Banner Photo: February 2024 Headshot taken by Adam Fontana.

ABOUT ME

My name is Gaven (rhymes with “raven”), and I use they/he/siya pronouns. I am a brown, first-generation, gender non-conforming Filipinx American theatre maker based in New York City, and I bring a deep commitment to storytelling that centers Asian American, LGBTQIA+, and neurodiverse voices. In addition to my work as a dramaturg, director, and playwright, I serve as the Community Engagement Coordinator at New York Theatre Workshop, where I cultivate partnerships that bridge communities and create inclusive spaces for dialogue and representation. In 2021, Theatre Communications Group recognized me as a Rising Leader of Color.

As an artist living with Bipolar Disorder, I’m dedicated to fostering responsible and empathetic representation of mental health and neurodiversity on and off the stage. I advocate for inclusive mental health awareness, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed healing, and I strive to create spaces that uplift and support underrepresented voices in culturally meaningful ways.

My experience spans new play development, production dramaturgy, audience engagement, and arts administration, with a focus on interdisciplinary, globally conscious approaches to theatre. I believe strongly in the power of theatre to transform communities and inspire radically inclusive worlds. Throughout my career, I have collaborated closely with LGBTQIA+ leaders, neurodiverse artists, and international artists advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Belonging (EDIB) initiatives. I am committed to a collaborative artistic process that centers on feminist and queer values—radical compassion, empathy, and community-building—and passionately advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, immigrant rights, and diverse BIPOC representation.

I bring a diverse professional background, having served in artistic, administrative, and dramaturgical roles at esteemed organizations like The Juilliard School Drama Division, Musical Theatre Factory, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Ma-Yi Theatre Company, and Roundabout Theatre Company, among others. I hold a B.A. in American Studies from Dickinson College and an M.F.A. in Dramaturgy from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and I am a proud former teacher with Teach for America’s Memphis Corps.

My original work has been developed or produced by Leviathan Lab, The Shelter NYC, Orchard Project, Company One, and CHUANG Stage. I’m a current member and co-facilitator of Ma-Yi Writers Lab. I play the ukulele and guitar, compose songs, write poetry, speak German, and I share my life with a beloved 14-year-old dog!