Digital Playbill: As I Was, Not As I Am

Queens Theatre

New American Voices Spring 2022 Reading Series

Rob Urbinati, Director of New Play Development

presents

As I Was, Not As I Am

By Alice Hakvaag

Directed by
Hannah Postlewait

CAST

Zarya .............................. Heather Birmingham
Melissa .......................... Nazlah Black
Jeanine ......................... Lauren E. King
Laurel ............................ Eryn Barnes
Stage Directions ......... Christine Vapsva

In person and live-streamed from the Queens Theatre Studio
March 26, 2022 at 8:00 PM

Who's Who

Alice Hakvaag

Playwright ALICE HAKVAAG is a queer playwright originally from rural Pennsylvania, currently based in Philadelphia. She holds a BA in Theater from Temple University and is a proud Ring of Keys member. Her work has been seen through Elephant Room Productions, The Women's Theatre Festival, Mal-Adjusted Theatre Company, Mad Cow Theater, Richmond Triangle Players, and Wings of Paper Theater Company. Her play As I Was, Not As I Am was nominated for a Susan Smith Blackburn Award, and was a semi-finalist for the Princess Grace Fellowship Award. Most recently, her play But Not Uncle Vanya premiered in Philadelphia with Aporia Artist's Collective, of which she is a founding member. She has also worked internationally as a director, actor, and sound designer. When she isn't writing, she's probably doing something else in theater, and when she isn't doing that, she's probably playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Hannah Postlewait

Director HANNAH POSTLEWAIT (She/Her) is a NYC based Theatre Artist & proud graduate of Temple University's BA Theatre Program in Philadelphia. Apart from her Directing work, Hannah is a Play Licensing Associate with Broadway Licensing & has also spent a significant amount of time working in New York's Casting Industry: assisting with auditions for Broadway shows, National Commercials and Regional Theatres across the country. Recent Directing Credits include BUT NOT UNCLE VANYA (Aporia Artists Collective / Philly Theatre Week Festival), ACUTE EXPOSURE (Richmond Triangle Players) & EURYDICE by Sarah Ruhl (TTSS/Pig Iron Theatre Company) among others. Hannah is also the founder of The Aporia Artists Collective, which has put up both in-person & Zoom productions, as well as 75 Zoom Readings since May 2020.

Heather Birmingham

HEATHER BIRMINGHAM (Zarya) (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based actor, dancer, musician, and collaborator. She is thrilled to be making her New York City acting debut with this exciting piece of new work. Previous credits include The Snow Queen at the Arden Theatre Company, As You Like It with Saratoga Shakespeare Company, and The Pajama Game at the Broadway Theatre of Pitman. You can catch her in the upcoming indie horror film The Algernon Players. She is a graduate of Temple University. Love and thanks to the whole B-ham fam.

Heatherbirmingham.com
Instagram @miss_heather_bee

Nazlah Black

NAZLAH BLACK is a physical theatre artist and intimacy professional whose most recent theatre credits include Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night (Match:Lit),  Maria in Twelfth Night (Indecorous), Portia/Octavius in Julia Ceasar (Barefoot Shakes), Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Little Flame), and Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest (Encounters Theatre). Recent film credits include starring as Rosalind in As You Like It (Shakespeare In The Woods) and Spoon in Michael Irish’s film Permanent Collection. Nazlah Black received their BFA in Theatre from Cornish College of the Arts(2016) and has also spent time studying theatre at The Pig Iron School and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Website: nazlahblack.com
Instagram: @nazlahb

Lauren E. King

LAUREN E. KING is a genderqueer actor, singer, and dancer from Lilburn, GA. Upon obtaining their Bachelor’s in Theatre and Advertising from the University of Georgia (‘19), Lauren joined the North American Tour of PAW Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure as Mayor Goodway.  Recent credits include Take Off Your Shirt (Drink) with The Artist Co-op, and Twelfth Night (Sebastian) with Match:Lit Theatre Co.  OFF BROADWAY: The Importance of Being Earnest (Miss Prism) with Gatehouse Entertainment & Write Act Rep.

Eryn Barnes

ERYN BARNES is a dancer, actress, and writer based out of Brooklyn, New York. Barnes has a BA in Linguistics and Film and Media Studies from the College of William and Mary and has performed with theater and dance companies on both coasts including Academy of Villains, the Classical Theater of Harlem, DanceArtTheater, and Pilobolus. She is currently on the cast of the Twenty Sided Tavern and is excited to be performing in person again with the New American Voice Series.

Christine

CHRISTINE VAPSVA is an Alice Hakvaag /Hannah Postlewait superfan who is so excited to help bring As I Was, Not As I Am to the stage. She has joined the Aporia Artists Collective for more than 50 play readings, favorites including The Skin of Our Teeth (Sabina), The Children's Hour (Karen), Blithe Spirit (Elvira), and Machinal (Young Woman). You can see Christine online in the web series Emersonian of the Day and the short film Star-Crossword Lovers, which she also wrote. She will be rolling dice and stabbing dragons this May as Agnes in She Kills Monsters with the Staten Island Shakespearean Theatre Company. Monday through Friday, Christine works to elect progressives and pass meaningful legislation with the Working Families Party.

Queens Theatre

Staff

Taryn Sacramone, Executive Director
Connie Baker, Rentals and Events Manager
Charles Bennett, Building Attendant
Victor Catano, Production Manager
Jeanmarie Conley, Technical Director
Dominic D'Andrea, Director of Community Engagement
Richard Hinojosa, Director of Education
Tony Lackram, Operations Assistant
Vasilios Leon, Box Office Assistant
Willy Mosquera, Front of House Manager
Bernadette Ott, Development Manager
Angelica Rodriguez, Finance Manager
Gabriel Rodriguez
, Box Office Supervisor
Jerry Rodriguez, Sound Associate
Jay Rogers, Director of Operations/GM
Jordi Toro, Box Office Assistant
Jorge Toro, Building Attendant
William A. Smith, Building Attendant
Rob Urbinati, Director of New Play Development
Steve Wolf, Assistant Production Manager/Lighting Supervisor

Marketing and PR: Anat Gerstein, Inc.

Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Gary Kesner, President
Tracy Capune, Vice President
Bruce Levine, Treasurer
Mark Misk, Secretary
Alfonso Quiroz

Members

Jennifer Bai
Georgiana Benatti

Salvatore DiMartino
Cameron R. Hernandez
Susan B. Lipsky
Irene Zoupaniotis

Ex-Officio

Eric Adams, New York City Mayor
Donovan Richards, Queens Borough President
Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
Jacqueline Langsam
, Queens Borough Commissioner, NYC Department of Parks & Recreation

Board President Emeritus: Frances A. Resheske

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