Selected Productions

I facilitated my first theatre workshop when I was 15 years old. Since then, I have had the pleasure of working as an actor, director, playwright, dramaturg, consultant, and filmmaker. Read a little about my experience by clicking on an image to expand it!

She Kills Monsters (2023)

Dungeons & Dragons & grief & family & acceptance & a little bit of 90's alternative rock--mix 'em up and you get Qui Nguyen's beautiful tale of Agnes and Tilly Evans, two sisters fated to reconnect on a D&D campaign! As an avid D&D player and self-proclaimed "Girl Nerd," Aviva enjoyed working with Denison students to bring audiences to the mythical map of Newlandia and on Agnes' journey of self-discovery.

8 female presenting actors wearing red soccer jerseys run in a circle on green astroturf.

The Wolves (2023)

Thanks to the Contemporary Theatre of Ohio, Aviva was entrusted with directing Sarah DeLappe's The Wolves in May 2023. A riveting exploration of a competitive girls' soccer team, the Wolves offered Aviva the opportunity to develop her skills in movement and pacing, two elements that are core to Aviva's artistic signature.

The words "Slave Play" superimposed on a cantaloupe that has been cut in half.

Slave Play (2023)

Aviva was honored to have been asked to serve as the intimacy choreographer for the regional debut of Jeremy O. Harris' Slave Play at Short North Stage. Aviva worked closely with the director and cast to create a safe, consent based space for creative exploration in this challenging text.

The Happy Elf (2022)

Aviva got into the holiday sprit with Columbus Children's Theatre and the Happy Elf! This charming, jazz infused musical penned by Harry Connick Jr. gave Aviva the opportunity to work with youth and adult actors as we helped Eubie save Bluesville, the saddest town in serious need of ol' St. Nick!

5 actors stand onstage in a drawing room. One actor is being held by two others in a compromising position,

Black Comedy (2022)

Aviva was fortunate to direct Peter Shaffer's hilarious one-act, Black Comedy, at Otterbein Theatre & Dance in 2022! This raucous farce allowed Aviva to tap into her clowning training and work with her amazing team of student-actors to produce this class critical romp of physical comedy.

The Seeds of Truth: A Collection of Stories Inspired by Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism and You (2021)

Aviva had the pleasure of serving as a Project Mentor on this collection of short performances responding to Kendi's groundbreaking work. Assisting Kevin McClatchy and a group of 5 excellent students has been a joy! This work will premier virtually in mid-February, 2021. More information to follow.

Blood Earth Water (2021)

Aviva's solo performance, Blood Earth Water will premiere in Spring '21. Stay updated with her progress by checking this website and following Aviva on social media.

Photo by Dysheen Davis.

As You Like It! a film for young audiences (2020)

In Autumn 2020, Aviva was entrusted with the task of adapting, rehearsing, and filming a production of Shakespeare's As You Like It. Embracing the great outdoors and the "cottagecore" aesthetic as a nod to pastoral comedies, As You Like It! a film for young audiences will premiere in Spring 2021.

Photo by Emily Pickens

#DistanceDevising (2020)

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aviva began sharing short devising games on Instagram. This video is a sample of found footage from Aviva's phone and voice over recorded on her computer. You can make theatre anywhere!

A Midsummer's Nightmare (2019)

Aviva returned to classical texts in a 2019 production of A Midsummer's Nightmare, a riotous, gender reversed adaptation of Shakespeare's beloved text. Aviva played Lysander and used the opportunity to dig into gender dynamics in the Bard's fantastic comedy. Photo by E. Sharp, directed by the fabulous Dr. Tyrrell Woolbert.

She, Too, Sings America (2018)

In 2018, Aviva received the "Sallie Bingham Grant" from Historymatters in order to stage a recreation of Georgia Douglas Johnson's S Street Salon. in She, Too, Sings America, Aviva and a colleague staged two Harlem Renaissance era plays and facilitated a community talkback about racist violence and Black futurity. Photo by Bradford Douglass

Six Hands, a Warrior's Tale (2018)

In 2018, Aviva joined Be the Street, a community engaged art project that connected Ohio State students with residents on the West Side of Columbus. Six Hands, a Warriors Tale was devised by the company and premiered in 2018. Video courtesy of Be the Street.

Read more about Be the Street: https://u.osu.edu/bethestreet/

The Women of Ciudad Juarez (2016)

Since 2016, Aviva has been an ensemble member in The Women of Ciudad Juarez, with theatre company Teatro Travieso. Aviva has toured domestically and internationally with TT and continues to produce work with the ensemble, who she considers her greatest friends and artistic soulmates. Read more about Teatro Travieso here: https://www.teatrotravieso.org/

Ypsi Voices (2016)

In 2016, Aviva returned to the Ypsilanti District Library to host writing and art workshops for local youth. Aviva got her start facilitating a drama camp at YDL Whittaker all the way back in 2009--Aviva says, "support your local libraries!"

Turning a Little Further (2015)

In 2015, Aviva had the absolute pleasure of assisting the Two Boroughs Project at the Young Vic Theatre in London U.K. Turning a Little Further was the culmination of rehearsals, writing workshops, movement practice, and joyous afternoons spent under the direction of Laura Keefe, Coral Messam, and Lily Einhorn.

Read more about the Two Boroughs Project: https://www.youngvic.org/blog/turning-little-further-two-boroughs-the-young-vic

Photo by Helen Murray.