D’Lo is a queer, transgender Tamil-Sri Lankan-American writer, actor, comedian, and storyteller whose work moves audiences from laughter to reflection and back again. Known for blending humor, heart, and hard truth, D’Lo’s performances offer a powerful exploration of identity, mental health, masculinity, and the search for belonging.
With roots in solo theater, stand-up comedy, spoken word, and TV/film, D’Lo’s presentations weave personal narrative with broader conversations about connection, healing, and community in a complex world. His dynamic performances and post-show conversations invite audiences into meaningful dialogue around how we express emotion, navigate differences, and find power in our stories.
D'Lo’s TV and film appearances include roles in HBO’s Looking, Amazon’s Transparent, Netflix’s Sense8, NBC’s Connecting, and the short The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and was co-produced with SpeakOut. His solo theater work—including Ramble-Ations, D'FunQT, D'FaQTo Life, and To T, or Not To T—has toured nationally across theaters, campuses, and festivals.
He has been recognized with major awards and fellowships, including the Artist Disruptor Fellowship through the Center for Cultural Performance and 5050x2020 (an initiative founded by Joey Soloway) and the Senior Civic Media Fellowship through USC’s Annenberg Innovation Lab, funded by the MacArthur Foundation.
Through story, comedy, and conversation, D’Lo creates spaces where laughter is a bridge and healing is a collective act.
Signature Performance Offering
Laugh, Heal, Connect: Stories from D’Lo’s Journey
Blending highlights from his celebrated solo shows (D’FunQT, D’FaQTo Life, and To T, or Not To T), D’Lo crafts a powerful performance that moves audiences through laughter, reflection, and healing. Drawing from personal stories about family, gender, mental health, activism, and identity, D’Lo delivers an unforgettable experience—followed by a live Q&A for deeper conversation and connection.
Workshops and Specialized Sessions
Healing Through Humor: Comedy as a Tool for Wellness and Empowerment
This interactive workshop explores how humor can help process experiences of pain, navigate identity, and support emotional health. Participants engage in reflection, writing, and discussion to understand the role of laughter as a survival strategy and a tool for building community.
Cry With You: Masculinity, Emotion, and Collective Healing
Based on his new UNCLES Project (U Not Crying Leaves Everyone Suffering), this experiential session explores masculinity, emotional expression, cultural expectations, and healing. Participants reflect on how emotional repression impacts communities and practice building spaces that support vulnerability and collective strength.
Writing for Performance: Crafting Personal Narrative as Creative Resistance
Designed for students, artists, and storytellers, this hands-on workshop teaches participants how to transform personal stories into powerful, performative works. Emphasizing healing, agency, and creative risk-taking, D’Lo helps participants flip narratives of trauma into expressions of resilience and strength.
