About Me: Bio

About Me

Writer // Theatre Artist // Musician

hiiiiii! nice to meet you.

Daniella Ignacio is a Filipina American writer, theatre artist, and musician, originally from northern NJ and based between DC/MD/VA and NYC. She loves new works, reimagined classics (Shakespeare and Golden Age musicals alike!), TYA, and BIPOC-centered stories. She is a contributing editor with American Theatre Magazine and a freelance arts journalist with bylines in Washington City Paper, Washingtonian, The 51st, 3Views on Theater, DC Theater Arts, and more. As an actor, music director, and dramaturg, she’s worked with the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Imagination Stage, Devil’s Isle Shakespeare Co., the Puppet Co., Rorschach Theatre, Adventure Theatre MTC, Strand Theater, Capital Fringe, and more. As a teaching artist, she has taught music and devised original works with Imagination Stage, Educational Theater Company, and Arena Stage. She’s passionate about AAPI advocacy in theatre, serving as communications lead for the DMV’s AAPI theatre coalition HEART, and secretary for Jaemi Theatre. BA MT/Journalism: American University.

artistic statement: making change with curiosity and creativity

I create innovative musical theatre and journalism that champions social justice. I bring my love for words, language, human interest, and emotional truth into all my storytelling work. I’m a questioner who analyzes why things are the way they are and offers useful context and critiques, a dreamer who likes to imagine better worlds and reflect poetically, and a do-gooder who empowers the next generation through teaching, thoughtfully amplifies unheard voices, and reports for historical record with heart and hope. I love a good adventure that requires bravery, tenacity, vulnerability, and authenticity. From actor-musicianship, to songwriting, to movement-based theatre, to puppetry, I am a dynamic artist able to learn new skills quickly. I love to explore the world through storytelling. It helps me process and understand life, and maybe my stories can help you process and understand yours too—or at least bring some light to your day. I am soft and strong, and I’d like to think you can be, too.

don't just take my word for it

Music directors have called me a “chameleon” in my vocal and instrumental skills; I often jump around to whatever harmony they need to hear the most because I’m reliable. Directors have told me my presence is “sparkly.” Folks in the industry have described my writing as “thoughtful and intelligent.” And other critics (crazy!) have called my performances “a stunning call to resistance and a jolt to the system” and “wonderful.”

fun facts

aries sun, virgo moon, cancer rising
has SPD, and is specifically a sensory seeker
INFP with J tendencies in pursuing her wild dreams with some structure
type 4w3 on the enneagram
ravenclaw
daughter of apollo (pjo series)
fave music genres: powerful singer-songwriters, particularly in acoustic/indie pop and folk.
fave musicians: joni mitchell, sara bareilles, dodie clark, maggie rogers, lizzy mcalpine, olivia rodrigo
instruments she has a hold of: keys (w/ MIDI), guitar, ukulele, violin, egg shaker, kazoo, recorder, tom drum