ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Zulaika Velazquez is a two-time TONY nominee in Excellence in Theatre Education (2018 & 2019) and was recently selected as a LENY Ambassador, part of the LENY GLOBAL Network, nominating Latina women with extraordinary dedication to empowering the Latino community. Holding degrees in Forensic Psychology / Opera Performance / Theatre, she is a Coloratura Soprano and has studied music & opera at The Julliard School and The Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts with Thelma Ithier. Trained to perform in over 8 languages. She produced and directed the first Spanish production of “The Vagina Monologues” in New York City and has since produced and acted in over 12 productions of the play. She traveled around the world with these productions and donated the profits to NGO’s supporting women and children. Zulaika performed and directed, “The Vagina Monologues” at The International Aids Conference in August 2008 – Mexico City and Vienna in 2010, as a solo performance, special rights granted by Eve Ensler.
As a teaching artist, she developed a musical theatre program designed for English Language Learners. This successful program was piloted at Gregorio Luperon High School and at The High School for Media and Communications. She has the privilege of serving as the Artistic Director of The George Washington Educational Campus and as the artistic director of “United @ The Palace” since 2018. However, her biggest accomplishments are her students’ scholarships and acceptances to performing arts conservatories and competitive college/university programs.
She was the former Industry & VIP Liaison Director for the HBO New York International Latino Film Festival and was previously a casting director on the casting team of Dyane Foster Casting Agency.
Zulaika received multiple nominations by Premios ACE 2013 as Best Actress, she won the Best Actress category for Premios ATI 2013, for her role as Rosa Amada in the Off-Broadway production “Medardo.” She was awarded the largest grant for a Cultural Project commissioned by the ministry of culture from the Dominican Republic. Recently, Zulaika joined the board of the Miosotis Cabrera Foundation. Her daughter and students are her pride and joy. Zulaika's life story is currently in pre-production for a feature film.
