This is a series of posts featuring our artists who are making things happen in and around our great borough of Queens. Please check back weekly for new posts.
TitleOccupation
Director, freelance
Where were you born?
Austin, TX
Which Queens neighborhood do you live in and for how long?
Astoria, 3.5 years
How did you get involved in theater?
In high school I was cast in a community theater production of selected scenes by Shakespeare. I played Lady Anne in Richard III (the scene where she’s following the coffin of her dead husband and Richard III stops the procession to try to woo her). The tears were real, which made me feel like a ‘real’ actor, but when I walked offstage on opening night, I realized that the mascara I had put on was dripping down my face 🙂
What do you love most about Queens?
The community, being a regular at coffeeshops and bars, and the food. Astoria Ditmars has a ton of street fairs during the summer, and seeing all of the Astoria families out having fun makes me smile.
Do you have an “only in Queens” moment you’d like to share?
Near where I live, there is a Greek Orthodox church next door to a mosque. For a weekend during Ramadan, they will rent tents and string lights and block off the street. During the afternoon, the Greek Orthodox community holds a street festival, and, at night, the Muslim community celebrates Ramadan.
Your top Queens picks (food, entertainment, sights, etc)?
Food:
Socrates Sculpture Park: http://socratessculpturepark.
MoMA PS1: http://momaps1.org
Q.E.D: http://qedastoria.com
Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden: http://bohemianhall.com
Stamatis: http://nymag.com/listings/
Current/Upcoming projects?
Public presentation for Everyday Inferno Theatre Company’s Developmental Lab on May 28th. Details: http://www.everydayinferno.
I am assistant directing Rizing (Flux Theatre Ensemble), which runs May 20-June 4. Details: www.fluxtheatre.org/rizing
