Daniel J. Watts Replaces Jason Dirden in August Wilson's SEVEN GUITARS at Lincoln Center Theater

Daniel J. Watts (Canewell) is a multidisciplinary storyteller. TV/Film: “The Penguin” (HBO/DC); “The Chi” (Paramount+/Showtime); Werewolf By Night (Marvel); “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon); “The Last OG” (TBS); “Blindspot” (NBC); “Vinyl” (HBO); “The Deuce” (HBO); “Boardwalk Empire” (HBO); “The Night Of” (HBO); “Broad City” (Comedy Central); “The Good Wife” (CBS); “Odd Mom Out” (Bravo); “Person Of Interest” (CBS). Broadway: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (2020 Tony Award Nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award); Hamilton; The Color Purple; Disney's The Little Mermaid (OBC); Memphis (OBC); In The Heights; Ghost (OBC); Motown (OBC); After Midnight (OBC). Off-Broadway: Lights Out: Nat King Cole (Audelco Award Winner Best Featured Actor in a Musical; Lortel Award Nominee -NYTW); The Refuge Plays (Audelco Award Best Lead Actor in a Play - Roundabout); Last of the Love Letters (Atlantic Theater Co); Death of the Last Black Man in the Entire World AKA The Negro Book of the Dead (Signature Theatre); Whorl Inside A Loop (2nd Stage). Regional: 2019 Barrymore Award (People's Light) and 2020 LA Ovation Award (Geffen Playhouse) for Best Featured Actor for his portrayal of Sammy Davis, Jr. in Lights Out: Nat King Cole opposite Dulé Hill. Original Work: Daniel J. Watts' The Jam: Only Child 2020 Public Theatre Under The Radar Festival and has also streamed as part of the Signature Theater (DC) 2020-2021 season. TED talk “To Accomplish Great Things, You Need to Let Paint Dry” appears at go.Ted.com/danieljwatts. Artist in residence at ASU Gammage, Philadelphia Kimmel Center, and Vineyard Arts Project in Martha's Vineyard; contributing artist for Armstrong Now with the The Louis Armstrong House; New York Theatre Workshop Usual Suspect; NYU Tisch New Studio adjunct professor. His live painting experience, Process of Saying Yes, premiered at East Village Basement and blends live music, storytelling, and spoken word with Watts' signature dance painting technique. In Development/Pre-production: 3 Summers of Lincoln - Co-lyricist/Co-Choreographer (La Jolla Playhouse 2025); O Menino - Writer/Performer (National Black Theatre) BFA Graduate Elon University Music Theatre Program. 2021 Commencement Speaker. 2011 Young Alumnus Award Recipient.