STAGE WRITE

Sharing youthful stories that uplift the spirit, challenge the mind, and honor both individuality and shared humanity.

Workforce Readiness & Lifelong Skills

STAGE WRITE helps Richmond youth build lasting skills that serve them well beyond the classroom: advocating for themselves, communicating professionally, and feeling confident under pressure. Over a full semester, students work one-on-one with professional arts educators to complete a resume, a structured mock interview modeled on real-world hiring practices, and a college essay – practical tools for college, a first job, or wherever their path may lead. Since 2013, STAGE WRITE has reached 1,440 students across 9 schools in partnership with Richmond Public Schools, at zero cost to them or their school – ensuring every student has a chance to thrive.

Testimonials

“My students and I have enjoyed, and benefited from, every minute of our time with you, and we feel deeply grateful that someone made it possible for us to interact creatively with such kind, talented, engaging individuals.”

— RVA Educator
“It's great to see the progress and hard work that has been put into Cadence's STAGE WRITE program. The dedication of your team is truly inspiring. As Manager of Literacy at Richmond Public Schools, I appreciate programs like these that help our students develop their skills in writing and storytelling. Your continued support is vital to the success of these programs, and we are grateful for it.”

— Literacy Manager, Richmond Public Schools
“It is easy to see the impact that your program is having in our schools. I am always blown away by our students.”

— RVA Educator

Past Programs

Richmond Community High School:
"A Recipe for Community"

2025-2026 | EDITING BY MICHAEL DUNI

Huguenot High School: "Dear World"

2025-2026 | EDITING BY MICHAEL DUNI

Franklin Military Academy High School:
"The Real Traffic of FMA Hallways"

2025-2026 | EDITING BY MICHAEL DUNI

Franklin Military Academy High
School": “Teachers, Connect with Your Students”

2025-2026 | EDITING BY MICHAEL DUNI

Richmond Community High School:
“We See You, We Understand You, We’re With You”

2025-2026 | EDITING BY MICHAEL DUNI

Huguenot High School:
“Mental Health”

2025-2026 | EDITING BY MICHAEL DUNI

Richmond Community High School: "Societal Expectations"

2024-2025 | VIDEO BY MICHAEL DUNI

Franklin Military Academy High School: "How are you Mentally?"

2024-2025 | VIDEO BY MICHAEL DUNI

Huguenot High School: "Abuse of Power/Addiction Parts 1 & 2"

2024-2025 | VIDEO BY MICHAEL DUNI

Franklin Military Academy: ”Addiction”

2024-2025 | VIDEO BY MATT POLSON & MICHAEL DUNI

Thomas Jefferson High School:
”Multiple”

2024-2025 | VIDEO BY MATT POLSON & MICHAEL DUNI

Richmond Community High School: ”Testing”

2024-2025 | VIDEO BY MATT POLSON & MICHAEL DUNI

Fall 2023 PSAs

2023-2024 | VIDEO BY AUSTIN LEWIS & DEWEY COLLINS | EDITING BY MICHAEL DUNI

Spring 2024 PSAs

2023-2024 | VIDEO BY AUSTIN LEWIS & DEWEY COLLINS | EDITING BY MICHAEL DUNI

Semester 2 Part 2

2022-2023 | VIDEO BY MATT POLSON & MICHAEL DUNI

Semester 2 Part 1

2022-2023 | VIDEO BY MATT POLSON & MICHAEL DUNI

Semester One PSA

2022-2023 | VIDEO BY MATT POLSON & MICHAEL DUNI

Stage Write Instructors

Juliana Caycedo

Instructor

Juliana Caycedo (she/her) is a Richmond-based actor, writer, and director. Her directing credits include Assistant Director for Kelsey Cordrey’s production of Straight White Men (TheatreLAB), Assistant Director for Rusty Wilson’s production of Native Gardens (Cadence), and most recently her solo directorial debut, Sanctuary City (5th Wall Theatre), for which she was nominated for Best Director by the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle.
Juliana has appeared on stage in Richmond as Lulu in Between Riverside and Crazy (Cadence in partnership with Virginia Rep), Zoe in An Octoroon (TheatreLAB), Li’l Bit in How I Learned to Drive (TheatreLAB), Dromio of Syracuse in The Comedy of Errors (Richmond Shakespeare), Jean in POTUS (Virginia Rep), and Yazmin in Water by the Spoonful (Firehouse Theatre).
She was selected as a playwriting fellow for Cadence’s Pipeline New Works Program in 2023–2024.
In her free time, Juliana enjoys playing music, being outdoors, and watching movies.
She would like to thank her friends, her beloved husband Daniel, and their rescue dog Lenny for their endless love and support of her work.

Michael Duni

Director/Filmmaker

Michael Duni (he/him) is a director and filmmaker who has worked on projects for Netflix, PBS, AMC, Amazon and others. At 28, Michael directed his first feature film, The King of Crimes. Outside of features, Michael’s short films, casting work, and cinematography have received international acclaim at festivals and mainstream theaters alike. Michael has also directed two stage plays, and has been tasked by distributors to re-imagine how plays are filmed for broadcast. He hopes his unique understanding of both film and theatre can help create storytelling experiences that elevate and combine both art forms.

Rebecca Wahls

Instructor

Rebecca Wahls (she/her) directs, writes, and produces film, theatre, and new media. Her first feature film, Him, played at festivals across the country, winning multiple awards, and is available to stream on Amazon. She has served as Artistic Associate for Acting for Young People since 2015, where she has directed and written over 50 plays for children. She recently completed a year as Artist in Residence at Duke University. Recent credits include Romeo and Juliet (Catskill Mountain Shakespeare); The Play That Goes Wrong and The Cottage (Cumberland Theatre); Annie and Pippin (Cadence), and GOOD (Duke University, original work). Next up, she will direct Cadence and Firehouse Theatre’s 2026 production of WitchDuck, a new play by Eva DeVirgilis. MFA, Carnegie Mellon University (John Wells Fellow). BFA, George Mason University. She is also a TEDx speaker. rebeccawahls.com

Kendall Walker

Instructor

Kendall Walker (she/her) works as an actor, dramaturg, director, and adjunct professor. She earned her MFA in Theater Pedagogy & Performance from VCU in 2023 and her BA in Dramatic Arts & Communications, with a concentration in Performance Studies, from UNC Chapel Hill in 2020. She currently serves as Community Engagement Manager at Richmond Triangle Players, the longest-running LGBTQIA+ theater in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Recent professional acting credits include Airswimming and 5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche (Richmond Triangle Players); Dial M for Murder (Virginia Rep at Hanover Tavern); The Diary of Anne Frank (Swift Creek Mill); SMOKE (Cadence); and A Christmas Carol (Virginia Rep – November Theatre). In 2026, she appeared as Witch #3 in Macbeth (Richmond Shakespeare), Bobbi in the developmental premiere of The Three O’Clock Briefing (Richmond Triangle Players), Rosalind in As You Like It (Richmond Shakespeare; RTCC nominee for Best Actor), and Performer/Creator in Dragonfly Physical Theater Company’s inaugural production of FIVE: A Ritual for What Remains, a devised physical theater performance.
Directing and dramaturgy credits include The Inheritance, Head Over Heels, The Rocky Horror Show (in partnership with the Richmond Symphony), Scrooge in Rouge, and others at Richmond Triangle Players. Her research interests include LGBTQIA+ storytelling, inclusive pedagogy, and gender representations in classical theater. Her passion for theater-making and performing is rooted in her experience as a tall, queer woman and activist. Imagination saves lives.