Nicholas Polonio is a Filipino-American director of plays and musicals based in New York City.
He has directed productions including THE SELF IMPROVEMENT AND MALE PRESERVATION SOCIETY, or S.I.M.P.S. (IRT Theater), THE POLICE (Hangar Theatre), MARY STUART (Strasberg Institute at NYU Tisch), POV: U RUN JOE BIDEN’S TIKTOK (Ars Nova’s ANTFest), WE ARE WOMBATS! (Williamstown Director’s Lab), WHO’S A GOOD GIRL (Williamstown Director’s Lab), THE 100 MOST BEAUTIFUL NAMES OF TODD (Williamstown Director’s Lab), BARDCORE SEASON ONE FINALE (Episodic Theater Project, Under St. Marks), LATE FAME (Rutgers University), and GLORIA (Rutgers University).
As Associate Director: SLAVE PLAY (West End, Broadway, Center Theatre Group), PUBLIC OBSCENITIES (Soho Rep), JELLY’S LAST JAM (New York City Center Encores!), HAMLET (Center Theatre Group), SHIT.MEET.FAN. (MCC), X: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM X (Metropolitan Opera and Tour), A RAISIN IN THE SUN (The Public, Williamstown Theatre Festival), RICHARD III (Shakespeare in the Park, The Delacorte), A LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (Minetta Lane Theatre), A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (Audible), PARIS (Atlantic Theater Company), 17 BORDER CROSSINGS (New York Theater Workshop), HENRY IV, PART I (Shakespeare’s Globe), and RICHARD II (Shakespeare’s Globe).
Bringing a dramaturg’s approach to new material, Nick has worked in close collaboration with writers to develop new plays and musicals at New York Theatre Workshop, Movement Theatre Company, Bedlam, Ma-Yi Theater Company, The TEAM, Normal Ave, Leviathan Lab, Asian American Arts Alliance, Sống Collective, and the American Playwriting Foundation. He has worked as a writers’ assistant on TV projects for Hulu and Disney, and was the Associate Producer on OFF-BROADWAY (Critics’ Pick).
Alumnus: NYTW 2050 Fellowship, Drama League Directing Fellowship, Ma-Yi Writer’s Lab, Mercury Store Directors Lab, Roundabout Directors Group, Williamstown Theatre Festival Directing Corps, Young Vic Genesis Directors, and the National YoungArts Foundation.
Nicholas teaches a directing seminar at NYU Playwrights Horizons Theater School, and received his BFA in acting from Rutgers Mason-Gross School of the Arts. Proud member of SDC.
nicholaspolonio@gmail.com