About Me...
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Outstanding Direction, 2017 For The Glory of Living Planet Connections Theatre Festival "Most Disturbing" Production Award for Sprucehaven B Special Citation from festival Staff FRIGID New York Theatre Festival Congeniality Award, 2015 Planet Connections Theatre Festival Congeniality Award, 2014 Planet Connections Theatre Festival Festival "Sold Out" Award, 2015 ERIK FRIGID Festival Festival Staff Choice Award, 2013 Goodnight Lovin' Trail FRIGID Festival Festival "Sold Out" Award, 2011 Stripper Lesbians FRIGID Festival Founders Award, 2009 New York Innovative Theatre Awards Nominations & Awards for Production Work 33 Planet Connection Theatre Festival Award Nominations for Productions of "Donkey", "The Firebird", "Helvetica" & "The Glory of Living" Winning a combined 11 Awards for these productions 7 New York Innovative Theatre Award Nominations for "The Shape of Things", "Greenlight" & "Fool for Love" 5 FRIGID Festival Award Wins & Production Extensions for "ERIK", "Goodnight Lovin' Trail", "Stripper Lesbians" & "Sprucehaven B" FELLOWSHIPS & RESIDENCIES
12 Week Artist in Residency Governors Island, Nolan Park Artist In Residence Space On White Artist in Residence 5 Seasons Horse Trade Theatre Group Space Grants/Residencies from League of Independent Theatre & The LIT FUND & The Field Artward Bound Residency The Field |
Akia is a Stage Director, Producer, Arts Administrator
and Teaching Artist based out of New York City. She is an active member of the NYC Off-Off, Indie & Off Broadway theatre communities having produced, directed, and performed with numerous NYC companies for over 18 years. She served as the Company Manager for the international sensation, Blue Man Group at the Astor Place Theater from 2007 to 2018. Akia has received critical praise for her direction of both new and published works including “Hellcab”, “Goodnight Lovin’ Trail”, “The Last Supper”, "Crapshoot", "Bug", “Sprucehaven B” and "The Glory of Living" . She served as an advisory Board Member for The Paul Butterfield Fund & Society, and is Company Manager for The New York Innovative Theatre Awards & Foundation, where she serves on their honorary awards committee as Sub-Committee Chairman and as an At-Large Judge. Past notable credits include working on staff at Horse Trade Theatre Group, serving as General Manager for FRIGID New York’s inaugural year, and returning in various capacities every year since; she also served as Production Coordinator for nationally acclaimed Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, overseeing the playwrights unit and INSIGHT 13 production series. She is a recipient of the New York Innovative Theatre Awards “Founders Award” for her contributions to the organization and Off Off Broadway Community and Two Time "Congeniality" Award Winner from the Planet Connections Theatre Festival for her community involvement. Most recently, she was awarded Outstanding Directing award for her production of The Glory of Living. When not absorbed in theatre, she is an avid traveler and scuba diver. EXPERIENCE / SKILLS
Computer Skills: Proficient PC User, MS Office Suite, Google Application Platform and Programs Ticketing Systems: Eventbrite, Smarttix, Ovation, Artfuly, Brown Paper Tickets, Vendini, Ticketmaster Host, One Access, & Report Pro Third Party Ticketing Platform Management & Systems: Goldstar, TDF, Fever, Y-Plan, Groupon & Living Social merchant systems Financial Systems: MS Great Plains 8.0 & 10, & MS Dynamics, AS400, Intrepid, Evolution & Lawson Other Systems: Ceridian Payroll Systems: HPW & Dayforce, Perfect Payroll, Text-Aid, UPS Tracking, PeopleSoft Financial, TRS, Pfizer Survey Administrator 1.0 & 1.5, Global Talent Management, Global Performance Management, Survey Monkey Administrative Skills: Exceptional Organizational, Research, Communication and Writing Skills. Can Type Aprox 80 WPM EDUCATION
New York Conservatory for the Arts Concentration in Musical Theatre & Dance 4 Year Scholarship & Office Internship Private Vocal Coaching, Choral Meisner technique, Scene Study, Musical Theatre Dance: Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Ballet, Pointe, Modern Instructors: Randy Conti, Connie Conti, Doug Farrell, Tara Somerville, Antoinette Villani Broadway Dance Center Various Teachers: Tap, Jazz and Ballet Ruth Williams-Hennessy Private Voice Instruction TVI Actors Studio: Magaly Colimon, Valerie Kingston, Scene Study & Acting Technique Singers Forum Music Theory I & II Courses at Society of Human Resource Management, Ceridian Insights, ART-NY, The Field, & Fractured Atlas |