Theater Director
CHRISTAIN ÁVILA
Biography
Christian Ávila is a theater director, playwright, and actor based in New York City. Recent credits include Dark Yes (work in progress co-creator with Richard Schechner/ ensemble), Masseur (co-director, playwright, producer) at Theater for the New City (2018 Dream Up-Festival). Debates (co-creator) with Theater in Asylum, performed at The Drama League. He is founding member of Back to Work Collective creating Feminist Flashmob performed at The Women’s March on Washington D.C. in 2017. Chasing the Dream (Co-creator, performer) Columbia University.
Ávila also directed, wrote, and produced Daddy’s Boy at Theater for the New City in 2015. Other credits include: Big Love, Daddy’s Boy Alice, Falling in Line at PTC, Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land at TDPS, Berkeley. On stage in 20 Questions and Last Unicorn at TDPS, and on screen as Host and Co-Creator of Club TV in San Francisco.
He holds an M.A. Theater from LIU Post. His undergraduate studies were at UC Berkeley (B.A. Dramatic Art). He has studied under the tutelage of Stan Lai, Anne Bogart, SITI Company, and Richard Schechner and is a Drama League semi-finalist for the 2019 New York Directing Fellowship.
Masseur
Christian Avila-Playwright, Co- Director, Producer
Melissa Flower -Co-Director, Producer
Theater for the New City
Cast: Caleigh Drane, Broderick Merritt Ballantyne, Brandon Otis
2018
CHRISTIAN ÁVILA
Theater Director
Biography
Christian Ávila is a theater director, playwright, and actor based in New York City. Recent credits include Dark Yes (work in progress co-creator with Richard Schechner/ ensemble), Masseur (co-director, playwright, producer) at Theater for the New City (2018 Dream Up-Festival). Debates (co-creator) with Theater in Asylum, performed at The Drama League. He is founding member of Back to Work Collective creating Feminist Flashmob performed at The Women’s March on Washington D.C. in 2017. Chasing the Dream (Co-creator, performer) Columbia University.
Ávila also directed, wrote, and produced Daddy’s Boy at Theater for the New City in 2015. Other credits include: Big Love, Daddy’s Boy Alice, Falling in Line at PTC, Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land at TDPS, Berkeley. On stage in 20 Questions and Last Unicorn at TDPS, and on screen as Host and Co-Creator of Club TV in San Francisco.
He holds an M.A. Theater from LIU Post. His undergraduate studies were at UC Berkeley (B.A. Dramatic Art). He has studied under the tutelage of Stan Lai, Anne Bogart, SITI Company, and Richard Schechner and is a Drama League semi-finalist for the 2019 New York Directing Fellowship.
Portfolio
The Debates
Created by Christian Avila, Lawrence Dreyfuss,
Kara Hankard, Samantha Keogh, Colleen Hughes, Diana Levy, Katie Palmer, Emily Rose Prats, and Dan Stearns.
Drama League
2017
Feminist Flashmob
Created and Performed by Back to Work Collective
Woman’s March on Washington
2017
Daddy’s Boy (Actor's Equity Showcase)
Christian Avila-Playwright, Director, Producer
Theater for the New City
Cast: David Conrad Brouillard, Julia Gyory, Aya Esther Hayashi Jonathan Palmiotti, Christopher Staley*, Kyle Stockburger, Rachel Whorton, Nick Zale
*(member of AEA)
2015
Daddy’s Boy
Christian Avila-Playwright, Director, Producer
Post Theater Company
Cast: Christopher Balbi, Paige Borden, Meredith Binder, Daniel George, Morgan Siobhan Green, Tyler Matos, Melanie Overfield, Cody Petit, Isis Seaman, Jeffrey Tierney
2014
Alice
Christian Avila-Co-Creator/Assistant Director
Post Theater Company
Cast: Anna Betteridge, Rhaamell Burke-Misouri, Kristen Camos, Rosalind Cavallaro, Virgelia Jade, Linda Liebman, Catherine Cela Ojo, Jonathan Palmiotti, Jenny Rubin
2013
Dark Yes (Devised Work in Progress)
NYC
Richard Schlechter & Ensemble
2019-
Press Archive
2019
2018
2015
Productions
Dark Yes | Richard Schechner | Ensemble |NYU
Masseur | Christian Avila/Melissa Flower | Theater for the New City
Debates 18 | Christian Avila/Theater in Asylum | The Drama League
Chasing the Dream | Miller | Ensemble |Columbia University
Feminist Flashmob | Back to Work Collective | Women’s March/D.C.
Daddy’s Boy | Christian Avila | Theater for the New City
The Persians | Aeschylus |Skidmore College
Daddy’s Boy | Christian Avila|Post Theater Company
Alice | Christian Avila | Post Theater Company
Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land | Stan Lai |UC Berkeley
Assistant Director
Big Love | Dir: Jason Jacobs | Post Theater Company
Falling in Line | Dir: Matt Dickson | Post Theater Company
Marat/Sade | Dir: Jason Jacobs | Post Theater Company
Related Positions
Founding Member | Back to Work Collective
Education
MA | LIU Post | Theater Directing | 2015
BA | UC Berkeley | Dramatic Art | 1995
Training
Richard Schechner
Tadashi Suzuki/SCOT Company | Suzuki Method | 2017
SITI Company | Suzuki Method/Viewpoints | 2013-2018
Stan Lai | 1994
Additional Skills
Fluent in Spanish
Yoga Instructor (Integral Yoga Institue)
LMT
Resume
movement training
SUZUKI METHOD
Developed by internationally acclaimed director Tadashi Suzuki and the Suzuki Company of Toga, the Suzuki Method’s principal concern is with restoring the wholeness of the human body to the theatrical context and uncovering the actor’s innate expressive abilities. A rigorous physical discipline drawn from such diverse influences as ballet, traditional Japanese and Greek theater, and martial arts, the training seeks to heighten the actor’s emotional and physical power and commitment to each moment on the stage. Attention is on the lower body and a vocabulary of footwork, sharpening the actor’s breath control and concentration.
VIEWPOINTS
A technique of improvisation that grew out of the postmodern dance world. It was first articulated by choreographer Mary Overlie, who broke down the two dominant issues performers were dealing with -time and space- into six categories. She called her approach the Six Viewpoints. SITI Company’s Anne Bogart and company members expanded 0verlie’s notions and adapted them for actors. The Viewpoints allows a group of actors to function together spontaneously and intuitively, and to generate bold, theatrical work quickly. It develops flexibility, articulation, and strength in movement and facilitates ensemble building.
INTEGRAL YOGA
A comprehensive system for personal transformation-physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The practice incorporates postures, deep relaxation, breathing practices, and meditation that result in a profound experience of peace and well-being. This practice is for everyone of any age or condition and are encourages one to explore each posture at one’s own pace, mindfully observing what arises without judgement or expectation. By balancing effort and surrender, one discovers their individual optimal flow of energy to achieve greater flexibility, strength, poise, and mental focus. Besides promoting the health of all the systems of the body, the Integral Yoga system is designed to draw one into a physical and mental stillness that leads to an experience of one’s true nature, which is ever peaceful and happy.
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