PCPA debut. René is a professional actor, director, acting teacher, and writer. He appeared on Broadway in The Wild Party, directed by George C. Wolfe. In eight seasons as a member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival acting company, notable roles include Angelo in Measure for Measure; the Bastard in King John; Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet; Palo in Gibraltar; the Tiger in Tracy’s Tiger; and Juan José in American Night: The Ballad of Juan José—a role he also performed at the La Jolla Playhouse, Kirk Douglas Theatre, and Yale Repertory Theatre.
Other stage credits include José María Heredia in Niagara: A Pan-American Story for Propeller Arts Projects (Toronto); Magaldi in Evita at Studio Tenn; Wahab/Nihad in Scorched at Syracuse Stage; René Flores in Lydia at the Denver Center Theatre Company; Leonardo in Blood Wedding at the Guthrie Theater and Kansas City Rep; Great the Magician in Orange Lemon Egg Canary at the Actors Theatre of Louisville; Al in El Paso Blue (Off-Broadway); Nino in Electricidad at the Mark Taper Forum; and Arturo in By the Waters of Babylon at the Tennessee Women’s Theatre Project.
Film credits with Grandave Productions include Clay (Lead—winner for Best Actor in a Feature Film at La Gran Fiesta de Cine Mexicano and nominee for Best Actor in a Feature Film at the Madrid International Film Festival), Gringo Hunters (supporting), and aTypical Pirate (supporting).
Other film and television credits include In America (directed by Jim Sheridan), In the Weeds, Reparations, Sing with Your Eyes, Closer, Keep Your Distance, Quick Draw, Long Slow Exhale, 24, CSI: Miami, Chappelle’s Show, Third Watch, and Days of Our Lives.
René received his MFA in Acting from the University of Washington School of Drama in Seattle. He has been a guest teacher, teaching artist, and lecturer of acting and psychophysical acting methods at the Yale School of Drama (Beinecke Fellow), Syracuse University, Seattle University, Vanderbilt University, Southern Oregon University, University of Redlands, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Actors Bridge Ensemble, and Nashville Shakespeare Festival.
Member: *Actors’ Equity Association