ALICIA KAPLAN
Producing Artistic Director
As the founder and Producing Artistic Director of Danisarte for over 30 years, Alicia Kaplan has been the driving force behind the company’s mission: to create original bilingual (English / Spanish) productions that promote cultural understanding and provide professional opportunities for underrepresented artists. She is deeply grateful to the many creative individuals and institutions whose support has been instrumental in fulfilling this vision.
A lifelong artist, Alicia founded Danisarte to address the lack of opportunities for novice actors, directors, writers, and technicians—particularly in Latino and immigrant communities. Her goal was to create a professional platform where emerging talents could be mentored by seasoned artists and gain real-world experience across theater, television, film, and radio.
As an actress, Alicia has performed in more than 260 productions across Venezuela, the United States, Mexico, and Colombia, in both English and Spanish. Notable stage credits include performances at Repertorio Español (Blood Wedding, Yerma), The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, Gala Theatre in Washington D.C. (El Rufian Castrucho), and The Zach Theatre in Austin, Texas (The Clean House). She also appeared in Sartre’s No Exit at IATI and toured Colombia with No Problemo Amigo by Jaime Espinal, opening the International Festival of Manizales. She played a four-season run in Santiago Moncada’s Cena Para Dos at Teatro Thalia, earning both Palmas de Oro and Reconocimiento Valores Humanos awards.
Her screen work includes appearances in One Life to Live, Saturday Night Live, and as Gladys in the series The Tertulia Bar. Film credits include Almost a Woman, The Taxman, The Summer of My Dreams, and Joe the King.
Beyond the stage, Alicia has been a powerful advocate for equity in the arts. She served as Vice-Chair of HOLA’s Advocacy Committee, and as a member of Actor’s Equity’s Committee of Racial Equality. She received the prestigious Joseph C. Riley Service Award from SAG-AFTRA for her commitment to equal opportunities in the industry. A founding member of the East Harlem Council for Cultural Arts and Tourism, she has also taught acting across the New York metropolitan area, mentoring students including Kathleen Herles, the original voice of Dora the Explorer.Alicia has directed more than 40 plays in English and Spanish—ranging from classical to contemporary works—earning a Best Director of a Comedy nomination from the Association of Latin Critics of New York (A.C.E.). Under her leadership, Danisarte received the A.C.E. Artistic Organization of the Year Award twice.
Its workshops have empowered artists of all ages and backgrounds, especially in East Harlem, where many participants were introduced to theater for the first time & have since become committed theatregoers & creators.
A proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity (AEA), Alicia began her career as a ballet dancer with the Ballet Nacional de Venezuela, later training with legendary teachers like Merce Cunningham, Luigi, and Uta Hagen. Her lifetime dedication to multicultural storytelling, education, and artistic excellence continues to shape the legacy of Danisarte and the broader theatrical community.
Founded in 1992, Danisarte became a not-for-profit organization in 1997 and achieved 501(c)(3) status in 1998. The company has been sustained through generous in-kind contributions from its Producing Artistic Director, support from El Taller Boricua, and the dedication of many volunteers. Over the years, Danisarte has also received funding and recognition from a variety of sources, including grants from the Fund for Creative Communities/NYS Council on the Arts Decentralization Program, the Manhattan Community Arts Fund (administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council), Goya, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and a Public Service Award from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and DYCD.
