Juan Carlos holds an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from The University of Windsor. He has worked in theatres across Canada and the United States including The Grand theatre in London, Festival of Classics, The Saidye Bronfman Centre, Cahoot's Theatre Projects, The du Maurier World Stage, The Factory Theatre, The Red Barn Theatre, Tempest Theatre, Roseneath Theatre, Coral Springs Theater Center, The Kravis Center, Theatre Passe Muraille, The St. Lawrence Centre, Second Best Bird, Playwright's Theatre Centre in Vancouver, Green Thumb theatre, Alameda Theatre Company and Toronto's classical Soulpepper Theatre Company. His first play "Further Beyond" was accepted into the 2000 SummerWorks Theatre Festival and played at the Factory Theatre Main Stage. The production later toured to the Grand Theatre in London, where it played to sold-out houses, receiving critical acclaim. He was a key member of the 2001 Playwright's Unit at Cahoot's Theatre Projects, where he completed writing his play "The 8 o'clock Train" under the direction of Guillermo Verdecchia. He also co-wrote the one man show "Borderlines" with his father Alfonso Velis Tobar, which had a successful run in Vancouver, British Columbia. Juan Carlos is a founding member and serves as Artistic Director & Executive Producer of "Acropolis Theatre Company", which produced the annual: "Shakespeare on the Thames Theatre Festival" in London. His latest play "Howling Winds" will premiere this fall in the Niagara region. His film work as a director/writer includes: the short films: Hereafter, Desire, Whore, The mini series: Drive. He has various scripts in development under his production company Izalco Films.
