Juancarlos Velis

Actor without borders ...

I'm an actor and a writer from El Salvador. I started acting when I was three years old at The National Television Network of El Salvador, TVE and Canal 8 y 10. When I was 8 years old I starred in BARCO DE PAPEL, a film which represented El Salvador at The International Film Festival of Peru. Due to the political situation in El Salvador, my family and I moved to Canada in my early teens.

I graduated from the School of Dramatic Art at the University of Windsor with a BFA in Acting Honours Degree, since graduating I have worked in theatres across Canada and the US. Including The Festival of Classics, The Tarragon, The Saidye Bronfman Centre for the Arts in Montreal, The Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, Roseneath Theatre, The Philadelphia Children's theater, The Red Barn Theatre, Coral Springs Theater Center, Lyric Stage, Green Thumb Theatre, The World Stage Festival, Atlantic Theatre Festival, Playwright's Theatre Centre in Vancouver, Second Best Bird Theatre, Dirty Little Monkey, The Factory Theatre, Alameda Theatre Company, Cahoot's Theatre Projects, Tempest Theatre, Osculum, St. Lawrence Centre, Theatre Passe Muraille, Acropolis Theatre Company, The Grand Theatre and Soulpepper Theatre Company.

For the stage I've written:
"Further Beyond" (Acropolis / The Grand Theatre / Alameda - Toronto & London)
"Borderlines" co-written with my father Alfonso Velis Tobar (2nd Best Bird & Dirty Little Monkey @ The Playwright's Theatre Centre in Vancouver, directed by Joshua Reynolds & Natalie Ackers.
"Howling Winds" (a short drama)
"The 8 o'clock Train" (A play in 7 days)

For the Screen:
"Paper Butterflies"
"Desire"
"Snowdrops" co-written with Alfonso Quijada.
And working on "An untitled project" with Kevin Durand.

I'm also currently developing:
"1932"
"Room 3 13"
"Take"
"Finding Hector"

I've been a part of Cahoot's playwright's unit under the direction of Guillermo Verdecchia.

Between 2000 and 2005 I served as Artistic Director of Acropolis Theatre, a company I started with my wife Natalie Ackers and classmates/friends from The University of Windsor. We produced the annual "Shakespeare on the Thames" Theatre Festival in London.

Work related, you can also get in touch with me through Barb Godfrey at 416.977.5445

Gracias ...