RESUME

Darion McCloud is an actor, director, storyteller, educator, arts activist, and children’s literature advocate from Columbia, SC. He is also the founder and Creative Director of NiA Theatre Company and Story Squad. Darion is also a Riley Institute Diversity Fellow the 2019 recipient of The Jasper Project Theatre Artist of the Year Award. The Andrew Billingsley Award and The Literacy Leader Award both from the University of South Carolina are more recognitions of his work. Darion is a formally trained visual artist who found his way to the stage via telling stories where he has acted and taught for over twenty years. Darion enjoys crafting theatre, telling and art experiences for the old, young, the initiated and the un-initiated.This can happen in environments as varied as classrooms, corporate settings, libraries, campfires and theatres. Darion has committed his life to the transforming power of art.

Community Partners
Homeless Helping Homeless
Columbia Housing Authority
Richland Library
South Carolina State Library
Columbia Museum of Art
Richland School District One
Richland School District Two
29203 Coalition
University of South Carolina Athletics
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Charleston Public Library
South Carolina Arts Commission
Kershaw County School District
Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County
Historic Columbia
South Carolina Philharmonic
Mint Museum
Work
experience

Professional Affiliations/ Associations
Theatre Acting Credits
The Carnival of the Animals The Gift that Ran Away |
Darion |
South Carolina Philharmonic Richland School Distric One
|
Br’er Rabbit |
Anansi |
NiA Company/Columbia Children’s Theatre
|
Rumplestiltskin |
Miller |
Columbia Children’s Center
|
The Whipping Man |
Simon |
NiA Company
|
Gem of the Ocean |
Caesar |
Trustus Theatre
|
Jesus Hopped the A Train |
Lucius Jenkins |
NiA Company
|
Othello |
Othello |
South Carolina Shakespeare Co.
|
Topdog/Underdog |
Lincoln |
NiA Company/Piccolo Spoleto
|
Raisin in the Sun |
Walter Lee |
Workshop Theatre
|
The White Problem |
Other |
Univ. of South Carolina/Piccolo Spoleto
|
Ma’ Rainey’s Black Bottom |
Levee |
Trustus Theatre
|
Much Ado About Nothing |
Don Pedro |
South Carolina Shakespeare Co. |
|
|
|
Dutchman
|
Clay |
Trustus Theatre |
Two Trains Running
|
Holloway |
Trustus Theatre
|
Boys in the Band |
Bernard |
Trustus Theatre
|
Happy Ending |
Junebug |
Trustus Theatre |
Directing Credits
Br’er Rabbit
|
NiA / Columbia Children’s Theatre |
The Whipping Man
|
NiA |
Our Lady of 121st Street
|
NiA / Trustus Theatre |
…whisper…the movies…
|
NiA |
Fat Pig
|
NiA / Trustus Theatre |
Intimate Apparel
|
NiA / Trustus Theatre |
An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein
|
NiA / Trustus |
WHATCHAMACALLIT |
NiA / Trustus Theatre |
Storytelling Credits
Stone Soup Storytelling Festival
|
Lexington County Library System |
Francis MarionUniversity |
Augusta Baker’s Dozen Storytelling Festival
|
University of South Carolina |
Benedict College |
Patch Work Storytelling Festival
|
South Carolina’s Governor’s Mansion |
Gullah Festival |
Griot Gathering |
Tellabration |
Florence County Library System |
NiA Company- Creative Director
Story Squad-Creator-Captain
Trustus Theatre-Company Member
S.C. Shakespeare Company-Company Member
Vice President Friends of African American Art Affiliate of Columbia Museum of Art
Diversity Fellow, Riley Institute

Education
