AJ Schwartz   D i r e c t o r ,   E t c .

RESUME

Directing
How You Kiss Me Is Not How I Like To Be Kissed by Dan Giles

Dig by Theo Germaine (staged reading)

Mike Pence Sex Dream by Dan Giles

This Bitter Earth by Harrison David Rivers

Zurich by Amelia Roper

Refrigerator by Lucas Baisch

Time is on Our Side by R. Eric Thomas

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

The Henry V Project by William Shakespeare

Scenes from Smokefall by Noah Haidle

Producing
QUEER, ILL + OKAY

OUT FRONT: Babes on Stage - About Face Theatre

Performance
Rumspringa! An American Odyssey - Dir. Carina Abbatichio – Actor - Pivot Incubator Project - 2016
Hillary: a Modern Greek Tragedy - Dir. Melissa Hubbert – Chorus - Loyola University Chicago - 2016
New Plays Festival - Dir. Sarah Gabel – Various - Loyola University Chicago - 2015

Arts Administration
About Face Theatre, Chicago, IL
Curator and Associate Producer, OUT FRONT: Babes on Stage, January 2018-present
Literary Associate, September-November 2017, Artistic Intern, September 2016-August 2017

• Worked with Artistic Director and office staff in 15-hour/week position
• Proposed theme and organized 2018 Out Front Series, Babes on Stage, including establishing submission guidelines; issuing the call for submissions via press release and personal outreach; determining dates; and strategizing on the submission review process.
• Proposed and coordinated AFTer Parties post-show events for AFT’s mainstage show, Significant Other.
• Assisted in onboarding process for new Artistic Director.
• Facilitated hiring of interns for fall and winter terms.
• Facilitated communication of the season planning committee for 2018-19 season.
• Developed and executed policy on reviewing play submissions for Mainstage and Out Front series.
• Worked with members of all departments in the About Face Theatre offices on cross-departmental projects.
• Drafted contracts for actors, designers, and production staff.
• Co-produced AIDS On Stage reading series, including researching plays for the series; coordinating stage managers, actors, and directors; communicating with the venue and co-sponsors; evaluating the budget; and overseeing setup for every reading.
• Facilitated “Wonka Ball” annual gala as artistic director’s right hand

TodayTix, Chicago, IL, March 2016-April 2017
Student Committee Member

• Worked with college students from theatre schools across Chicago to plan events for college theatre students
• Decided on type of events, publicity efforts for it, and artists to invite
• Drafted event schedule

Steep Theatre Co., Chicago, IL, Summer 2016
Management Intern

• Worked with Executive Director to assist in day-to-day operations in a 10-hour/week summer internship
• Organized databases for fundraising and mailings
• Assembled information for grant requests
• Drafted press releases for Steep Theatre events
• Set up rentals for new rehearsal space
• Assisted at Steep Theatre events

Education
Loyola University Chicago, Graduated May 2017
B.A. Theatre
Minors: Shakespeare Studies, English
Courses:

• Acting I, II- Ann M. Shanahan
• Acting III- Sarah Gabel
• Acting IV- Ross Lehman
• Directing- Mark Lococo
• Theatre History and Literature I, II- Susan Applebaum
• Theatre History and Literature IV- Mark Lococo
• Movement, Stage Combat- Matt Hawkins
• Plays of Shakespeare- Virginia Strain
• Contemporary Critical Theory- Paul Jay
• WSGS Theatre Workshop- Ann M. Shanahan
• Electrics- Lee Keenan and Clare Roche
• Costume Construction- Alex Meadows
• Creative Dramatics- Sarah Gabel

London Dramatic Academy, Fall 2015
Courses:

• Acting- Gabrielle Jourdan
• Acting Shakespeare- Yolanda Vasquez
• Audition Tutorial- Eunice Roberts
• Movement- Hannah Vincent
• Voice- Simon Money
• Dialects- Nick Dicola
• Physical Theatre (Lecoq)- Ally Cologna
• Stage Combat- Gordon Kemp
• Period Dance- Angela Hardcastle
• Alexander Technique- Gerda Druks-Kok
• Theatre History- Christopher Cook, Simon Dormandy
• Dramatic Criticism- Christopher Cook

Master Classes:

• Acting- Kathryn Pogson
• Playwriting
• Forum Theatre- Emma Brown
• Film- Polly Hootkins and Peter Settelen

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Groundlings Program, Fall 2010-Spring 2013

• Shakespearean Acting -Jeremy Dubin and Sara Clark

Special Skills
Training in Stage Combat, Lecoq, Grotowski, and Alexander movement techniques, RP dialect, Shakespearean acting and text work, clowning
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google office suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and Gmail), DropBox.
Experience with databases such as OvationTix and PatronManager
Experience with Yet Another Mail Merge
Beginner skill in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro.
PC and Mac literate.