Rene Moreno, born on May 25, 1959, in Dallas, Texas, was a multifaceted talent who excelled as an actor, director, and musician. He honed his artistic skills at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts before pursuing further studies in theater, dance, and music at Southern Methodist University. In the 1980s, he relocated to New York, where he immersed himself in regional theater and made significant contributions to both off-Broadway and on-Broadway productions.
As a respected member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), Rene also served as an Artistic Associate with Shakespeare Dallas and an Affiliated Artist with the Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre. His directorial prowess was showcased across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where he staged productions for prominent theaters such as WaterTower Theatre, Stage West, Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, Theatre Three, and the Dallas Theater Center, among others.
Rene received numerous accolades throughout his career, including several Dallas-Fort Worth Theater Critics Forum awards and multiple Best Director honors. He was an inspiring educator, leading workshops and classes at various colleges and universities.
Tragedy struck in 1991 when he suffered a life-altering fall while performing in Federico García Lorca's *Yerma* at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., resulting in paralysis from the waist down. After extensive rehabilitation, he earned his MFA in directing from Southern Methodist University in 2001. Moreno faced health challenges later in life and passed away from heart failure on March 20, 2017, at the age of 57, leaving behind a rich legacy in the performing arts.
