Tony Plana has tirelessly strived to elevate the quality of classic and contemporary artists in theater, television, and film. He is a versatile, classically trained actor/director well known for his work in film, television, and theater with considerable experience in administration, production, adaptation, and teaching, His work builds upon his Latino heritage, incorporating cultural dimensions, theory, and practice and he especially enjoys engaging youth and families from ethnic, minority communities in classic and contemporary theater.

Read Out in Hollywood: The Tony Plana Interview here.
 

        Plana earned a Bachelor’s degree in Literature and Theatre from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles and trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. An actor, director, and writer, Plana has appeared in many award-winning and award-nominated films. A partial filmography includes The Miracle of Spanish Harlem; America; Towards Darkness; The Dead One; American East; Goal!; The Dream Begins; The Lost City; Half Past Dead; Picking Up the Pieces; One Eight Seven; Lone Star ; Primal Fear; Nixon; Silver Strand; A Million to Juan; JFK; One Good Cop; Havana; The Rookie; Romero; Born in East L.A.; ¡Three Amigos!; Salvador; El Norte; An Officer and a Gentleman, and Zoot Suit.

        A partial list of his T.V. roles includes Ugly Betty, 24; John Doe; Resurrection Boulevard.; Fidel; The West Wing; Noriega: God’s Favorite; City of Angels; Total Security; The Burning Season; The Life and Death of Chico Mendez; Bakersfield P.D.; Drug Wars: The Camarena Story; Sweet 15; L.A. Law, and Maximum Security. He directed the feature film, A Million to Juan and the award-winning T.V. film, The Princess and the Barrio Boy as well as episodes of Resurrection Boulevard; The Brothers Garcia, and Greetings from Tucson.

        His prolific career includes many acting roles and direction in theater, and Tony was the recipient of the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture Made for Television and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble – Comedy Series for his role as "Ignacio Suarez" in Ugly Betty. PC gamers recognize him as the voice of Manny Calavera in the Lucasarts adventure game, Grim Fandango.

        Tony Plana has offered numerous national and international lectures and keynotes featuring topics of diversity, education, and social issues such as “The Importance of the Arts in Urban Education,” ”Literacy through Performing Arts,”“Language Acquisition and Culturally Responsive Process Drama,” “Diversity in Hollywood and Stereotypes,”"Hispanic Leadership," "Aging and Family Values in a Multi Cultural Community,""Bridging Cultures through Languages,”"The Classroom as Theater," and "Embracing the Spirit of Multiculturalism.”

        A partial list of speaking clients includes the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages; California Association Bilingual Education; Clemson University Consortium for Graduate Study in Management; Cornerstone Literacy; Council for Opportunity in Education; Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund; National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials; National Association of Latino Superintendents; National Council of La Raza; National Training Center Fort Irwin; On Wheels Incorporated; Texas Diversity & Leadership Conference; The Council of Great City Schools; The College Board: University of Southern California and many colleges and universities.

        An advocate of education, Tony is the founder, executive artistic director, and board member/Chair of the East L.A. Classic Theatre and for over 15 years, has served as artistic director, curriculum designer, and master teacher. His achievements include production, adaptation, and direction of seven classic plays integrating college students with professionals and developing a culturally relevant and accessible theatre and Shakespeare exposure program for underserved students of primary and secondary school with a curriculum that has impacted over 250,000 students. 
        Plana designed and implemented the award winning (C.A.B.E. Award) Beyond Borders: Literacy through the Performing Arts ‐ a standards-based intervention program in collaboration with Loyola Marymount University Education Department using performing arts disciplines to facilitate language acquisition and strengthen literacy and life skills in underprivileged, predominantly English learning, primarily upper elementary and middle school students. He developed curriculum, implementation, and a training regime for Beyond Borders actor teachers and a professional development component for classroom teachers including final culmination production techniques and designed and implemented the standards-based Language in Play afterschool program, a readers’ theatre-based professionally written grade level theater production Experience. He also developed curriculum for theater-based parenting education pilot called Creciendo Juntos focusing on child assessment, advocacy, and creating conducive home learning environments.

        Plana has been a visiting professor of acting, production and direction at numerous universities and has served on the peer evaluation panel for the National Endowment of the Arts and the L.A. County Arts Commission. Plana has been a board member for numerous local and national organizations including the American Latino Museum on the Mall; American Red Cross; The Center Theatre Group Diversity Advisory Council: ; Loyola High School Board of Regents and its Latino Alumni Society; The Latino‐Byzantine Quarter Foundation, and the Young Musicians Foundation created by Henry Mancini

        Tony Plana has been the recipient of numerous awards including the 2010 Dream Award, the highest award from the City of Los Angeles; the 2008 Cahalan Award for Most Distinguished Alumni – Loyola High School; the 2008 Imagen Lifetime Achievement Award for extensive accomplishments in the arts and education; the 2007 Humanitarian of the Year Award Los Angeles Music Center; 2006 Golden Satellite Award- International Press Academy; 2005 Educator of the Year – Loyola Marymount University; and nominations for the ALMA Award; GLAAD Award; SHINE Award; ANGEL Award, and Nosotros Golden Eagle Award for outstanding work in film and television; and the Los Angeles Dramalogue Awards. Plana has been recognized with Special commendations by the United States Congress, State of California, County of Los Angeles, and City of Los Angeles.

   Interested in booking your speaking event or next training seminar with Tony Plana? Click here or call 310-937-2789 today!