Spring 2019

DREAM HOU$E at ANT Fest

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

In the Spring of 2019, Checkmark began its biggest fundraising campaign yet to bring DREAM HOU$E by Eliana Pipes to ANT Fest on June 12th at 7pm! After fundraising through tax deductible donations, Checkmark’s was able to bring this story to life while compensating every artist involved including a team made up of a majority of women of color. Since then, DREAM HOU$E has had productions produced at regional theaters around the country, and Checkmark continues to pursue developmental projects supporting artists of color in the telling of their stories.

Winter 2019

Suzan-Lori Parks's "Loving the Living Playwright" at NYU

TEACHER’S ASSISTANT

For the third year running, Cristina returned to NYU to assist Suzan-Lori Parks with her graduate level playwriting class at NYU's Tisch School entitled, “Loving the Living Playwright.” The role consists of managing an actor pool of 50+ people in order to cast two staged readings in class each week along with managing actors' and writers' schedules in order to allocate time for rehearsal. The class runs from January to May of 2019.

“Overnight Sensations” at the Musical Theater Factory

DIRECTOR

Towards the end of the winter, Cristina reunited with her friends at the Musical Theater Factory for their inaugural “Overnight Sensations,” their new take on “24 Hour-Plays” where teams are selected at random to create a 10-Minute-Musical, fully staged, and performed to the public within 24 hours. After time was up, Cristina directed a 10-Minute-Musical called Sugar which explored the complexities and dualities of life in sex work. Sugar was written by Daniel Larsen and Lily Ali-Oshatz, choreographed by Lauren Cox, and starred L. Morgan Lee, Gabrielle Bullard, and Kat Griffin.

Galentine’s Day with Checkmark Theatre Company

FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Checkmark hosted our second fundraiser for our Spring 2019 programming! On February 13th, we convened at the New Women Space for a night of food, drinks, and live performances by Niambi Ra, Chloe Williamson, Alexandra Mazzucchelli, and Gabby Bullard, hosted by Erica Molfetto! Tickets were $10 online and $13 at the door including a free drink ticket upon entry.

Fall 2018

A New Series

WRITER

After 2 years of rumination and development, Cristina drafted the pilot episode of a new series inspired by the life of Marie Antoinette. She will continue developing the series with her producing partner, Ayana Parker Morrison, at Checkmark.

The Public Theater's Mobile Unit: "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

This fall, Cristina worked for The Public Theater's Mobile Unit as the Assistant Director of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" directed by Jenny Koons.

The Mobile Unit tours community centers and other venues throughout the five boroughs of New York giving free performances each season. Afterwards, the cast returns to The Public's downtown home at 425 Lafayette for a free, sit-down run starting late October.

Checkmark’s 29-Hour Workshop

DIRECTOR

As the second program of Checkmark's 2018-19 Season, Cristina directed a 29-Hour Workshop of Eliana Pipes's new play DREAM HOU$E. The workshop culminated in an industry presentation at INTAR in December 2018.

Synopsis: Two Latinx sisters on an HGTV-style show are selling their family home, hoping to capitalize on the gentrification in the “changing neighborhood.” In the process they discover details of the family’s past and the potential for their future, forcing them to grapple with what’s lost and gained in the quest for upward mobility.

Summer 2018

Checkmark Theatre Company's 2018-19 Season

FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Cristina and her producing partner Ayana Parker Morrison have started fundraising for  Checkmark Theatre Company's 2018-19 Season, which will be programming a developmental workshop of Eliana Pipes’s new, and currently untitled, play in the fall of 2018,  and our second annual reading series, DEVO II, in the spring of 2019. Checkmark's first annual season kick off will commence on Thursday, August 16th!

Don Nigro's "Seascape with Sharks and Dancer"

DIRECTOR

In July of 2018, Cristina began directing a production of Don Nigro's "Seascape With Sharks and Dancer," which is set to open on August 23rd at The Bridge in Shetler Studios. The productions stars Charlotte Froyland and Charlie McElveen, and is produced by Denise Wolken. 

spring 2018

Checkmark Theatre Company's Inaugural Reading Series

FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

On March 9th and 10th, Cristina's theatre company, Checkmark Theatre Company, had its inaugural reading series showcasing the work of Sanaz Toossi, Eliana Pipes, and Stefani Kuo. Checkmark's mission is to provide a home for underrepresented artists and, after our first event, we plan to begin fundraising for our first production and continue the development of new work. 

"Light Shining in Buckinghamshire" at New York Theatre Workshop

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

In March Cristina began working as the Assistant Director on Caryl Churchill's "Light Shining in Buckinghamshire," directed by Rachel Chavkin at the New York Theatre Workshop. Performances begin on April 18th with an official opening on May 7th. "Light Shining" was written in the 70s and dramatizes the Putney Debates in England during the 1600s, which concerned the creation of a new constitution for Britain. 

WINTER 2018

"Stand and Wait" by Eliana Pipes

DIRECTOR

In January, Cristina directed a reading of Eliana Pipes's "Stand and Wait" as a part of The Fire This Time Festival's 9th Season. 

Synopsis: Two actresses coming from vastly contrasting levels of training and experience find themselves in the same audition room for a job that will prove to be much more challenging for one versus the other. 

Suzan-Lori Parks's "Loving the Living Playwright" at NYU

TEACHER’S ASSISTANT

This January Cristina returned to NYU to assist Suzan-Lori Parks with her graduate level playwriting class at NYU's Tisch School entitled, Loving the Living Playwright. The role consists of managing an actor pool of 30+ people in order to cast two staged readings in class each week along with managing actors' and writers' schedules in order to allocate time for rehearsal. The class runs from January to May of 2018

Fall 2017

Checkmark Theatre Company

ARTISTIC  DIRECTOR

In October Cristina founded Checkmark Productions (FKA Checkmark Theatre Company). Checkmark's mission is to encourage the development of artists of color and their stories. We create a home for the creation of new work in each stage of its development, as well as socially conscious takes on revivals. Our inaugural event was a reading series in March of 2018 showcasing the work of three playwrights, each identifying as women of color. 

"Light Shining in Buckinghamshire" at New York Theatre Workshop

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

This fall Cristina began pre-production with the team of "Light Shining in Buckinghamshire," by Caryl Churchill at the New York Theatre Workshop which started rehearsals in March. She worked as the Assistant Director under Rachel Chavkin. Performances began on April 18th with an official opening on May 7th.

Summer 2017

Williamstown Theatre Festival

DIRECTING CORPS

From June-August 2017, Cristina worked at The Williamstown Theatre Festival as a member of their Directing Corps. She assistant directed a production of Sam Shepard's "Curse of the Starving Class" directed by Jason McDowell Green, and observed the workshop of a new musical, "Lempicka," written by Matt Gould and Carson Kreitzer, directed by Rachel Chavkin. During this season, Cristina also directed three 10-Minute Plays, "The Memorial" by Andrew Frye, "The Markers" by Martyna Majok, and "The Messenger" by Julia Doolittle.

Spring 2017

"The Next Stop" by Carmen Rivera

DIRECTOR

Before leaving for Williamstown, Cristina directed a reading of Carmen Rivera's play entitled "The Next Stop." The reading was produced by INTAR Theater as part of a reading series in celebration of their founder and former Artistic Director Max Ferrá who passed away the year prior. 

Synopsis: A family on their way to visit their respective spouses in jail runs into a stranger on the subway that they connect with more deeply than expected. 

"A Reasonable Expectation of Privacy" by Suzanne Bronson

DIRECTOR

In May of 2017, Cristina directed the first developmental reading of Suzanne's MFA Thesis. This play is the culmination of Suzanne's work over the 2016-17 season, and will be presented in the Goldberg Theater at the NYU Tisch School. 

Synopsis: A West Virginian man seeks refuge from his family by participating in and winning the final round of a reality television series.

"Fracture" By Zachary Charles Flick

DIRECTOR

After a long collaboration as director and actor, Cristina directed the first developmental reading of a new play written by Zachary Flick under the mentorship of Andy Bragen. As Zachary's first foray into playwriting, the reading was performed in the Minor Latham Playhouse at Barnard College of Columbia University.

Synopsis: A young man comes home for the funeral of his younger brother with unfinished business to settle with his parents.

WINTER 2017

Suzan-Lori Parks's "Loving the Living Playwright" at NYU

CLASS STAGE MANAGER

In January of 2017, Cristina worked with Suzan-Lori Parks's class during the Spring Semester as she taught her annual "Loving the Living Playwright" course at the NYU Tisch School. She handled the logistics required of the class, where two Graduate Playwrights present 20 pages of their work each week via a staged reading, with actors connected to the Public Theater. 

Fall 2016

Party People at The Public Theater

DIRECTING OBSERVER

From September-November of 2016, Cristina observed director Liesl Tommy on the New York Premiere of "Party People" written by Universes at The Public Theater. Opening on November 14th, 2016, "Party People" tells the story of the Black Panther Party and Young Lords journeys throughout the 1960s in relation to our current social and political landscape. Using latin, hip-hop, and r&b music, "Party People" tells a story that our audiences are in need of hearing, and allows us to reflect on our history while also confronting the current landscape of the United States. 

Summer 2016

SDCF Observeship Program

DIRECTING OBSERVER

Thrilled to announce that, in June, Cristina was accepted into the Stage Directors and Choreographers' Observeship Program for the 2016-2017 Season. 

The Public Theater

LITERARY DEPARTMENT

At the end of the summer Cristina finished her time in the Literary Department of The Public Theater working under Literary Manager Jesse Alick, and Literary Associate Jack Moore.

Early 2016

Barnard College of Columbia University

CLASS OF 2016

In May of 2016, Cristina graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University with a Bachelor's Degree in Theater with a minor in Psychology. She left having directed 5 full-length productions, assisted 2 separate directors, stage managed 2 plays, and with a new musical in development.

The Public Theater

LITERARY DEPARTMENT

In January of 2016, Cristina was hired as a Literary Intern at The Public Theater under the guidance of Literary Manager, Jesse Alick, and Literary Associate, Jack Moore. There, she helped manage Literary submissions that the department receives, as well as reporting on different readings and scripts that she was assigned to cover.  

Fall 2015

WP Theater 

Artistic Intern

In December of 2015 Cristina finished her time at WP Theater working as an Artistic Intern under Producing Artistic Director, Lisa McNulty. In the Artistic Department, she worked in a literary capacity reading through submissions, reporting on readings and workshops, and organizing the literary database. 

Stuck: A New Play

director

In October of 2015, Cristina directed a new play by Ryan Nuzzo entitled "Stuck," at Columbia University. The team rehearsed for a total of 6 weeks with 1 week of tech rehearsal following in The Glicker-Milstein Theater. 

Summer 2015

Jean Anouilh's Antigone at YGA

assistant director

In August of 2015, Cristina assisted on a production of Anouilh's "Antigone" with Young Gotham Arts. The Production Team began brainstorming and collaborating in May of 2015, and they were able to open at The Tank Theater in Midtown Manhattan.

spring 2015

Jonathan Larson's RENT

director

In April of 2015, Cristina directed a production of "RENT" at Columbia University. With a team of roughly 35 designers, assistants, and actors, she was able to mount a production of the musical staged in thrust at The Glicker-Milstein Theater.

WP Theater

artistic intern

In March of 2015, Cristina was given the honor of working as an Artistic Intern at WP Theater, mainly responsible for literary assistance, coverage, and database management, under Producing Artistic Director, Lisa McNulty.