Bio
Francesca Fernandez is a bicoastal actor, educator, and theater worker from the San Francisco Bay Area. She has shared her work in NYC: Roundabout Theatre Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST), Center for Performance Research, Royal Family Productions, Pipeline Theatre Co., 59E59, Daryl Roth Theater, Ant Fest at ARS NOVA, Center at Park West and Regionally: Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Dorset Theatre Festival, KC Rep, California Shakespeare Theatre, SF Playhouse, Southern Rep, Mu Theater, Two Rivers Theater, Magic Theater, Cleveland Playhouse, Milwaukee Rep. She is a proud member of The Already, a Grotowski-based actor ensemble led by Erica Fae.
In NYC, she has workshopped new work with Ars Nova, Atlantic Theatre Co., Bechdel Project, Clubbed Thumb, EST, Fault Line Theatre, Hunter MFA Thesis Festival, LPAC Rough Draft Festival, National Showcase of New Plays (NNPN), New Dramatists, New Georges, New York Theatre Workshop, Ping Chong & Company, Playwrights Realm, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, The Brick, The Bushwick Starr, The Lark, The National Black Theater of Harlem, The Tectonic Theatre Project, 2g Productions, and more.
Some memorable roles include the world premiere of “Bald Sisters” by Vichet Chum directed by Jesca Prudencio at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, understudying Tony Award Nominated Gabby Beans (Lortel Award Winner) in the world premiere of “Jonah” by Rachel Bonds directed by Danya Taymor at Roundabout Theater Company, and developing experimental dance theatre with XOXO led by choreographer and performance artist Kat Sotelo.
TV/Film credits include “Law & Order: SVU,” “Blue Bloods,” “Arcadia,” “The Hardest Part,” “Mooshrooms,” “The Locker Room Series,” and PBS’ Great Performances recording of the play “Gloria: A Life.” While getting her MFA in acting at Yale School of Drama, she was a co-Artistic Director of Yale Cabaret in its 50th season, a co-founder of the Asian and Asian American Coalition (aka Asian Potluck) and Yale School of Drama’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.
While in New Orleans she was part of Cripple Creek Theater Company and an ensemble member of Goat in the Road Productions. In 2015, she was featured in American Theater Magazine as a “Theater Worker You Should Know.” She was a co-Founder of Encompass Collective NYC, and is a recipient of the inaugural Stonehenge NYC Still Standing Artist Residency. She’s taught at the College of Performing Arts at the New School, La Mama/Trinity College, the Theatre and Performance Studies at Yale University, and scene study faculty at ACT’s Summer Training Congress. She is a Teaching Apprentice with Balinese mask teacher Budi Miller.