Professor Fabio Polanco is no stranger to Cleveland’s theatre scene. While he spends most of the year teaching Kent State University’s theatre students, he makes time to continue honing his craft. Polanco has both directed and acted in various projects at Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cleveland Play House, Porthouse Theatre, Cain Park and Dobama Theatre.
Now, Polanco is taking on a role in “Daphne’s Dive” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Quiara Alegría Hudes. Set in North Philly, “Daphne’s Dive” follows Daphne, operator of a local dive bar. Having moved to Philadelphia from Puerto Rico as a kid, she has since built a community and business. Taking place over the course of nearly twenty years, Daphne’s Dive invites audiences to pull up a stool and watch as the regulars drink, dance, grieve and rejoice together. Under the direction of Juliana Frey-Méndez, Polanco will play Acosta, a successful entrepreneur, political hopeful and Daphne’s Dive regular.
In recent years, Polanco has starred in “Standardized Patient” by Phillip Christian Smith and directed a reading of “Fade” by Tanya Saracho for Latinus Theatre Company, both as part of the New Ground Theatre Festival at Cleveland Play House.
“Professor Polanco is an invaluable member of our faculty,” said Tony Hardin, director of Kent State’s School of Theatre and Dance. “His years of experience and connection to Cleveland’s lively theatre scene opens many doors for our students.”
In addition to Polanco’s involvement in “Daphne’s Dive,” Dobama Theatre has welcomed generations of Kent State Theatre and Dance students and alumni. Alum Kenedy Brooks, B.F.A. '23, currently serves as Dobama Theatre’s resident assistant stage manager, while graduate student Quentin Ball is back at Dobama for another season as resident technical director.
See Polanco in “Daphne’s Dive,” sponsored by Roe Green, at Dobama Theatre from September 24- October 18, 2026. The show will be performed in the original English with Spanish supertitles. Learn more and buy tickets at https://www.dobama.org/daphne.
Photo: Fabio Polanco on stage with cast members of "Daphne's Dive," photographed by Steve Wagner; provided by Dobama Theatre.
