Biography
An unreformed drama geek and avid political junkie, Eli Gonda is an accomplished director for screen and stage whose work is fueled by a deep belief in the power of laughter and entertainment to inspire social change.
After graduating from Georgetown University with a degree in writing and music-where he received the Mitsy Dailey Award for Music-Eli began his career in the theatre as an Assistant/Associate Director to Jack O'Brien and David Leveaux, working on Broadway, the West End, and in Japan on such shows as Cyrano de Bergerac, Nine, Fiddler on the Roof, Henry IV, The Glass Menagerie, Sinatra: Live at the Palladium, and Nora Ephron's Imaginary Friends.
His Off-Broadway and regional stage directing work includes Joey McIntyre's The Kid by Christine Boylan, Little Miss Fix-It for Roundabout Theatre Company, Species Native to California by Dorothy Fortenberry and Redline by Christian Durso for IAMA Theatre Company, the ABC Talent Showcase (2016-2020) and developing and producing Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk with Me and My Girlfriend's Boyfriend.
Eli's screen direction spans diverse projects, from Max Searle and Shea Serrano's reggaeton series Neon (Netflix), Gloria Calderón Kellett's With Love (Amazon Prime), to Lauren Iungerich's acclaimed series On My Block and Freeridge (both on Netflix). His additional credits span Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC), Husbands (CW Seed), and the feature film Sid is Dead (LD Entertainment/American High). His debut feature, The Outfield (Fullscreen Films), premiered at #1 on iTunes.
In addition to directing, Eli has produced critically acclaimed documentaries and independent films, including Nanette Burstein's award-winning American Teen (Paramount Vantage) and the indie feature Swimmers, starring Cherry Jones and Sarah Paulson.
In fall 2024, Eli conceived and directed IAMA's immersive theatrical production The Infinite Swell, written by Christian Durso, for the opening of the Casa Loma Beach Hotel in Laguna Beach. This marked his third immersive collaboration with Durso for IAMA, following A Man Named River in Flagstaff, AZ, and The Last Bohemian in Carmel, CA.
Eli serves as Co-Chair of the DGA Latino Committee and has been a DGA member since 2019. He is an alumnus of the Disney/ABC Directing Program and the DGA's DDI Program, a recipient of The SDC Traube Fellowship, and a proud ensemble member of IAMA Theatre Company and los directores. Passionate about fostering new voices, Eli supports emerging talent through his work with IAMA and the DGA and aims to continue bringing culturally resonant, universally accessible stories to the screen and stage.
