Daniel Capiro

Biography

Daniel Capiro is the Technical Director for the Department of Theatre & Dance at the University of California San Diego.

My path into theatre began in zoological exhibit design and fabrication. Starting in Florida, I developed hands-on skills building and improving animal habitats, including woodworking, metal fabrication, and cement construction for faux rockwork, engineering enclosures that had to be both functional and safe for large wildlife.

From there I transitioned into scenic and art installation work for events, commercials and film, working up and down the East Coast between Baltimore, New York, and Washington, D.C., before relocating to San Diego with my IATSE union card.

Earlier in my career I was part of the build and run crew for Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots at La Jolla Playhouse, working on Robert Brill’s scenic design during the period when UC San Diego and La Jolla Playhouse shared production staff. From there I joined the Old Globe Theatre, where I worked my way up to Master Carpenter in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre.

I returned to UC San Diego in 2017 as a Production Carpenter and advanced through Master Carpenter and Assistant Technical Director before becoming Technical Director. My work is grounded in hands-on fabrication and production problem solving, with a focus on practical, working solutions.