FEATURED PRACTITIONER
JULIO AGUSTIN Actor, Author, Director-Choreographer, Career Consultant, Administrator, Researcher
Julio is a multifaceted and highly sought-after theatre professional. He is an accomplished Broadway actor, director-choreographer, educator-administrator, author, and career consultant. His diverse interests fueled his research for the One Voice Certificate Course in Integrative Studies, culminating in a four-part masterclass series entitled “Tackling the Voice: Integrating Communication Strategies for the Choreographer, Stage Manager, Designer, Physical Actor, and Dance Educator.”
As a director-choreographer, Julio has staged and/or choreographed productions at Theatre Under the Stars, Geva Theatre, Hangar Theatre, North Carolina Theatre, and others. He specializes in Radical Inclusivity (re-envisioning the classics with contemporary practices) and most recently directed a production of Sister Act that challenged racial stereotypes, gender norms, and religious conventions, without foregoing the hilarity and heart that is at the foundation of the work. Award recognitions include an Audelco nomination for Best Director (La Dulce Caridad, a Latina adaptation of Sweet Charity at New Haarlem Arts Theatre, NYC); a Best Choreographer nomination by the Houston Press Theatre Awards (Guys and Dolls at Theatre Under the Stars, TX); and a Syracuse Area Live Theatre nomination for Best Choreographer (In the Heights at Hangar Theatre). He has also been recognized for his advocacy for disability access and inclusion.
Julio has performed on Broadway in the original companies of Fosse, Steel Pier, Never Gonna Dance, Bells Are Ringing revival (“Carl”), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (“Ambite”), and was featured opposite Bebe Neuwirth in Chicago, the musical. His most recent role was as “Dr Jorge Mendoza” in Karen Zacarias’ play, Destiny of Desire, at The Old Globe in San Diego.
As a writer, he has published refereed articles, including an upcoming work entitled “A Multipoint Call-to-Action for Diversifying Student Enrollment in Theatre Programs: The Framework for Providing Pathways Towards Building an Inclusive Culture,” slated for a 2024 release in Theatre and Performance Notes and Counternotes (Penn State University Press). Additionally, Julio is the author of the upcoming 2nd edition release of The Professional Actor’s Handbook: From Casting Call to Curtain Call (February 2024) and a contributor to the recently released Latinx Actor Training (Routledge). He has conceived and written the libretto for Movin’ On, the Musical (music and lyrics by John Franceschina). Movin’ On picks up where A Chorus Line left off and is now available for rental (Gurman Agency, LLC). He is working on his second musical, Ay! Ay! Ay! and the Westside Stories: A Puerto Rican Play with Tracey Conyer Lee and Andre Danek.
As an educator-administrator, Julio has held assistant, associate, and/or tenured positions at The City College of New York, Western Connecticut State University, James Madison University, University of Miami, and most recently, Elon University, where he served as Director of Music Theatre. He has taught courses in acting, voice and diction, musical theatre performance, and the business of acting. His greatest impact has been in the mentoring of young people through the multifarious obstacles and challenges of transitioning from student to professional, and providing ongoing guidance for creating and sustaining a career as a working artist (see ProfessionalActor.org).
Julio is the founder and CEO of Agustin Consulting and Theatrical Services, LLC, where at this time, he is serving full-time as a career coach and consultant to both individuals and organizations. His work revolves around solving challenges endemic to our rapidly and ever-evolving industry. Weekly client successes are shared on @JulioAgustinNYC.
