David Emerson Toney

David Emerson Toney is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theatre at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), specializing in Acting, Directing, and Playwriting. With a 32-year acting career spanning Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional theaters, he brings extensive practical experience to his academic role.

• Teaches Acting, Directing, and Playwriting
• Head of Undergraduate Performance at VCU

His research and teaching emphasize performance techniques, including his certification in The Grand System Methodology. Toney has performed in notable productions such as A Free Man of Color (Broadway), Juan Darién (Broadway and World Tour), and Shakespearean classics like Othello and The Tempest.

Toney has received critical acclaim, including the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actor in a Resident Play for his role in August Wilson’s Two Trains Running. His film and television credits include appearances on Law & Order, The Cosby Show, and All My Children.