My name is Gaven, rhymes with "Raven"... they/he/siya. I am a brown, first-generation, gender non-conforming, Filipinx American theatre maker based in New York City. In addition to my work as a dramaturg, director, and playwright, I am the Community Engagement Associate at New York Theatre Workshop. Theatre Communications Group named me a Rising Leader of Color in 2021.

As an artist living with Bipolar Disorder, I am an advocate for empathetic and responsible representation of persons with mental illness and neurodiversity on and off-stage. I am also an advocate for suicide prevention and healing for those affected by it.

​​I have experience with new play development, production dramaturgy, community & audience engagement, and arts administration. I am a globally conscious and interdisciplinary artist who believes that theatre is a transformative tool for underrepresented communities to imagine and create radically new inclusive worlds. I work closely with LGBTQIA+ community leaders, neurodiverse artists, and international artists whose work focus on Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity, and Belonging (EDIB) Initiatives. I believe in an artistic collaborative process that centers on feminist and queer concepts of radical compassion, love, empathy, and community-building. I advocate for LGBTQIA+ and feminist issues, mental health awareness, inclusive accessible theatre, and advancement of diverse representation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities. I have had the honor to intern and work at various companies in various artistic, administrative, and dramaturgical positions: The Juilliard School Drama Division, Musical Theatre Factory, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, New York Theater Workshop, Ma-Yi Theatre, the TEAM, Roundabout Theatre Company, Ma-Yi Theatre Company, Playhouse on the Square (Memphis, TN), and Bremen Schaulspielhaus. B.A. American Studies, Dickinson College; M.F.A. Dramaturgy, University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am also a proud former teacher of Teach for America's Memphis Corps from 2012 to 2014. I completed a year-long professional apprenticeship in the Drama Division at The Juilliard School.

My original work has been developed by Leviathan Lab, The Shelter NYC, and Orchard Project. I am a current and former member of several writers group: Shelter NYC, Playground NYC, and Ma-Yi Writers Lab. Random fun facts: I play the ukulele, compose songs, write poetry, speak German, and I live with my 12-year-old dog!