Resumé

Below you will find the full, current resumé of Nathan Pugh. Resume PDFs are available upon request to nathanpugh.contact@gmail.com

PERSONAL STATEMENT

I’m a writer and arts administrator currently based in the Washington, D.C. area. My writing encompasses journalism, criticism, essays, marketing copy, and creative work. In all of my writing, I explore how identities and history are performed, whether on the stage or in communities. I also pay attention to how these performances are aimed for audiences of multiple demographics.

In my theater criticism, I honestly assess how the art form treats and stages marginalized communities, always advocating for audience members. As someone who is gay, Filipino American, and Gen Z, my goal as a writer is to participate in the deep conversations that occur privately within communities of color, and carefully share them in a more public way.

I’m currently working on an essay collection that investigates the history of the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) through theatrical plays set and produced in the area.

THEATER JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE

DC Theater Arts, Contributing Writer, Washington, D.C. (July 2022–Present)

  • Write playwright profiles, interviewing Martyna Majok, Dave Harris, Benjamin Benne, Doug Robinson, Ciara Elizabeth Smyth

  • Write theater opinion essays covering queer theater, Asian American theater, masculinity, and parenting

  • Review D.C. area productions, including 11 fringe festival productions over four years

3Views on Theater, Guest Curator/Contributing Writer, Washington, D.C. (July 2023–Present)

  • Interviewed playwright David Henry Hwang for feature on the Broadway production of Yellow Face

  • Guest curated issue on Woolly Mammoth’s world premiere play The Sensational Sea Mink-ettes: selected the show, hired three writers, edited all articles, wrote editor’s note

  • Wrote essay “Unnecessary” as part of 2023 essay series

  • Reviewed world premiere productions of the musical A Wrinkle in Time, and the play Something Moving

Washington City Paper, Contributing Writer, Washington, D.C. (Sep. 2025–Present)

  • Review D.C. productions that are North American premieres (Cyrano, Red Pitch)

  • Interviewed eight artists of color for feature on how the fall theater season staged history

American Theatre Magazine, Freelance Writer, Washington, D.C. (July 2025–Present)

  • Wrote opinion essay “Why I Left the Kennedy Center” for the fall 2025 print issue/online publication

Theatrely, Contributing Writer, Washington, D.C. (May 2021–Present)

  • Review Washington, D.C./East Coast theater productions across 12 theater companies, contribute opinion articles

  • Profiled productions in N.Y.C. (Slave Play, Richard III) and D.C. (Come From Away, Seven Guitars, Marys Seacole), contributed Tony Awards coverage

DCist, Contributing Writer, Washington, D.C. (Nov. 2022–Apr. 2023)

  • Wrote eight theatre production reviews under 500 words across seven D.C. area theater companies

  • Wrote local theater performance guide for 2023

GENERAL JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE

Smithsonian Magazine, Freelance Writer, Washington, D.C. (May 2024–Present)

  • Wrote profiles for Smithsonian exhibitions on James Baldwin, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, and “The Print Generation” 

  • Interviews curators (Hilton Als, Kit Brooks), scholars (Alicia Volk, Soyica Diggs Colbert), and artists (Adam Milner)

NPR, Code Switch/It’s Been a Minute Intern, Remote (Oct. 2021–Apr. 2022)

  • Wrote Code Switch article on musical A Strange Loop that was shared on X by playwright Michael R. Jackson

  • Pitched and booked It’s Been a Minute (IBAM) episode with actors Sam Richardson and Ben Schwartz

  • Wrote three entries of Code Switch newsletter for 50K subscribers, adapted three IBAM episodes into website profiles

  • Pre-interviewed guests, produced episode segments, fact-checked scripts

The Wesleyan Argus, Editor in Chief, Middletown, CT  (Dec. 2020–May 2021)

  • Edited 10–15 articles for weekly publication, managed the newspaper production process and the community of 50 writers and editors

  • Conducted pre-semester training and discussions of anti-racism goals.

  • Created new social media and podcast editorial positions, instituted Argus Slack.

  • Publicly interviewed Wesleyan University President at State of the School Address

  • Previously Arts & Culture Editor (Sep. 2020–Dec. 2020), Assistant Arts & Culture Editor (Sep. 2019–May 2020)

ARTS ADMINISTRATION EXPERIENCE

Playwrights’ Center, Reader, Remote (Nov. 2024–Present)

  • Evaluating applications for upcoming fellowships

  • Evaluated four applications (full-length play scripts and artist statements) for 2025–27 Jerome Fellowship 

  • Evaluating four applications (artistic statements, project proposals, script samples) for Core Apprentice Program

Actors’ Equity Association, Freelance Writer, Equity News Magazine, Remote (June 2025–Present)

  • Writing long-form feature story for winter issue

  • Wrote "Theatre Spotlight" on Nashville's Studio Tenn, interviewed the artistic director, managing director, and three Equity members applications for upcoming fellowships

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Junior Copywriter/Coordinator, Advertising Communications, Washington, D.C. (Aug. 2022–Mar. 2025)

  • Wrote all Wordfly marketing emails for dance, comedy, Social Impact, Arts & Wellbeing events

  • Wrote articles for CENTER magazine, interviewing artists Kris Bowers, Tim Greiving, Helen Pickett, James Bonas, Malavika Sarrukkai, members of the National Symphony Orchestra, and more

  • Collaborate with marketing/programing teams to write descriptions for upcoming comedy and dance seasons, including dance season brochures

  • Edit 23 Millennium Stage web pages monthly, write radio/web/print ads in brand voice

Theatre Washington, Theatre Week Volunteer, Washington, D.C. (Sep. 2024)

  • Shared D.C. theatre guides/brochures with patrons at the Theatre Week Kickoff Festival, working with Alissa Klusky

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT (Graduated May 2021)

Bachelor of Arts, Majors: English (Concentration: Race/Ethnicity), Theater, GPA: 3.81/4.00

Theatre Washington’s Mentorship Program, Washington, D.C. (Summer 2025)

Day Eight’s National Arts Journalism Institute, Washington, D.C. (June 2022)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Wesleyan University English Department, Teaching Apprentice, Middletown, CT (Sep. 2019–Dec. 2019)

  • Helped teach ten contemporary plays in class “Award Winning Playwrights” with Prof. Rashida Z. Shaw McMahon

  • Facilitated class discussions, conducted office hours for help with papers

  • Taught one class period with a presentation on Jackie Sibblies Drury’s Fairview. Wrote review on Woolly Mammoth Theater Company’s Fairview production featured on syllabus

THEATER/ARTS EXPERIENCE

Wesleyan University Theater Department, Various Positions, Middletown, CT  (Oct. 2018–May 2021)

Devised Immersive Performance:

  • This Between Shadow (dir. Tom Pearson, Jan. 2019)

Wesleyan University Second Stage, Director/Dramaturg, Middletown, CT (Oct. 2017–May 2021)

Dramaturgy:

  • No Particular Person (dir. Will Blumberg & Ensemble Theatre Collective, May 2021)

  • Dream Circus (dir. Elizabeth Woolford & Michayla Roberts-Pine, devised, Nov. 2019)

  • Cardboard Piano (dir. Eliza Wilkins, by Hansol Jung, May 2019)

  • Edith Can Shoot Things And Hit Them (dir. Wenxuan Xue & Amira Leila S., by A. Rey Pamatmat, Nov. 2018)

Community Organization:

  • “Virtual Talkbacks” including discussion of devising process with Will Blumberg, Nathan Mullen, and Esmé Ng, for A Milk Kind of Play (Aug. 2020)

  • “Likha Festival” including PINOY Potluck, post-show talkbacks, and A. Rey Pamatmat Masterclass, for Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them (Nov. 2018)

Co-Direction:

  • bloom (with Jonesy Moore, Book by Katie Lopez, Music & Lyrics by Olivia Lopez, Nov. 2018)

  • The Last Five Years (with Alessandra Viegas, by Jason Robert Brown, April 2018)