We are making sure that the arts remain independent, well-funded, and accessible for all. Anytime anything rears its ugly head to challenge that, we will be there fighting for you.
Engaged, experienced, and creative: I am a nationally recognized arts leader with a passion for cultivating diverse audiences & signature branded experiences.
Erica Lauren Ortiz (she/her) is a seasoned non-profit leader, arts advocate, and creative producer with deep roots in theatre, media, and cultural strategy. She currently serves as the Lead of Advocacy & Governance Programs at Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization at the forefront of building a just and thriving theatre ecology.
In this role, Erica leads civic engagement efforts and supports theaters in navigating governance challenges and public policy. She previously served as TCG’s Director of Marketing & Production.
Named one of the nation’s top 20 emerging female entrepreneurs, she founded The Brandprint in 2016—a full-service strategy and production firm specializing in meaningful convenings and lasting brand experiences.
Her leadership experience also includes roles as Principal at ALJP Consulting, inaugural Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Ford’s Theatre Society, and Sr. Director of Digital Marketing & Business Development at Odyssey Media, where she produced campaigns for over 30 Fortune 500 companies and served influential multicultural audiences.
Erica’s early career included launching the TKTS app and customer service program as the founding Patron Services Coordinator at Theatre Development Fund. An award-winning actress and playwright, she has performed throughout NYC and DC including at the Kennedy Center, New York Fringe Festival, Atlas Performing Arts Center, T. Schreiber Studio and more. She is also a National Gold Medalist in Playwriting through the NAACP ACT-SO Competition.
A lifelong advocate, Erica is a former member of the NAACP National Board of Directors, where she co-organized a Capitol Hill rally of 700 youth in support of the Voting Rights Act reauthorization. She also served on the organization’s Executive Committee and as Vice Chair of its Resolutions, ACT-SO, and Membership & Units committees.
Her advocacy and creative work have been featured by CNN, The New York Times, Elle, American Theatre magazine, and Bravo’s Project Runway. After 15 years in NYC and NJ, Erica is happy to be back in the DC area, continuing her work at the intersection of arts, advocacy, and community impact.
TCG is excited to invite you to participate in The Lobby Project, a nationwide initiative aimed at fostering civic engagement by opening theater lobbies for dialogue and non-partisan public events surrounding election day and beyond. We are inviting you to take part in this project and use our lobbies to create a welcoming space for meaningful civic dialogue.
Links:
Social Media:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ericalaurenortiz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericalaurenortiz
Bluesky: @ericalaurenortiz.bsky.social
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