Fiona H.R. Murphey…
…(they/he) is a MULTI-HYPHENATE THEATRE ARTIST. Based in the DMV-Metro area, their work—which spans live theatre, academia and film—includes directing, writing, intimacy choreography and coordination, dramaturgy, education, performance, arts administration, and disability and queerness activism, consulting and advocacy.
Fiona’s artistic practice has been molded by their versatile education, years of theatre and pedagogy experience, lived experience as a queer and Disabled wheelchair user, and the loves of mythology, dystopia, superheroes, fantasy and science fiction he’s nurtured since his childhood in Nashville, TN and across the South. He has trained as an intimacy coordinator with Theatrical Intimacy Education (TIE) and in workshops with the Intimacy Professionals Association (IPA), studied with the Kennedy Center Directing Intensive, and received his M.A. in Literature, Culture and Technology and B.S. in Computer Science (Game Design/Theatre minor and focus) from American University in Washington, D.C.
Recently, Fiona’s work has been featured by the Kennedy Center, Mosaic Theater Company, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Theatre Prometheus, The Journal of Consent Based Performance and The National Theatre. Currently, they serve as Chair Elect of the Disability Theatre and Performance focus group for the Association for Theatre in Higher Education. They are also a member of 3D Playwrights (DC Disabled Dramatists) and work with Imagination Stage, the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, area community theatres (e.g. Greenbelt Arts Center, Silver Spring Stage, Wildwood Summer Theatre), independent film and playwriting projects, and their alma mater.
Fiona is most excited by directing, playwriting and intimacy choreography opportunities. They are always open to conversation—please feel free to reach out below!
Fiona—a manual wheelchair user and short statured white person with freckles, red and gold glasses, a slit in their left eyebrow, and short brown hair that’s curly on top—introducing the staged reading of their short play “That Brat in the Wheelchair” at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (Fall 2024) + two headshots.
Fiona (center) sits in their wheelchair with the cast and crew of “Galatea” at Theatre Prometheus, the rainbow trees and marble steps behind them in the Montgomery County Cultural Arts Center Theatre, spring 2025.
Fiona (center) sits in their wheelchair on the roof of the Arcady Public Library—the set of “Through the Sunken Lands,” the Kennedy Center world premiere musical they assistant directed in spring 2024—with friends Meredith Aleigha Wells (left), who starred as “Artemis Sims,” Meredith’s service golden retriever dog Scout, and their understudy Molly Nilsen (right).
PROJECTS & WORK
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"THROUGH THE SUNKEN LANDS"
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences, World Premiere Musical, comprehensively and collaboratively assistant directed + helped create an accessible process + moderated wraparound engagement for K-12 audiences, Book and Lyrics by Tim J. Lord, Music and Lyrics by Avi Amon, Music Dir. Angie Benson, Movement Dir. Ronya-Lee Anderson, Lights by Sherrice Mojgani, Sound by Justin Schmitz, Set by Andrew Cohen, Costumes by Jeannette Christensen, Puppets by Matthew Pauli, SM Marne Anderson, KC TYA Education Dir. David Kilpatrick.
Dir. Cara Phipps (Sept. 2023-Mar. 2024).
Photo credit Teresa Wood.
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ASSOCIATION FOR THEATRE IN HIGHER EDUCATION
CHAIR ELECT. Disability Theatre and Performance focus group, coordinating submissions & panels for “Activating Imagination In/And Community” July 22-26 conference in Baltimore, MD + devising group content + doing outreach & recruitment + assisting with admin tasks.
Chair Dr. Katya Vrtis (Aug. 2025–Present).
Photo credit Ellee Murphey.
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"GALATEA"
INTIMACY CHOREOGRAPHER. Theatre Prometheus, created vulnerable & grounded IC for this period-crossing celebration of queer joy + assisted with rehearsals and tablework + co-led put-ins for swings + coordinated IC safety protocols through closing. Text by John Lyly.
Dir. Tracey Erbacher (Feb–May 2025).
Photo credit Charlotte M. Hayes (@shutterbugs_creations).
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DC DISABLED DRAMATISTS
PLAYWRIGHT. One of the founding members of 3D Playwrights (also known as DC Disabled Dramatists) alongside Hannah Land, Regan Linton, Amy Claussen and others. We are a group of disabled professional theatre makers operating in the DMV-Metro area.
Photo credit Amy Claussen.
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"TICK TICK BOOM"
INTIMACY CHOREOGRAPHER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & DRAMATURG. Greenbelt Arts Center, created collaborative, dance-infused intimacy choreography + provided de-roling & dramaturgical support around HIV/AIDS + assisted costume designers, prod team & actors with intimacy, rehearsal, staging & admin tasks. Book, Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Larson, Script Consultant David Auburn.
Dir. Margo Myst McCready
(Dec. 2024-Mar. 2025).
Photo credit Fiona H.R. Murphey.
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"THE ART OF CARE"
SCRIPT SUPERVISOR. Mosaic Theater Company, supported director/actors/team in tracking the evolving, devised script for this world premiere play + helped organize interview transcription/documentation & file sharing + present in rehearsals & integrated in-person dramaturgical & directorial observations to help produce the best show in this care-forward process,
Dir. Derek Goldman (Jul-Nov. 2024).
HELEN HAYES NOMINATED - BEST ENSEMBLE (2025)
Photo credit Mosaic Theater Company.
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"ALICE BY HEART"
INTIMACY CHOREOGRAPHER & ASST. DIRECTOR. Wildwood Summer Theatre, devised, taught & documented intimacy choreography + closely collaborated with dance choreographers, director & cast + supported actors, designers, creative team + assisted with staging, tablework, rehearsals & admin + worked to ensure a safe & accessible process, Movement Dir. Katie Quinn, Asst. Movement Kiefer Cure.
Dir. Margo Myst McCready
(May-Aug. 2024).
Photo credit Fiona Rose Murphey.
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"THAT BRAT IN THE WHEELCHAIR"
PLAYWRIGHT & DIRECTOR. 10-minute original play, directing a staged reading with the Open Doors Festival in October 2024, first workshopped in seminar at American University lead by Prof. Carl Menninger (Spring 2022), available via New Play Exchange.
Photo credit Fiona H.R. Murphey, Open Circle Theatre, Francie Murphey.
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VSA PLAYWRIGHT DISCOVERY PROGRAM
PROGRAM DRAMATURG. Kennedy Center, “High school students with disabilities are invited to explore the art of writing for performance.”
Dirs. Diane Nutting and Talleri McRae (Spring/Summer 2024 & 2025).
Photo credit Kennedy Center.
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"QUEERING NEVERLAND: A DRAMATURGY OF CARE"
WRITER/RESEARCHER. Cover article in the Journal of Consent Based Performance (May 2024). Presented as a debut scholar in the Disability, Theatre and Performance focus group at the American Theatre in Higher Education conference as “Queering Neverland: Assistant Directing Lost Girl at American University,” (August 2023).
Photo credit Kelsey Walker, JCBP.
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"MERBOY"
PLAYWRIGHT. 10-minute original play inspired by a queer-crip reading of “The Little Mermaid,” developed Fall 2024, available via New Play Exchange.
Photo credit Fiona H.R. Murphey.
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"SQUISHY BUT FIRM: SEXCAPADES OF A CRIP GIRL"
PERFORMER. The Kennedy Center Local Theatre Fest, Played “Crip Girl 1: A Dry-Wit Intellectual,” Book by Regan Linton.
Dir. Regan Linton (Jul-Aug. 2024).
Photo credit the Kennedy Center.
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"NEBRASKA AVENUE"
PLAYWRIGHT. Original two-act musical, idea conceived in seminar with Prof. Karl Kippola at American University (Spring 2020), developed until April 2024, Book and Lyrics available via New Play Exchange.
Photo credit Fiona H.R. Murphey.
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"OPIE AND THE OPEN TENT"
PERFORMER. The National Theatre, Played “Golde” & “Risa.” Book by Regan Linton for the “Saturday Morning Live!” Theatre for Young Audiences series.
Dir. Regan Linton (May-Jun. 2024).
Photo credit Francie Murphey.
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KENNEDY CENTER DIRECTING INTENSIVE
DIRECTING COHORT. Kennedy Center, “Brings together a cohort of like-minded early-career directors to create a supportive community and shared learning experience,” in order to “engage participants in rigorous conversations, practical activities, and master classes.”
Dirs. Nicole A. Watson and Raymond O. Caldwell (July 2023).
Photo credit Kennedy Center.
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"DAUGHTERS OF LEDA"
DRAMATURG & ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. American University, Book by Madeline Sayet, assisted all rehearsals/meetings + composed dramaturgy research packet/playbill note + documented intimacy choreography + supported IC rehearsals, IC Sierra Young.
Dirs. Angelisa Gillyard and Shanara Gabrielle (Fall 2023).
Photo credit Dylan Singleton.
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"LOST GIRL"
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. American University, Book by Kimberly Belflower, directed scenes + assisted rehearsals and meetings + kept detailed notes + shadowed IC during intimacy choreography process, IC/AD/Prod. Carrie Edick.
Dir. Aaron Posner (Spring 2023).
Photo credit Dylan Singleton.
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"INTO THE WOODS"
ASSISTANT MUSICAL DIRECTOR. American University, kept detailed music notes + helped teach vocals to actors + supported orchestration + assisted at rehearsals and meetings.
Musical Dir. Nathan Blustein, Dir. Carl Menninger (Spring 2022).
Photo credit American University.
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"VIORE: AN ADAPTATION STORY"
PERFORMER. The National Theatre, Played “Little O,” Book by Regan Linton for the “Saturday Morning Live!” Theatre for Young Audiences series.
Dir. Regan Linton (May-Jun. 2023).
Photo credit Regan Linton.
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"THE PLIANT GIRLS"
PERFORMER. American University, Played “Father,” Book by Meghan Brown, rehearsed and filmed via Zoom.
Dir. Ameenah Kaplan (Dec. 2020-Feb. 2021).
Photo credit Bekah Zornosa.
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"THE BOY DETECTIVE FAILS"
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER. Workshopped and Produced at American University, Book by Joe Meno, Music and Lyrics by Adam Gwon, Musical Dir. Nathan Blustein.
Dir. Aaron Posner (Spring 2020).
Photo credit Jeff Watts.
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GREENBERG THEATRE PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT
OPERATIONS ASSISTANT. American University, organized front of house staffing + co-managed patron customer service + provided admin support.
Production Manager Greg Anderson
(May-Dec. 2023).
Photo credit American University.
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PEDAGOGY & MENTORSHIP
IMAGINATION STAGE. Working with lead teachers and program coordinators to integrate disabled students across multiple after school theatre arts classes. Collaboratively designing a curriculum as a lead teacher for future classes, starting in Nov. 2024 (Sept. 2024-Present).
TUTOR.COM. Tutoring in writing, English & literature for students grades 9-12 through college; in social studies for grades K-8; in science for grades 3-6; and in computer fundamentals for all grade levels (May 2024-Present).
SECRETARY. Art Technically, STEAM education charity, assist with fundraising + public outreach + admin support (Jan. 2020-Present).
TEACHING ASSISTANT. American University, “The Urban Experience” (Literature + Social Science) lesson planning + writing tutoring with Profs. David Pike and Daniel Esser (Fall 2018), “Directing Techniques” (Theatre) co-teaching + director mentoring with Dir. Colleen Sullivan (Fall 2022).
Photo credit Imagination Stage.
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"HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING"
PERFORMER. American University, Played in “Ensemble,” First wheelchair user to perform on the Greenberg Theatre stage in 20+ years, Book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, Music by Frank Loesser, Based on the novel by Shepherd Mead, Musical Dir. Nathan Blustein.
Dir. Karl Kippola (Fall 2019).
Photo credit Jeff Watts.
