​Annie G. Levy

Artist Statement

 

As a theatremaker, my work revolves around mythology, scientific breakthroughs, and historical turning points—arguably some of the biggest stories we have to tell. I explore these themes on different scales, honoring their vastness while investigating their intimate details. The theatre pieces I create are often ensemble-driven and movement-based, incorporating the unity of a chorus and the delicacy of found object puppetry whenever possible. A key component of my process is finding narrative in non-narrative text, often working with performers to translate and adapt non-dramatic material (such as academic research, poetry, or characters created for other media) for the stage.

As a director, I am drawn to theme-driven works with a healthy dose of spectacle and a willingness to take risks with language. In new plays, I focus on discovering the inherent physical vocabulary of the story, while in established scripts, I seek out the mythological, historical, and scientific elements embedded in the text.

 

Bio

Annie G. Levy is a NYC-based theatre maker, director, educator, and facilitator of creative work. Her work often explores the intersections of mythology, scientific breakthroughs, and historical turning points.

 

Some of her past original works include Space Rock | Door Stop, the highly unlikely story of Ann Hodges and her meteorite (The Tank - NYC), and TREE ARMY: The CCC Project, an exploration of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the process of rebuilding a country (Governors Island - NYC, Irondale - NYC, Cheaha State Park - AL, and DeSoto State Park - AL). She has also developed two pieces concerning the discovery of the Higgs Boson: Flowing Through Our Hands Like Moonlight (Sands College of Performing Arts - NYC) and Higgs/Job (NRTC - WI).

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Locally, Levy’s work has been seen at HERE, The Ohio Theatre, City Center, Bleecker Street Theatre, among others. Internationally, her work has been seen at the Edinburgh Fringe and the Byre Theatre (Scotland), the Apollon Theatre (Greece), Teatro Due (Italy), and The Superior Theatre Festival (Thunder Bay, Canada). She has developed new works with In Scena! Italian Theatre Festival, The Jewish Plays Project, and Maieutic Theatre Works, among many others.

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Her work has been supported by the TCG Global Connections Grant, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Alabama State Council of the Arts, The William Froelich Foundation, and the Covenant Foundation.

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Levy served as Artistic Director of Emerson Stage for five years, overseeing the creation and execution of multiple 10-show seasons that balanced challenging contemporary plays with beloved classics, fostering an environment of artistic growth, equity, and inclusivity. She is also the founding Producing Artistic Director of Northwoods Theatre Company and was the first resident director of Storahtelling.

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Levy is a founding member of The World Wide Lab, an international collective of directors dedicated to cross-cultural collaborations and experiments in co-directing. With Shelly Oria, she co-founded the literary series SWEET: Actors Reading Writers at The Three of Cups - NYC.

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Selected residencies and fellowships include SPACE on Ryder Farm, Robert Wilson’s Watermill Center, the Dorit and Gerald Paul Artist-in-Residence, LMCC, Creative Capital, Elsewhere Collective, Spielberg Theatre Fellow, and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Levy also served as a Diversity Fellow at Emerson College. She is a member of Lincoln Center Directors Lab, Directors Lab North, and an associate member of SDC.

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A dedicated educator, Levy has taught at institutions including Emerson College, The University of Alabama, Pace University, Cooper Union, The University of Indiana, and Rider University. Her teaching blends her knowledge of theatre and cognitive studies, and she has led numerous workshops on devising, directing, and interdisciplinary performance creation across the globe.

 

Levy holds a BA from Barnard College, an MFA in Theatre from Sarah Lawrence College, and an MA in Cognitive Studies in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.