Wilfred Paloma

Email

Primary Email: [email protected]

Bio

Wilfred is a multi-hyphenate theatre artist practitioner and serves as Director of Education & Community Engagement at Diversionary Theatre. In addition to San Diego State University, Wilfred is interdisciplinary faculty at the University of San Diego in the departments of Theatre and Music. He is an Actor’s Equity member and a graduate of the Meisner and Chekhov Integrated Acting Studio (MCIT). Education: M.F.A. in Musical Theatre, M.A. in Theatre Arts, and B.A. in Theatre Performance: Acting and Musical Theatre. Wilfred is also an Adjunct Professor in the San Diego Community College District.

Wilfred's teaching artistry and arts advocacy spans across a wide range of organizations. At La Jolla Playhouse, he has led Arts Education programs and projects in the areas of Learning & Engagement that include Young Performers Conservatory, POP Tour, and Honors Theatre Project--a partnership between San Diego Unified High School District and La Jolla Playhouse. Wilfred teaches Musical Theatre to adults at La Jolla Playhouse as part of the Spotlight On program.  Wilfred's work with Arts Education Connection (formerly, Young Audiences San Diego) sharpened his pedagogical approach and passion for Youth Advocacy specifically connecting young people to career pathways in the Arts. Wilfred developed and led the Theatre Works Fellowship serving high school students in Juvenile Court and Community Schools. He also led the construction and implementation of Arts Integration programs with school partners. Highlight: in-school residency at High Tech High (HTH) Point Loma in partnership with Arts Education Connection and the Fipps Foundation. This semester-long program integrated the disciplines of Dance & Theatre with History for all 4th grade students.

Wilfred supported the creation and facilitated programs as part of the Imagine Brave Spaces collective, an organization that "leverages the tools of storytelling, theatre, and creative multimedia to transform community culture and enhance opportunities for learning, connection, and development." This work engages the approaches of Augusto Boal. Wilfred has facilitated youth advocacy programs that employ Forum Theatre aiming to activate positive change at the community level. Focus areas: Anti-Human Trafficking, Diversity & Belonging, Anti-Racism, & Trans Experience.

As a Theatre Director & Choreographer, Wilfred's 15-year practice deepens with every production. His focus is fostering appreciation and empowering youth and pre-professionals by employing production processes that center Equity, Diversity, Access, and Inclusion. Most recently, Wilfred joined Coronado Junior Arts League as an Artistic Trustee and Resident Director of Productions. His work has amounted to an ever expanding footprint that includes production and education programs. Coronado Junior Arts League is growing and recently awarded a $30,000 Arts and Culture Grant by the City of Coronado. Wilfred is also a Resident Director at Project Performer, a pre-professional Theatre and Dance training studio based in Encinitas, CA. Wilfred was a long time director at Young Actors Theatre (YAT) serving the greater Spring Valley area of San Diego as well San Diego Junior Theatre, whose educational model strengthens performance skills and directly connects young performers to robust production processes.

Wilfred is a director and choreographer specializing in the development of new works, and has directed over 40 productions. His favorite work fuses community organizing and social activism to his wide array of theatre and dance expertise. His artistic practice spans Opera, Dance Theatre, Musical Theatre, dramatic works to Theatre for Social Change. Born from Wilfred's expertise is the Theatre for the Public Good Initiative. As the Director of Education & Community Engagement at Diversionary Theatre, Wilfred is spearheading the development of new DocuDramas that seek to illuminate stories and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. The first DocuDrama was developed at San Diego State University in 2023 entitled Intersections / Revolution: A Conversation on Queerness and Color. This was funded by a $10,000 grant awarded to Wilfred as a Completion of Research and Creative Activity (CORE) Fellowship recipient.