With a background in performance and theatre for community development, Sean Elias is committed to creating space for the stories of underprivileged communities to be heard, seen, and ultimately — felt.
Sean Elias is a Tony Award-nominated, internationally award-winning educator, actor, and director. With a background in both performance and theatre for community development, Sean is committed to holding space for the stories of underprivileged communities to be heard, seen, and ultimately — felt. Sean Elias currently serves as Executive Director of the DC Arts Center and as Artistic Director for Iron Crow Theatre, Baltimore's award-winning professional queer theatre. He is also the Founding Chair of the internationally award-winning Performing Arts Department at the Jemicy School - Upper School. The Jemicy School is a private school in Owings Mills, Maryland serving students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences.
In 2021 Sean was named Voyage Baltimore's Rising Star. In January of 2022, Sean was elected Executive Director of the District of Columbia Arts Center following the departure of the previous director, who served for nearly 28 years. Sean Elias also serves as Iron Crow Theatre's Artistic Director. Under his leadership, Iron Crow Theatre has experienced its most extensive phase of growth in history, breaking every record the theatre previously held. Sean has transformed Iron Crow Theatre from a small theatre company to a rapidly growing theatrical organization increasing the annual operating budget by 600% in just under five years. Today, Iron Crow Theatre features a level of diversity never before seen on its stage, contracts more than 75 local and professional artists each season, consistently offers Equity contracts for the first time ever, continues to donate thousands of dollars to local charities in an homage to the organizations founding, and has earned 79 awards and nominations. In 2018, Baltimore Magazine honored Sean Elias as one of Baltimore's 30 Visionaries for his work with Iron Crow Theatre and its impact on the greater Baltimore region. In 2017, Iron Crow Theatre was named Best Breakout Theatre by Baltimore Magazine, and in 2016, it was named Best Professional Theatre by MD Theatre Guide. For Iron Crow Theatre, Sean has directed 8 award-winning, record-breaking, and/or critically acclaimed productions including Bare, The Rocky Horror Show, Edith Can Shoot Things & Hit Them, The Cradle Will Rock, A New Brain, and The Wild Party.
In the classroom, Sean emphasizes project-based, experiential, and interdisciplinary learning, expanding the learner's capacity to think critically and solve problems creatively. With a background in theatre education for community development, Sean's lessons promote an understanding of both craft and socio-political context in hopes of increasing the learner's civic engagement. A passionate advocate for the differentiated learner, Sean believes strongly that the art of educational drama encourages students to discover, analyze, and express themselves in ways never before thought possible. Sean's students have been the recipients of both state-wide and national championships and have been offered tens of thousands of dollars in talent-based scholarships to some of the nation's most prestigious performing arts programs. Most recently, Sean's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time was one of only eight productions from across the United States, and Canada invited to perform on the Main Stage at the 2022 International Thespian Festival. This is the third time one of Sean's productions have received international recognition. Previously his production of The Laramie Project was chosen as the Maryland State Chapter Select and went on to perform at the 2020 Virtual International Thespian Festival and his production of Peter and the Starcatcher also for the Jemicy School was one of only eleven productions from across the United States, and Canada invited to perform on the Main Stage at the 2019 International Thespian Festival. Additionally, Sean has served as a Resident Teaching Artist and/or faculty member with private and public middle and high schools, the renowned Center Stage Theatre, Towson University, and continues to teach in both public and private universities and community outreach programs.
As an actor, Sean Elias has worked Off-Broadway at The New Victory Theatre in the heart of New York's Times Square, on tour, and in Equity theatres across the northeast, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Roundhouse Theatre, Adventure Theatre, The Weathervane Theatre, Forestburgh Playhouse, and The Eagle Theatre. Favorite previous credits include Suzan-Lori Parks' Venus (Baron Docteur, Irene Ryan Nomination), The Cradle Will Rock (Rev. Salvation), Into the Woods (Rapunzel's Prince/Milky White), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph, Perry Award Nomination), Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (Dogberry/Ursula/Balthazar), and Stephen Sondheim's Assassins (Giuseppe Zangara). Sean has also performed in various cabaret venues throughout New York City, including The Duplex, The Underground, and the legendary Don't Tell Mama's.
Sean currently sits on the LGBTQ Cultural Advisory Board of Visit Baltimore - the official destination marketing organization (D.M.O.) for Baltimore City and on the Board of Directors for Maryland Thespians. Maryland Thespians, an Educational Theatre Association Affiliate, is dedicated to supporting middle and high school educational theatre programs within public and private institutions throughout the great state of Maryland. Maryland Thespians is the state-wide governing body of the Maryland Chapter of the Educational Theatre Association, home to the state's chapter of The International Thespian Society, comprised of over 100 Troupes state-wide. The International Thespian Society is the nation's only honorary organization for middle and high school theatre students and is committed to the advancement of educational theatre. To this end, the International Thespian Society publishes Dramatics magazine, sponsors state-wide and international Thespian Festivals and theatre workshops, produces educational materials, and provides college scholarship opportunities for students. Sean has also served as a panelist for the Maryland State Arts Council's Theatre Review Board and continues to coach individuals, arts organizations, and Fortune 500 companies.
Sean holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre Performance from The University of the Arts and an M.A. in Theatre Education from Emerson College. He is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association, Educational Theatre Association, American Alliance for Theatre and Education, and the Association of Independent Maryland & D.C. Schools.