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David Valdes

David Valdes (he/him/his) is a Cuban-American playwright interested in stories of personal identity, especially global majority and LGBTQ experiences.

David Valdes (he/him) is the author of more than two dozen plays that have been staged across the United States and abroad, most notably Mermaid Hour and Brave Navigator. His essays have been published in the New York Times, Boston Globe, American Theatre, HowlRound, and elsewhere. He is the author of nonfiction books, including Homo Domesticus: Notes from a Same-Sex Marriage, and several novels, including Spin Me Right Round.

Two performers embrace each other with their foreheads touching.
The Queer Theatre We Need Now
Essay

The Queer Theatre We Need Now

13 December 2022

David Valdes explores the limitations of queer theatre historically and makes the case for a more expansive future—one that includes a wider range of characters living more complex lives, created by more queer theatremakers.

Several actors wearing vintage work clothing and standing in stage boats in pairs or groups of three.
How to Create an Actively Inclusive Theatre Course
Essay

How to Create an Actively Inclusive Theatre Course

16 August 2021

David Valdes shares eleven steps educators can take to ensure their course offerings are more actively inclusive.

three actors onstage
Casting a Wider Net
Essay

Casting a Wider Net

White Institutions Must Seize the Moment

5 August 2020

David Valdes shares the main excuses theatres give when not programming shows created by and with BIPOC artists, how moving to online theatre offers new opportunities, and what the benefits are of making change.

two actors onstage
Beyond “Decolonizing” the Syllabus
Essay

Beyond “Decolonizing” the Syllabus

Finding a Path to Anti-Racist, Actively Inclusive Theatre Education

12 February 2020

David Valdes talks about Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s work to shift their theatre department into a more truly equitable program, why using the right language matters in the process, and tips for individuals and institutions looking to be actively inclusive.

Conscious Casting and Letting Playwrights Lead
Essay

Conscious Casting and Letting Playwrights Lead

14 February 2018

Playwright David Valdes discusses the importance of writing more diverse and intersectional characters, and reflects on the conundrum of “color conscious” casting.