Ed Bishop, a native of Birmingham, Alabama studied theater at Brown University through an exchange program with Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi where he received his B.A. degree. He has served as the artistic associate at The American Century Theater in Washington, DC where he directed a highly acclaimed production of “The Emperor Jones” by Eugene O’Neill; “Porgy” by Dubois and Dorothy Heyward; and co-directed a major production of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” adapted from the play by George L. Aiken. His professional theatrical experience includes work at New Lafayette Theatre in New York City; The Dashiki Theater and Free Southern Theater in New Orleans; Black Fire Company; and Town and Gown Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama prior to moving to Washington, DC. In Birmingham he directed major productions of "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf"; "The Blacks: A Clown Show"; and "A Son Come Home", which won him directorial recognition at the Southeastern Theatre Conference Theater competition.

As Founding Producing Artistic Director of American Theatre Project in Washington, DC he produced and directed notable works including; "Jonin’"; "The Contract"; "Virgins"; "Don't Come If You Can't Be Uncomfortable"; "Out of the Whirlwind”; and “A Night With Jackie ‘MOMS’ Mabley”. The latter two plays won the League of Washington Theaters’ Helen Hayes Award nominations. He and ATP have co-produced with Arena Stage; Source Theatre Company; The Georgetown Theatre Company; The Serenity Players of Washington, and The African Continuum Theatre Coalition.

As a freelance director and as a director-in-residence, he has worked for the Takoma Players of Washington, DC; Source Theater Company's Washington Theater Festival, Silver Spring Stage and Port City Playhouse; instructor and director at Charles County Community College (“You Can’t Take It With You”) in La Plata, MD; and Artistic Director for Everyday Theater Youth Ensemble. His major offerings include: "Bumps"; "Norman Is That You?”; "Trouble In Mind"; “Reunion in Bartersville” and "Get To Tomorrow". Off-off Broadway, he was production manager and assistant director for "Our Young Black Men Are Dying and Nobody Seems To Care”, at the Master Theater, which also toured nationally where he served as tour manager. He also has directed a youth musical production, “It Won’t Happen To Me”, produced by Sasha Bruce Youth Works, (Washington, DC) which is currently touring. He serves as an advisory board member and resident director for Jah Kente, International's Sankofa Project where he adapted and directed “Redemption Ritual: Inviting the Ancestors to Be Present”, based on an anthology of poems from the Harlem Renaissance, which is also currently a touring production. Ed currently serves as a Teaching Artist for Kid smArt, Inc. in New Orleans, LA which serves several of the city's public and charter schools.

He has produced and directed for Alabama Public Television, manages his own production company (American Theatre Project, Inc.); and also works as a producer/director for International Exchange Network, Inc; and Net Worth, Inc., both in Seat Pleasant, MD.

As an actor, he has worked with The Alliance Theatre, Source Theatre Company, Studio Theatre, the Takoma Players in Washington, DC; Le Chat Noir, NOLA Project, the Living History Project and Anthony Bean Community Theater in New Orleans. Ed is an Associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and a member of Screen Actors' Guild. He has served on the Board of Directors of the African Continuum Theatre Coalition (ACT-Co) in Washington, DC, on the Executive Board of the League of Washington Theatres, and on the Board of Silver Spring Stage, Silver Spring, Maryland. Currently he serves on the Board of the New Orleans Fringe Festival.