Damian Darnell Lewis is a graduate of The Juilliard School and has been a working actor, director, and coach for over 33 years. He serves as the Associate Artistic-Director of Shakespeare Remixed, a TheatreWorkers Project production. Together, they have produced works for the Shakespeare Center of L.A., the Los Angeles County School for the Arts, as well as the Ensemble Studio Theater, in Atwater Village.
However, it was during his collegiate training years at The Juilliard School, that Damian began developing the skill of his gift for the art of public speaking and storytelling. It was there, under the precise tutelage of his mentor, and former Juilliard grad and CalArts faculty member, Denise Woods, that he honed his craft and command for vocal techniques and diverse speaking skills.
In 2012, Denise introduced Damian to the CalArts community. In 2016, Damian was honored to join the Theater School as a full-time faculty member. In 2018, he assumed the role of Co-Head of BFA Acting. Before that, Damian taught voice, speech, acting, movement, and stage combat at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and Champs Charter High School.
Damian now provides private coaching to various actors, artists, public speakers, debate teams, slam poets, and rappers from around the world, through his LLC company Reflect the Text. He has been able to provide Voice/Speech and Dialect support to various theatrical and cinematic productions, such as Blues for an Alabama Sky, directed by Phylicia Rashad at the Mark Taper Forum; and STEW at the Pasadena Playhouse, directed by Tyler Thomas. His most recent film projects include Netflix specials Mea Culpa and the award-winning Six Triple Eight, directed by Tyler Perry.
As an actor, Damian has been cast in over 47 theatrical and cinematic productions, with credits that include noteworthy performances in roles, such as Othello and Oberon. He received critical acclaim in the title role in the Los Angeles Center Theater Group’s production of A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings. His New York credits include the title role in Richard III, directed by Richard Feldman, and Damis in Tartuffe, directed by the late great Garland Wright. He has also been featured in many commercials throughout his career.
Since his directorial debut production of James Baldwin’s Amen Corner in 2002, Damian has gone on to direct over 30 shows, including regional theater productions of In The Heights, Twilight L.A. 1992, the critically acclaimed production of Salvage, and For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf. Damian’s film directing credits include Culture Machine’s documentary Clean SLATE. He directed the independent short, Like Father, Like Son, written by Brian Quezada, and produced by TheatreWorkers and Last Few Artists. His most recent directing projects include Appropriate and Everybody, written by Branden Jacob Jenkins.
Lastly, Damian’s teaching style and practice were featured in the documentary film Fame High, directed by Academy Award-nominated director Scott Hamilton Kennedy.
Most importantly, Damian is proud to be called “Dad” by his three beautiful & gifted children: Delana, Emmanuel, and Joseph.
Known as the Storyteller’s Craftsman. Damian Darnell Lewis is happy to help and honored to serve.
