Amios is a theater cooperative whose mission is to build community through art.
Shotz is a theatrical pressure cooker produced by Amios every month that gives six groups two weeks to write, two weeks to rehearse, and two chances to perform all-new short plays the first Monday of every month in the East Village. Unified by three common criteria, each collection of plays captures a variety of perspectives around each month’s theme.
In December 2011, I became a member of Amios and have directed the following plays:
The Weather Girl, by Lizzie Vieh jingle shotz (Rock!) - 2 December 2019 with Kim Krane
Sonder, by W. Tré Davis Original Music & Direction by Richard C. Aven One Night Only, MusicalShotz - 7 May 2018 with Meghan Grover, Emily Kitchens, & Erin Roché
Elpis, by Emily Kitchens A Chorus* Shotz (*Greek) - 5 February 2018 with Kira Davies, Nicole Gut, & Kat Haan
Specter, by Mario Gonzales Ghosts of Shotz Past - 4 December 2017 with Natalie Hegg & Lori Vega
The Daily Routine, by Katie Rose Krueger Brevity is the Soul of Shotz - 2 October 2017 with Michael Kane, Stephen Wattrus, Philip Estrera, & Kat Haan
Footsteps (or the love song of T.S. Eliot) by Mikey Rosenbaum This is my Shotz for English B - 3 April 2017 with Dinah Berkeley, Steven Bono, Jr., & Mary Lauren
International House of Pancakes, by Michael Sadler Shotz Abroad - 7 November 2016 with Rob Hille, Michael Propster, Mikey Rosenbaum, & Lori Vega
Beyond the Holding Room, by P. Seth Bauer Shotz: Un1ty - 7 December 2015 with Maurice Jones & Alex Major
No Ma’am, Never, by W. Tré Davis Shotz from the Crypt - 2 November 2015 with Allison Haglund, Emily Kitchens, & Piaget Ventus
Mud Pies, by Lauren Lubow Shotz: It’s What’s for Dinner - 5 October 2015 w/ Justin Garascia, Brittany McDonald, & Melissa Wolff
Father Forgive Us, by Jamie Menzies Shotz: The National Pastime - 3 August 2015 w/ Christopher Halladay, Max T. Nolen & Melissa Wolff
Rape-Happy, by Lizzie Vieh Shotz for Justice - 6 July 2015 with Zac Hoogendyk & John Clarence Stewart
Exquisite Corpse, by Liz Thaler & Sam Hicks Connect the Shotz - 6 April 2015 with W. Tré Davis, Sage Seals, John Clarence Stewart, & Melissa Wolff
Loodvig, by Erin Mallon They’re Playing our Shotz - 2 February 2015 with Natalie Rich, Richard Thieriot, Alice Rose Turner, & Justin Yorio
Noir, by Garrett Zuercher Shotz Noir - 5 January 2015 with Franny Civitano & Logan Ford
Rock Paper Scissors, by Matthew Schneck Awkward Shotz - 3 November 2014 with Paten Hughes & Justin Yorio
Ciao for Now, by Alex Hersler Shotz: There’s a Time and Place - 6 October 2014 with Sarah Connelly, Michael Grew, Sarah Kinsey, & Ashley Marie Ortiz
Serendipity, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Quincunx, by David H Rosen You Call the Shotz - 4 August 2014 with Emily Kitchens, Liz Morgan, & Amelia Sciandra
Upshot Knothole, by Jamie Menzies Shotzo de Mayo! - 5 May 2014 with Chris Campbell, Alexander Richard, Kyle Schaeffer, & Leigh Williams
Projection, by Liz Morgan Shotz to the Future - 3 March 2014 with Alia Guidry, Ashley Marie Ortiz, Becca L. McCarty, & Michael Propster
Hell’s Kitchen, by Steven Cole Hughes Shotz Through the Heart - 10 February 2014 with John Pieza, Khris Lewin, Paul Cosentino, & Ariela Morgenstern
Chicken Shotz for the Sinner’s Soul, by Lindsay Joy Chicken Shotz for the Soul - 6 January 2014 with Rob Hille & Allyson Morgan
Closer Than, by Vichet Chum Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Shotz? - 2 December 2013 with Emily Kitchens & Allyson Morgan
Laraya, Book III, by Liz Thaler Shotz of Thrones - 4 November 2013 fight choreography by Rocio Mendez with Maxon Davis, Emily Kitchens, & Kia Sayyadi
Wrath Camp, by Katie Fabel Seven Deadly Shotz - 7 October 2013 with Franny Civitano, Michael Propster, & Leigh Williams
Knowns & Unknowns, by David Haan Redacted Shotz - 5 August 2013 with Logan Ford, Augustus Kelly, Lisa Kitchens, & Alanna Wilson
The Silents, by Garrett Zuercher Lights! Camera! Shotz! - 1 July 2013 with Becky Baumwoll, Brittane Rowe, & Justin Yorio
Parisian Nights, by Jamie Menzies Around the Shotz in 80 Days - 3 June 2013 with Franny Civitano, Steve Jones, Kristin McCarthy Parker, & Justin Yorio
craps, by Jamie Menzies Shotz and Ladders - 4 February 2013 with Lauren Berst, Sam Hicks, & Christopher Tocco
Transfigured Night, by Richard C. Aven (my only time as a playwright) Beware the Shotz of March - 3 March 2013 directed by Kyle Schaefer w/ Franny Civitano, Michael Propster & Alanna Wilson
Shooting Bullets in Your Eyeball, by Rachel Dart & Eric March License to Shotz - 3 December 2012 with Leslie Alexander, Sean Lyons & Kellyn Uhl
New York 1751, by Zac Jaffee Give Me Liberty or Give Me Shotz - 5 November 2012 with Kristy Powers & Justin Yorio
Paging Dr. Seuss, by David H Rosen Green Eggs and Shotz - 3 September 2012 with Shauna Miles & Brendon Titley
Teen Paranormal Romance, by Tom Rowen Revenge of the Son of Shotz - 6 August 2012 with Katie Fabel, Desiree Maumus, Zac Jaffee
A Fabrication, by Khris Lewin Greek Shotzology - 7 May 2012 with Josh Coomer & Alanna Wilson
Isn’t It Pretty, by Richard Thieriot Shotz Lang Syne - 5 March 2012 w/ Zoe Farmingdale, Molly M. O’Neill & Joseph Yeargain
Vintage Barbies, by Tom Rowen Slap Shotz - 2 February 2012 with Christina Magnuson, Ali Maher, & Katie Stultz
Gimme Shelter, by Lindsay Joy Shotz Lang Syne - 2 January 2012 with Rob Hille & Joseph Yeargain
Santa Tracker, by David L. Williams Shotzin’ Around the Christmas Tree - 5 December 2011 with Pete Giambalvo, Allyson Morgan, & Allison Wilson
"my guardian angel" from Sonder, by W. Tré Davis, composed by R. Aven
"approval" underscoring from Sonder, by W. Tré Davis, composed by R. Aven
Lori Vega & Natalie Hegg (pictured above) in Specter, by Mario Gonzalez. Music composed by Richard C. Aven and directed by me too.
Emily Kitchens & Piaget Ventus (pictured below) in No Ma'am, Never by W. Tré Davis.
To the left are W. Tré Davis & Melissa Wolff in Exquisite Corpse by Liz Thaler & Sam Hicks
Below are Emily Kitchens & Liz Morgan in Serendipity, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Quincunx, by David H Rosen
Maxon Davis (above) and Emily Kitchens (to the right) in Layara, Book III by Liz Thaler
Below is Lisa Kitchens in Knowns & Unknowns by David Haan
"I got him, Abby, you wanna see."
Becky Baumwoll & Justin Yorio on location to shoot a black & white film for The Silents, by Garrett Zuercher
Sean Lyons as Frank Sinatra ("Call me sugar, they've invented the pill.") with Kellyn Uhl in Shooting Bullets in Your Eyeball, by Rachel Dart & Eric March
"What is this?" - Justin Yorio in New York, 1751, by Zac Jaffee
Allyson Morgan, Pete Giambalvo, & Alanna Wilson in my very first Shotz piece, Santa Tracker, by David L. Williams