DEREK ROLAND
About
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Photo: Bjorn Bolinder
Derek is the artistic director for The Comfortably Quarantined Project, which brings together actors, writers and a dramaturg to collaborate remotely on the creation of new plays exploring aspects of the pandemic. His play "Zoom Went My Heart" was presented as a part of the project.
Derek has been awarded the 2019 Playwriting Residency with Road Less Traveled Productions for development of his play "Waist Deep"
Derek's play "The Exhibit" received a professional reading at the Traverse Theatre as a part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Derek is the artistic director for The Comfortably Quarantined Project, which brings together actors, writers and a dramaturg to collaborate remotely on the creation of new plays exploring aspects of the pandemic. His play "Zoom Went My Heart" was presented as a part of the project.
Derek is a New York based writer, teacher, director, choreographer, and performer. He recently returned to the U.S. from the University of Edinburgh's Master's Playwriting program in Scotland, where he was awarded the William Hunter Sharpe Memorial Scholarship for playwriting. He also recently completed a playwriting residency with Road Less Traveled Productions for development of his play Waist Deep, which was the recipient of a grant from the Global Warming Arts Fund.
Derek is a long-standing company member of 3-time Drama Desk nominated Parallel Exit Theater Company in New York City (www.parallelexit.com). He co-created, co-choreographed, and performed in numerous productions with the company, including their original Off-Broadway show Time Step, about which the New York Times said "It’s a reminder of how eloquently the body can speak and of how little it takes to create entertainment." Derek joined Parallel Exit for a 12 month tour of Germany with their show Exit, and is currently one of the creators of their online video series Elevator Pitch.
Originally from Rochester NY, Derek's performance credits include National Tours of Kiss Me Kate (playing Bill Calhoun), Showboat, Cinderella and Funny Girl, as well as the Italian Tour of West Side Story. His New York credits include numerous Off-Broadway productions, as well as performances at NY City Center, Town Hall, Lincoln Center Institute, the Alvin Ailey Theater, NY Fringe Festival, American Theater of Actors, The York Theater, The Actors Playground, Merkin Concert Hall, and the New York Musical Theater Festival. Derek is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.
"Roland is effortless, smooth, and elegant, all beautiful angles and lines..." -nytheatre.com
