I Am Nobody

The Sheen Center,  “We Live by Revelation:  The Struggle of Art and Faith,” NYC, NY (2015)

Directed, written, and built by: Lavinia Roberts
Music by: Nicole Carroll

A shadow puppet piece, part of an evening of live performance exploring the intersections of art, ritual, and religion.

Nobodies

The Bushwick Starr,  Part of the Puppet and Poet Lab, NYC, NY (2014)

Directed and built by: Lavinia Roberts
Music by: Nicole Carroll
Costumes by: Tamara Leacock

Using masks, shadow puppetry, and book pieces, “Nobodies,” is a devised physical theatre piece inspired from Emily Dickinson’s poem, “I am Nobody, Who are you?”

Curiouser and Curiouser

Dixon Place, NYC, NY (2014)

Directed and masks by: Lavinia Roberts
Choreography by: Alexandra Amirov
Puppetry by: Justin Perkins
Cast: Amaris Dance Company

A German-Expressionist inspired retelling of Alice in Wonderland told through masks, puppetry, dance, and music.

 

The Twine

The Secret Theatre, UNfringed Festival,  NYC, NY, (2013)

Directed, written, and masks by: Lavinia Roberts
Music by: Open to the Hound
Costumes by: Christine Samar

A young woman, stumbling through a labyrinth, desperately seeks freedom from the endless maze. She encounters various creatures from Greek mythology, and her only companion is a strange, silent women carrying a ball of twine. “The Twine,” explores the nature of memory, the subconscious mind, loss, and how we perceive and experience love told through dance, masks, puppetry, and music.

 

The Death of the Moon

The Brick Theatre, 6X6; One Act Play Festival, NYC, NY, (2013)

Directed, written, and masks by: Lavinia Roberts
Costumes by Christine Samar 

An adaptation of a folktale from Lincolnshire, England, using masks and movement.

 

The Time of the Wolves 

New York University, Third North Mini Theater, Uproar Theatre Corps, NYC, NY (2012)

Directed and written by: Lavinia Roberts
Sound design by: Micheal Feld
Masks by : Corinne Beardsley, Lavinia Roberts, Rosalie Zerrudo

A group of women wonder through a war-torn landscape, pursued by a pack of wolves.  A little girl befriends a wolf and turns him back into a little boy. A theatre for young audience production told using masks, puppetry, dance, and music.

 

Other Directing Experience

2020 Louisa May Alcott’s War by Lavinia Roberts, SIU New Play Lab, Southern Illinois University, (virtual reading) Carbondale, IL  
2019-2022  Big Muddy Shorts, Southern Illinois University, (staged readings) Carbondale, IL
2020 Raise Less Corn and More Hell; Annie Diggs a Prairie Populist by Lavinia Roberts, I Am/Yo Soy Womxn of the World Performance Celebration, Southern Illinois University, (staged reading) Carbondale, IL
2013 A Big Bang by Lavinia Roberts, The Tank, (production), NYC, NY
2013 A Big Bang by Lavinia Roberts, Brooklyn Fireproof, (production), NYC, NY 
2013 A Big Bang by Lavinia Roberts, Dixon Place, (production), NYC, NY
2011 Just One Thing by Marcia Cebulska, The William Inge Center, Picnic & Plays, (production), Independence, KS

Children’s Theatre

Trinity Church Wall Street

St. Pauls Chapel, NYC, NY, 2015-2017

Directed and created costumes for children’s Nativity pageants.

 

Daurma Eco-Farm

Bang Phra, Thailand (2014)

Facilitated a group of K-5th grade students in devising a play and creating costumes, masks, puppets, and set pieces for the production. 

Topeka Civic Theatre and Academy

Topeka, KS, (2009-2011)

Wrote, directed, and created costumes and puppets for children’s and TYA theatre productions. Devised storybook dramas with preschoolers.  

Productions directed included: Alice in Wonderland adapted by Jason Pizzarello, The Flying Prince: Based on Stories Told by Vikramaditya of Ujjain, a Hero of India, adapted by Aurand Harris and Vikramāditya Śakāri (King of Ujjain), Kitty in Heels by Lavinia Roberts, The Jungle Book adapted by Monica Flory, and The Wizard of Oz adapted by Erin Detrick.