BALTIMORE: Everyman Theatre has announced that resident acting company member Paige Hernandez has joined the organization as its new associate artistic director, effective this month. Hernandez, who has been a member of the acting company since 2017, will work with artistic director Vincent M. Lancisi and Noah Himmelstein (Everyman’s other associate artistic director) on the theatre’s artistic vision as well as the continuing development of the theatre’s accessibility and community engagement strategies.
“I am so excited and honored to have Paige join us as associate artistic director,” said Lancisi in a statement. “She has distinguished herself as a most talented and respected theatre artist in our region and is known both nationally and internationally for her work as an actor, director, playwright, choreographer, and educator. When she first performed with Everyman in The Children’s Hour way back in 2005, I had my first inkling of just how extraordinary she truly is. I could not think of a better person to fill this position as Everyman’s repertoire and community outreach continues to grow.”
Hernandez will work with Himmelstein to advocate for identifying and developing new works. This added position will see her exploring inclusive and diverse opportunities for collaboration locally and nationally while keeping an eye on art equity and theatrical best practices. Hernandez will also work to deepen Everyman’s connections with the city of Baltimore to explore opportunities to collaborate with Baltimore theatre artists, schools, programs, and universities.
A Baltimore native, Hernandez has performed around the country, including at Everyman, Arena Stage, the Kennedy Center, and Cleveland Playhouse. She also tours her original works internationally with her company B-fly Entertainment for multicultural and multigenerational hip-hop audiences. Her choreography has been seen in Bahrain, Singapore, India, Jamaica, and Bermuda, as well as around the United States. Additionally she has directed around the country at the Kennedy Center, Glimmerglass Festival, and Santa Fe Opera, among others. As an educator, Hernandez was awarded the Thomas Fichandler Award for exceptional promise in theatre education. Hernandez was also an inaugural member of Theatre Communications Group’s Rising Leaders of Color program.
“I feel extremely fortunate to return to my hometown of Baltimore to a theatre that has embraced my full artistry since the beginning of my career,” said Hernandez in a statement. “We are in such a dynamic moment in time that is ripe for awareness, bold steps and inclusivity like never before. Working with Everyman in this capacity feels like the perfect fit to make meaningful strides forward. I am thrilled to continue my relationship with the Everyman staff and the resident company members on the theatre’s vision for the future and it’s continued positive cultural and educational impact in Baltimore and beyond.”
