HIGHLIGHTS

Veteran Performer:  A nuanced, character-driven actor known for grounded authority, musicality, and performances shaped by 30+ years in theater; expanding into film acting and production

Recognition: Best Picture (DC APA Film Festival, 2021); award-winning writer, director, and storyteller
 

Education: Ph.D. (UC Berkeley) · M.S.I.S. (Marymount) · B.B.A. (GWU)

Russwin Francisco is a seasoned actor, singer, and producer with more than 30 years of performance experience across stage, film, and live music. He produced and appeared as Manny in The Girl Who Left Home, a musical film that won Best Picture at the 2021 DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival, and was an accredited investor in the Broadway production Here Lies Love.

A versatile performer, Francisco has appeared in leading and featured roles across Washington, DC–area theaters and festivals, with stage credits including the Pharoah (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Lun Tha (The King and I), Simba (The Lion King), and Bernardo (West Side Story). His work spans both singing and non-singing roles, bringing grounded authority, emotional intelligence, and musical precision to character-driven storytelling.

He has also performed in an internationally broadcast dramatic radio series on DZRH, one of the Philippines’ major radio networks.

In addition to performing, Francisco is an award-winning writer and director. He wrote and directed a play that won a national competition sponsored by De La Salle University, and his short fiction and poetry have received national recognition.

A lifelong musician, Francisco received early vocal training from his great-aunt, founder of the Philippine Concert Choir. His vocal work spans classical, sacred, jazz, doo wop, madrigal, and barbershop styles. He was a featured soloist with the Lesbian and Gay Chorus of Washington DC, and spent more than 21 years performing with Nuance, an a cappella ensemble.

An accomplished jazz vocalist, he has performed at prominent DC venues and regional festivals, and previously co-founded and co-owned Black Fox Lounge, a jazz venue respected for its live music programming.