acting at George Washington University, completed a two-year acting conservatory program in Meisner Technique at Maggie Flanigan Studio, and is currently pursuing a Teaching Theater PK-12 graduate certificate at George Mason University.