Akia's work has been called
“mesmerizing” " unquestionably a must-see." "engaging and thought‐provoking"
“mesmerizing” " unquestionably a must-see." "engaging and thought‐provoking"
Akia is an award winning & critically acclaimed stage director specializing in developing unpublished works, site specific immersive pieces and reinventing contemporary published works. Akia's trademark is her realistic and natural approach to storytelling and stage craft, as well as the ability to adapt works to non traditional performance spaces.
Emphasizing on an organic and ensemble based rehearsal process , she focuses on creating a productive, nurturing and safe environment in the rehearsal room, onstage and off, that allows trust, open dialogue and collaboration among the cast, designers and crew resulting in the best possible performances from all involved.
Approaching each production from a collaborative viewpoint, she understands playwright desires, producer requirements, budget limitations, technical elements and the creative scope, bringing the needs of all into a cohesive and focused final piece of work.
She believes whole heartedly in nurturing an actor’s growth at any level, fully & passionately in the power and striking beauty of a story well told, and in preserving a history of performance and the integrity of theater that can not be found in any other medium today.
Hire Akia to direct your next production
Akiasquitieri@gmail.com
Emphasizing on an organic and ensemble based rehearsal process , she focuses on creating a productive, nurturing and safe environment in the rehearsal room, onstage and off, that allows trust, open dialogue and collaboration among the cast, designers and crew resulting in the best possible performances from all involved.
Approaching each production from a collaborative viewpoint, she understands playwright desires, producer requirements, budget limitations, technical elements and the creative scope, bringing the needs of all into a cohesive and focused final piece of work.
She believes whole heartedly in nurturing an actor’s growth at any level, fully & passionately in the power and striking beauty of a story well told, and in preserving a history of performance and the integrity of theater that can not be found in any other medium today.
Hire Akia to direct your next production
Akiasquitieri@gmail.com
Once Upon A Midnight Dreary
Site Specific, Immersive, Devised work, Co Directed with Monica Blaze Leavitt
Using the Text and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
At Nolan Park, Governors Island, New York City
October 2017
The Glory of Living*
By Rebecca Gilman
The Flamboyan Theatre, The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center
Part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festival
Akia was honored with Outstanding Director Award for this production
This production received 9 Festival Award Nominations
July 2017
Sprucehaven B*
By Mark Cornell
The Kraine Theatre, NY
FRIGID New York Festival
Festival Award Winner
February/March 2016
Shhh...It's a Speakeasy
Devised/Improvised Immersive Event
2010-2017, Annual Event
UNDER St Marks, Theatrelab, The Great Hall @ South Oxford Space
Henry's Wives
Conception & Direction
Ensemble Based Devised Work
Multiple Venues: Space On White, Governors Island, & Barton Booth Residency Program
Ongoing workshop production
Hellcab
By Will Kern
The Kraine Theatre
November/December 2013
BUG
By Tracy Letts
Site Specific production, 1st NYC revival.
Hostelling International New York
October/November 2012
Goodnight Lovin’ Trail
By John Patrick Bray
Multiple National/US Festivals including Delaware Fringe, FRIGID NY, Strawberry Festival, The Red Room, The Kraine Theatre
2003-2013
On Top
By John Patrick Bray
Multiple Festivals/Locations/Years
The Last Supper
By Dan Rosen
The Red Room/Horse Trade Productions
NYC Premiere, Film to Stage Adaptation, Received an unprecedented 18 Week run to sold out houses and critical acclaim
April - August 2010
A’spress
By Adam Purvis
The Red Room/Horse Trade Productions
Spring 2006
DeCADEnce
By P. William Pinto
UNDER St Marks Theatre/Horse Trade Prod
World Premiere production, developed script through workshop period of 6 months with double cast of 18
Summer 2007
Rule of Thumb
Writer/Director
The Red Room/Horse Trade Productions
World Premiere production, developed script through workshop period of 4 months with cast of 10
HellCab
By Will Kern
Under St Marks Theatre/Horse Trade Prod.
This production received a critically acclaimed sold out run, extended to 13 weeks
Winter 2005-06
The Ghost of Greenbrier County
By Karen Benelli
The Greenwich Street Theater
World Premiere Production
2004
Mother of the Year
By Barry M. Putt, Jr
The Theatre Studio, Inc
2002
Hellcab
By Will Kern
The Actors Playground
Original NYC Production
2002
Marcus is Walking
By Joanne Ackerman
The Actors Playground
2002
Irrational Dreams
By Wylie Richardson
The Actors Playground Theatre
Part of “The Explore Dysfunction” Theatre Festival, World Premiere Production
2002
Cinderella
(co-Directed)
The Actors Playground Theatre, New York
Regional tour to Tiverton Four Corners Arts Center, Rhode Island
NYC Premiere of Original adaptation
2002
Juvie
By Jerome McDonough
The New York Conservatory For the Arts, Hurley NY
1997
Site Specific, Immersive, Devised work, Co Directed with Monica Blaze Leavitt
Using the Text and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
At Nolan Park, Governors Island, New York City
October 2017
The Glory of Living*
By Rebecca Gilman
The Flamboyan Theatre, The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center
Part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festival
Akia was honored with Outstanding Director Award for this production
This production received 9 Festival Award Nominations
July 2017
Sprucehaven B*
By Mark Cornell
The Kraine Theatre, NY
FRIGID New York Festival
Festival Award Winner
February/March 2016
Shhh...It's a Speakeasy
Devised/Improvised Immersive Event
2010-2017, Annual Event
UNDER St Marks, Theatrelab, The Great Hall @ South Oxford Space
Henry's Wives
Conception & Direction
Ensemble Based Devised Work
Multiple Venues: Space On White, Governors Island, & Barton Booth Residency Program
Ongoing workshop production
Hellcab
By Will Kern
The Kraine Theatre
November/December 2013
BUG
By Tracy Letts
Site Specific production, 1st NYC revival.
Hostelling International New York
October/November 2012
Goodnight Lovin’ Trail
By John Patrick Bray
Multiple National/US Festivals including Delaware Fringe, FRIGID NY, Strawberry Festival, The Red Room, The Kraine Theatre
2003-2013
On Top
By John Patrick Bray
Multiple Festivals/Locations/Years
The Last Supper
By Dan Rosen
The Red Room/Horse Trade Productions
NYC Premiere, Film to Stage Adaptation, Received an unprecedented 18 Week run to sold out houses and critical acclaim
April - August 2010
A’spress
By Adam Purvis
The Red Room/Horse Trade Productions
Spring 2006
DeCADEnce
By P. William Pinto
UNDER St Marks Theatre/Horse Trade Prod
World Premiere production, developed script through workshop period of 6 months with double cast of 18
Summer 2007
Rule of Thumb
Writer/Director
The Red Room/Horse Trade Productions
World Premiere production, developed script through workshop period of 4 months with cast of 10
HellCab
By Will Kern
Under St Marks Theatre/Horse Trade Prod.
This production received a critically acclaimed sold out run, extended to 13 weeks
Winter 2005-06
The Ghost of Greenbrier County
By Karen Benelli
The Greenwich Street Theater
World Premiere Production
2004
Mother of the Year
By Barry M. Putt, Jr
The Theatre Studio, Inc
2002
Hellcab
By Will Kern
The Actors Playground
Original NYC Production
2002
Marcus is Walking
By Joanne Ackerman
The Actors Playground
2002
Irrational Dreams
By Wylie Richardson
The Actors Playground Theatre
Part of “The Explore Dysfunction” Theatre Festival, World Premiere Production
2002
Cinderella
(co-Directed)
The Actors Playground Theatre, New York
Regional tour to Tiverton Four Corners Arts Center, Rhode Island
NYC Premiere of Original adaptation
2002
Juvie
By Jerome McDonough
The New York Conservatory For the Arts, Hurley NY
1997