Actor, Writer &
Eric Aviles is an actor, writer, and teaching artist and activist residing in NYC. Eric recently wrapped up his performance in My Mañana Comes at Marin Theatre Company. In the fall of 2014, he performed in a remount of Borderlands Theatre Maria’s Circular Dance at the first National Latino Theatre Festival “Encuentro” in Los Angeles. In NYC, he’s performed in the World’s Fair Play Festival a co-production with Queens Theatre and Theatre 167, I Like to Be Here at the New Ohio for Theatre 167. Other NYC credits include original works; Dance for a Dollar at INTAR, and The Golden Drum Year with Radical Evolution. In California, Eric wrote and performed In the Beginning, a solo performance piece accompanied music by five-time Grammy nominee John Santos, the world premiere of Oedipus: El Rey at The Magic Theatre, La Virgen del Tepeyac at El Teatro Campesino, and Teatro Vision in La Victima. A native of Chicago, Eric has acted in several productions at Steppenwolf, including Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train, world premiere of Love Medicine with Lifeline and Spider Women Theatre, and Zootsuit at the Goodman Theater. Eric directed the world premiere Amor Cubano: In a Bottle, a Tube and Small Packet in San Francisco and New York City. You can see him in the first Puerto Rican Chicago film production, Chicago Boricua.
Eric was involved in the Mental Health Movement in Chicago incorporating the pedagogy of the Theatre of the Oppressed to organize the community directly affected by the closing of the public mental health clinics.
He has over 15 years teaching artist experience working with youth and adults in schools community centers, and prisons. He uses drama as a means of liberating the spirit within; advocating for those who feel “voiceless” to reclaim their authentic voice through writing and performance.