Faculty Profile for Julio Catano

profile photo for Julio Catano
Julio Catano
Asst Professor of Practice — Department of Theatre & Dance
THEA 101
phone: (512) 245-2147

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Julio is the Head of Musical Theatre Dance. Native Spanish and fluent English speaker. He recieved his BFA in dance from The Ailey School/Fordham University and MFA in musical theatre from San Diego State University. He has spent the past 20 years as a performer, producer, director, choreographer and educator in the United States and abroad. Julio previously served as an adjunct instructor at Syracuse University and student graduate instructor at San Diego State University. He is a member of Actors' Equity (AEA), American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and Musical Theater Educators' Alliance (MTEA).

Julio is the founder and current president of Teatro San Diego, a nonprofit organization based in California. Teatro San Diego aims to curate professional productions that reflect the actual population of San Diego, CA. His passion is the continued effort in providing equal access to arts education in communities and neighborhoods that are under-represented and under-funded. Julio has a Professional Grant Writing Certificate from San Diego State University.

Teaching Interests

Dance
History of Musical Theatre
Audition Preparation
Business of Theatre
Nonprofit Administration

Research Interests

Theatre Etiquette FROM the Arts Novice
Dissolving White Supremacy in Dance Curriculum
How to Engage Communities of Color through Theatre Arts
Equal Access to Arts Education in Lower Income Communities

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Producer/Assistant Director, The Wiz. August 2022.
    Performances:
    • The Wiz. Diversionary Theatre, San Diego, CA.
    • (Peer) Reviewed by: Pam Kragen.
    • (Peer) Reviewed by: ErinMarie Reiter.
  • Producer, The Dropout: The Unofficial Musical. June 2022.
    Performances:
    • San Diego International Fringe Festival. Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego, CA.
    • (Peer) Reviewed by: David Coddon.
  • Associate Choreographer, Postcard American Town. May 2022.
    Performances:
    • New Musical Initiative SDSU. Don Powell Theatre, San Diego, CA.
  • Performer, West Side Story (2021). December 2021.
    Showings:
    • West Side Story. Motion Picture, New York, NY.
  • Producer/Associate Director/Assistant Choreographer, Songs For A New World. August 2021.
    Showings:
    • Songs For A New World. On Stage Playhouse, Chula Vista, CA.
    • (Peer) Reviewed by: Pam Kragen.
    • (Peer) Reviewed by: Pat Launer.
    • (Peer) Reviewed by: David Dixon.

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: Outstanding Musical Ensemble, San Diego International Fringe Festival. 2022
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Best Streaming Concert/Cabaret, BroadwayWorld San Diego. 2021

Selected Grants

  • Catano, Julio (Supporting), 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, Teatro San Diego (Principal). San Diego Foundation, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $28140. (Funded: July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023). Grant.
  • Catano, Julio (Supporting), 501(c)(3) Nonprofit, Teatro San Diego (Principal). Creative Communities San Diego, San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, Municipal, $6839. (Funded: July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023). Grant.
  • Catano, Julio. William Male Foundation, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $4000. (Funded: March 28, 2022 - August 21, 2022). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

President
Teatro San Diego
May 22, 2020-Present
Coordinator / Organizer
Jerome Robbins Workshop at Eastlake High School
July 2021
Attendee / Participant
Easter Bonnet Competition-Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
April 2019
Volunteer
JUNTOS Collective
August 2012
Attendee / Participant
A Concert for Broadway-Broadway Mall Association
May 2012