Artist in Residence

Paige Hernandez, a Baltimore native, is a multidisciplinary artist who is critically acclaimed as a performer, director, choreographer and playwright. Paige is most notably known for her effective fusion of theatre, hip-hop, dance and education. She has nearly twenty years of experience in arts administration, arts education, creating new works, producing and performing.

As an arts educator, Paige has taught throughout the country, to all ages, in several art disciplines. To date, she has reached more than 10,000 students, from pre-k through college, in several hundred residencies, workshops and performances around the world. She takes great pride in her professional development for educators which include keynote presentations for Disney, The Wharton Center at MSU, The Smith Center in Las Vegas and the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. She has been recognized in several organizations including the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning through the Arts and Arena Stage where she was awarded the Thomas Fichandler award for exceptional promise in theater education. The Huffington Post named Paige a “classroom hero” because of her outstanding arts integration work with STEM initiatives. During the 2020 pandemic, Paige created and produced PAIGE AND FRIENDS a three episode digital series that focuses on self-care for elementary age students. Her work on inclusive spaces and theatre-based trauma informed practices has received international acclaim and garnered her such acknowledgement as the inaugural Victor Shargai Leadership Award and a repeat keynote speaker and presenter for Disney. Paige serves on the board for the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America and was recently appointed to the Maryland State Arts Council by Governor Wes Moore. Paige was recently named one of the Top 5 Most Produced Artists for Theatre for Young Audiences.

Paige is a proud member of Actors Equity Association and has performed on many stages throughout the country including DC: Arena Stage, Folger Theatre, The Kennedy Center, Fulton Theatre (PA), Ohio Theatre (NY), Manship Theatre (LA), Paramount Theatre (TX), Cleveland Playhouse (OH), The Wharton Center (MI) and many others.

As a playwright, she has collaborated with the Lincoln Center and has been commissioned by several companies including the National New Play Network, the Smithsonian, The Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, the Glimmerglass Festival and the University of Maryland. Paige was named a “Top Theatre Worker You Should Know” by American Theatre Magazine, “40 under 40” by the Washingtonian Magazine, a “Rising Leader of Color” by Theatre Communications Group and a “Citizen Artist” by the Kennedy Center.

As an award-winning dancer, Paige’s choreography has been seen all over the world including Bahrain, Singapore, India, Jamaica and Bermuda. In the States, Paige’s choreography has been seen at Imagination Stage (MD), The Kennedy Center (DC), Playhouse Square (OH), Alliance Theatre (GA) and Woolly Mammoth Theatre (DC) among others. She received an Individual Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council as well as four Helen Hayes nominations for choreography, directing and performance.

As a critically acclaimed director, Paige’s direction has been seen throughout the country including The Kennedy Center (DC), Smith Center (NV) Glimmerglass Festival (NY), Santa Fe Opera (NM) and several universities. She directed all three of the world premieres of the Queens Girl Trilogy by Caleen Sinnette Jennings. Paige was recently recognized by the Wall Street Journal for her direction of Proof at Everyman Theatre in Maryland where she is also Associate Artistic Director.

With her company B-FLY ENTERTAINMENT, Paige tours internationally with her original works for multicultural and multigenerational hip hop audiences. These works include Life Doesn’t Frighten Me, Liner Notes, The Nayika Project, 7th Street Echo, All the Way Live! Havana Hop, PAIGE IN FULL and her hip hopera, Stomping Grounds.