Photo by Primo Supremo. 2026.
Daryl L. Stewart (he/him) is a multi-hyphenate force in American theatre — an actor, singer, director, producer, writer, curator, and arts administrator whose work amplifies underrepresented narratives and redefines contemporary performance. In the tradition of artists like Billy Porter, Geoffrey Holder, and André De Shields, Stewart builds his own stages: conceiving, writing, directing, producing, and performing work that fuses musical theatre, concert, and immersive storytelling to explore history, identity, and culture.
A 2026 Nominee for the United States Artists Fellowship for Theatre and a 2026 Rockwood Leadership Institute Fellow, Stewart brings two decades of culturally resonant work to every stage he touches — carrying projects from first idea to opening night with a singular, unmistakable voice.
As a writer, he has conceived Hear Him Roar: A Celebration of Black Men in the Arts, Simply Sondheim, and Yellow Brick Road: A Music Revue (celebrating The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked). He is currently developing a new play exploring local government, set to premiere in 2027. His directing and choreography credits include The Color Purple (Union Arts Center), For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf (Newark Museum of Art/Mile Square Theatre), Step Show: The Musical (Shepherd University/MASS MoCA), Hairspray (UCPAC), The Underground Experience: A Walk Through Black History, Simply Simone: The Music of Nina Simone, Crowns, Dear Tina: A Love Letter to Tina Turner (Green Room 42/Off-Broadway), and Into the Woods (Vanguard). He has collaborated with institutions including Little Island, Paper Mill Playhouse, Mile Square Theatre, Disney Theatrical Group, The Johnny Mercer Foundation, MASS MoCA, Newark Museum of Art, Luna Stage, and NJPAC.
As Executive Producer of the Newark Arts Festival and inaugural Director of Programs at Newark Arts Council, Stewart leads the curation, strategy, and execution of the region's largest arts celebration, expanding its scale and civic impact year over year. He made history as the first Visiting Performing Arts Curator at the Newark Museum of Art, setting attendance records with innovative post-pandemic public programming. He is founder and CEO of Daryl Stewart Productions, a boutique live entertainment production company, and co-founder of Vanguard Theater Company. He also founded and hosts Broadway in the Bricks, an annual series bringing Broadway to Newark — selected for the North to Shore Festival in 2024 and 2025 and now celebrating its fifth anniversary.
His commissioned writing includes work for NJPAC, The Incomplete History of Broadway with The Johnny Mercer Foundation, and iHeartRadio Original Podcasts, where he is a writer on Sweet Daddy Grace. His honors include the NJEA Alumni Award of Excellence, a Creative Capital grant, the Eulace E. Peacock Unsung Hero Award, the NYU Wasserman Award for Service in the Arts, and recognition as an Urban League Young Professional Honoree for the Arts. He has been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, and ESSENCE.
A sought-after educator and advocate, Stewart teaches musical theatre at Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken and has led lectures, panels, and performances at Williams College, Kean University, Monmouth University, and top performing arts schools across New Jersey. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Marion P. Thomas Charter School and as a creative consultant to multiple arts organizations. Stewart is a proud alumnus of New York University and the New York Conservatory for Drama, and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC).
Follow him at @thedarylstewart.
A 2026 Nominee for the United States Artists Fellowship for Theatre and a 2026 Rockwood Leadership Institute Fellow, Stewart brings two decades of culturally resonant work to every stage he touches — carrying projects from first idea to opening night with a singular, unmistakable voice.
As a writer, he has conceived Hear Him Roar: A Celebration of Black Men in the Arts, Simply Sondheim, and Yellow Brick Road: A Music Revue (celebrating The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked). He is currently developing a new play exploring local government, set to premiere in 2027. His directing and choreography credits include The Color Purple (Union Arts Center), For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf (Newark Museum of Art/Mile Square Theatre), Step Show: The Musical (Shepherd University/MASS MoCA), Hairspray (UCPAC), The Underground Experience: A Walk Through Black History, Simply Simone: The Music of Nina Simone, Crowns, Dear Tina: A Love Letter to Tina Turner (Green Room 42/Off-Broadway), and Into the Woods (Vanguard). He has collaborated with institutions including Little Island, Paper Mill Playhouse, Mile Square Theatre, Disney Theatrical Group, The Johnny Mercer Foundation, MASS MoCA, Newark Museum of Art, Luna Stage, and NJPAC.
As Executive Producer of the Newark Arts Festival and inaugural Director of Programs at Newark Arts Council, Stewart leads the curation, strategy, and execution of the region's largest arts celebration, expanding its scale and civic impact year over year. He made history as the first Visiting Performing Arts Curator at the Newark Museum of Art, setting attendance records with innovative post-pandemic public programming. He is founder and CEO of Daryl Stewart Productions, a boutique live entertainment production company, and co-founder of Vanguard Theater Company. He also founded and hosts Broadway in the Bricks, an annual series bringing Broadway to Newark — selected for the North to Shore Festival in 2024 and 2025 and now celebrating its fifth anniversary.
His commissioned writing includes work for NJPAC, The Incomplete History of Broadway with The Johnny Mercer Foundation, and iHeartRadio Original Podcasts, where he is a writer on Sweet Daddy Grace. His honors include the NJEA Alumni Award of Excellence, a Creative Capital grant, the Eulace E. Peacock Unsung Hero Award, the NYU Wasserman Award for Service in the Arts, and recognition as an Urban League Young Professional Honoree for the Arts. He has been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, and ESSENCE.
A sought-after educator and advocate, Stewart teaches musical theatre at Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken and has led lectures, panels, and performances at Williams College, Kean University, Monmouth University, and top performing arts schools across New Jersey. He serves on the Board of Trustees for Marion P. Thomas Charter School and as a creative consultant to multiple arts organizations. Stewart is a proud alumnus of New York University and the New York Conservatory for Drama, and a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC).
Follow him at @thedarylstewart.
| Acting Resume |
| Directing/Teaching Resume |
| Press Kit |
