Leigh Walter
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Dr. Ride's American Beach House at Ars Nova

10/10/2019

 
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I'm Assistant Directing an incredible new show that you should definitely go see.

It’s 1983, the evening before Dr. Sally Ride’s historic space flight. Hundreds of miles from the launch, three women with passionate opinions and no opportunities sit on a sweltering St. Louis rooftop watching life pass them by. Their uncharted desires bump up against American norms of sex and power in this intimate snapshot of queer anti-heroines.

GENERAL TIX INFO:

Regular Tix are $35, Premium Tix are $65. 
Plus, there are great discount codes for the first two weeks of performances —Use code SPACE for $20 tix to Week 1 of performances (Oct 21 - 26). Use code NASA for $25 tix to Week 2 of performances (Oct 28 - Nov 2). 

Tix are now on sale! Get them now!
http://arsnovanyc.com/dr-rides-american-beach-house

Splendid Devils at Plaxall Gallery

1/18/2019

 
Through a trio of intimate conversations, Splendid Devils gives voice to three real artists who, though pioneers in their respective fields, had all fallen into relative obscurity by the times of their deaths. Inspired by the lives and work of these women as they navigated the cultural landscape of the early 20th century, Poulos finds timely relevance in their struggles, questioning the attainability and sustainability of freedom from social convention and the price of seeking to live a life that defies expectation.​
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Written and Performed by Leigh Poulos 
Directed by Leigh Walter
Produced by Brit Gossett
Lighting Design by Kate Ducey
Stage Managed by Lissy Barnes-Flint
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We're running around an art gallery in Queens experiencing this immersive new work that's one part séance, one part time travel.  Thrilled to be directing this piece, and working with this wildly talented team of women.  Hope to see you there!
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Denmark at TORNPAGE Theatre

7/22/2018

 
DENMARK a new play written by Matthew Gasda
Starring Coco McDermott, Jonathan Wilde, Maureen Mueller*, Bret Bailey* and Brian Oxenhandler
Directed by Aimée Fortier
Produced by Keeley Miller
Associate Producer: Casey Leigh Stanton
Stage Managed by Leigh Walter
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Totally sold out show!  But performing...
July 19-22, July 26-29, all at 8pm
​TORNPAGE Theatre
435 West 22nd St
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The Death of Balder at St. Ann's Warehouse

6/1/2018

 
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THE DEATH OF BALDER
ST. ANN'S WAREHOUSE
LAPAPALOOZA - PROGRAM A
TUE JUN 26 7:30PM  |  FRI JUN 29 7:30PM  |  SAT JUN 30 2PM  |  SUN JUL 1 7:30PM

A king fights to keep his son safe from destiny, the death that begins the end of the world, Ragnarok.  We follow King Odin through the creation of life, the destruction of the universe, and the choices we make around power, violence, love and grief. Shaped from the original Norse myth, The Death of Balder is a shadow puppet crankie show exploring how love for what we’ve lost can transform us into stones, into monsters, or something all too human.

Written and Puppet Design by Andrew Benincasa, Music Composed by Ilusha Tsinadze, Costume Design by Jamie Gross, Puppeteered by Kayla Prestel, Performed by Leigh Poulos, Directed by Leigh Walter

​Rehearsal photos attached :)

So honored to have been accepted into Labapalooza this year to develop a brand new puppet piece for St. Ann's Warehouse Puppet Lab.  Over the course of a year Andrew Benincasa and I have been developing this ancient Norse myth to be told through a giant crankie.  It's been such an adventure developing this piece as a workshop and I can't wait to continue development with Andy to develop this into a full length piece.  
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Up and Away Remount - Big Umbrella Festival

5/6/2018

 
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Up and Away was brought back to be a part of Lincoln Center's Big Umbrella festival.  Learn more below!
The Big Umbrella Festival is the world’s first month-long festival dedicated to arts programs for children on the autism spectrum and their families, launching during Autism Awareness Month in April 2018. The festival is an outgrowth of Lincoln Center Education’s longtime commitment to making art accessible in all forms to diverse audiences. Thoughtfully curated with their unique needs in mind, Big Umbrella’s core objective is to enrich the lives of children on the autism spectrum through inclusive art that engages, educates, and inspires.
Up and Away?
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And down to stay...
An absolute honor to direct this show, be inspired by this cast, supported by this crew, guided by this creative team, Trusty Sidekick and Lincoln Center. It's the hardest show to say goodbye to, but the magic that this audience has brought to my life is something I will never let go of.
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Everything Fits in the Room at American Realness

1/16/2018

 
Had the joy and challenge of production managing/stage managing for this intense performance art piece.  Incredible artists and one of the most thrilling works I've ever been a part of.  They literally built a wall in the middle of a warehouse in Brooklyn.  A real. Brick and mortar. Wall.  One of my favorites by far.  Great to work with Abron's Arts Center, the American Realness Festival, Simone Aughterlony and her company. More info on the festival to the right....
Founded, directed and curated by Thomas Benjamin Snapp Pryor, and co-presented by Gibney Dance in association with Abrons Arts Center, American Realness returns January 9-16, 2018 for its ninth consecutive season. For 2018 the festival expands its scope with multiple off-site partner venues, including The Invisible Dog Art Center, SculptureCenter, Danspace Project and Participant Inc. With these partners the American Realness 2018 performance program presents 17 evening-length performance works in 89 performances featuring three world premieres, three North American premieres, four New York City premieres and six encore engagements including NY Dance and Performance “Bessie” Award winners and nominees.

Starting Off 2017

8/15/2017

 
Shadow Play
​Lincoln Center, Jan-Feb 
​
Production and Stage Management

Have you ever wondered what happens to your shadow while you sleep? Trusty Sidekick Theater Company’s original play for children from ages 2 - 5 years old sends audiences on a thrilling multimedia, nonverbal adventure answering that very question.
Such a fun world of cardboard and projections and mischief to manage, and I'm looking forward to taking it to IPAY in early 2018!  
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Campfire
​Lincoln Center, Feb-Apr
Assistant Director /
​Production Stage Manager

Somewhere in the city, there is a tent. Inside this tent, there is an entire forest. And inside every tree trunk, and under every rock, there is a story. Together with Trusty Sidekick, we'll gaze through our binoculars, look for shooting stars, and entertain porcupines with a good joke. This intimate theater is presented in two distinct versions, for the youngest adventurers (2-5) as well as audience members on the autism spectrum, using innovative puppetry and immersive staging to conjure the sights and sounds of a vibrant forest.
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Regret + Time Travel
​Dixon Place Lounge, March
​Dixon Place Mainstage, Sept-Oct
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Director
Charlotte Moroz and I have spent the large part of 2017 developing this new puppet folk musical.  Inspired by the desire to interview strangers and write music from their answers, Charlotte took to the subways asking anyone and everyone, their thoughts on the feasibility of time travel, where they would go if it were possible and if regret ever had anything to do with it.  From these interviews we came to the conclusion that there is a troubling aversion to traveling into the future.

​Naturally, we decided we must take our audiences into the future.

​Our first iteration of the piece, performed in Dixon Place's Lounge space, was a song cycle based directly from these interviews, tied together with the goal of using music to time travel, and to take our audience into the future with us.  
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​Our second iteration was developed with The Society for Misfit Puppets and accepted to Dixon Place's Puppet BloK, adding two new cast members, an overhead projector and a giant black hole puppet.  Our merry band of scientists have lost their Science Boss in time, right before their presentation to NASA (you the audience) on their discoveries on music based time travel.  Like a TED Talk gone terribly wrong, our scientists discover another impending doom and are forced to travel into the future with NASA, something never done before.  We presented a 20min selection of our still developing musical and are continuing to work on it, planning for future iterations.
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Attack of the Elvis Impersonators
The Lion Theatre, Apr-July

​Assistant Stage Manager

When Drac Frenzie, a burnt-out world famous heavy metal icon decides to save himself from self-destruction by impersonating Elvis, an amazing thing happens-- which leads him to not only saving himself, but also the world.

​One of the craziest shows I've ever worked on.  Incredible team and plenty of memories and stories to share from working on this musical.


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Ottos Shrunken Head
​May-Now
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Director / Co-Producer
 Charlotte Moroz has landed herself a monthly slot on a stage at the back of Otto's Shrunken Head, a tiki bar in the Lower East Side.  She and I brainstormed for a bit what we could do on a stage at the back of a bar and have stumbled upon a monthly improv musical.  

​We start with a topic, ranging from Greek Mythology to Cleopatra to discoveries of life on other planets to Jurassic Park.  Then we bring a group of talented musicians onstage and they on-the-spot, in-the-moment create a new song based off the plot points of that story.  It's been thrilling and I can't wait for the next one.  Check us out every first Wednesday of the month!  Below is a clip from the finale of Cleopatra

2016 at a Glance

10/2/2016

 
The Boy at the Edge of Everything
Lincoln Center, Feb-March
​
Assistant Director, Production Stage Manager
Working at Lincoln Center has been such a joy and privilege.  And getting to work there as an AD and PSM was thrilling, especially with this incredible poetic and imaginative show and killer cast. 
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Civil War Pigeons!
​
The Society for Misfit Puppets, March
​
Director
Our inaugural production I directed for The Society for Misfit Puppets was a huge success.  Completely packed house for our first play reading, exploring in shadow puppetry textured materials and first person point of view walking through three dimensional shadow sets.   
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The Roar of the Greasepaint,
​the Smell of the Crowd

​Goodspeed Musicals, April-June
Assistant Stage Manager​
One of the biggest opportunities that came across my path this year was the chance to ASM at Goodspeed in Connecticut.  Working with a Broadway cast and creative team was such  an incredible experience while living in the woods of Connecticut.  And thanks to this show, I am now a proud member of AEA. 
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LARP Me Gently
​Society for Misfit Puppets, June-July
Dixon Place, August-Sept
​
Director

The next show I directed was LARP Me Gently, a puppet folk musical following a crew of LARPers who are set on a mission by a very real gnome to rescue three princesses from dragons.  We were so excited to receive a Jim Henson Grant for the piece and to present a workshopped selection of the piece at Dixon Place Puppet BloK.  This show was a huge step forward for all of us.
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We Are All Tourists
​Trusty Sidekick, June-July
Production Stage Manager

Such a joy PSMing this brand new Trusty Sidekick workshop this summer.  Taking kids up on the Highline for a tour of alternate realities was thrilling and I can't wait for this show to come back next year!
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Blossom
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Dixon Place, August-September
Assistant Director

Spencer Lott has written and directed such a beautiful moving show, that I felt blessed to assistant direct with him.  We follow the show through the eyes of James Blossom, a scenic painter with early onset Alzheimer's in this visually stunning and imaginative play. 
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Midsummer
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Tiltyard, September-October
Production Stage Manager

I loved PSMing for this smart and sexy adaptation of Midsummer, and working with this new company.  This production incorporates text from every play in Shakespeare's canon to create a playful, contemporary tale for skeptics, romantics, and those of us who still, somehow, believe in magic.
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Starting 2016

2/1/2016

 
Hey everyone!  Here's what I've been up to since I checked in all the way back in 2015. 

How To Get Into Buildings

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In December, I opened and closed How To Get Into Buildings, written by Trish Harnetiax and directed by Katherine Brook.  Such a smart, non-linear comedy and such a joy to be a part of.  I was surrounded by so many incredibly talented people and it was great to Assistant Direct with New Georges, a theater company I've always admired.

Society for Misfit Puppets

In January, I teamed up with the talented Charlotte Moroz and Dan Kelly and together, we set out on a new endeavor...

In 2016, we will write and develop FOUR ALL NEW PUPPET FOLK MUSICALS.  In setting out on this endeavor, we have formed a not-so-secret society, the Society for Misfit Puppets. 
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Our inaugural production will be of Civil War Pigeons!.   The show is everything you expect it to be, featuring an all-pigeon cast.  The story follows Annabelle, a young southern debutant (a pigeon), whose father is a Confederate Senator (also a pigeon), and she falls in love with the enemy, Moses, a black Union Soldier.  Together, Annabelle and Moses create a new Bird-Song, and use music to bring an end to the Civil War. 

You too can become a member of our Society!  Check out our Indiegogo page below to support artists and the creation of new theatre.

Also keep your calendar open for the end of March so you can see the very first Playreading-Plus of Civil War Pigeons!

Society for Misfit Puppets - Indiegogo
Photos from some of our development for Civil War Pigeons! and from our Indiegogo Launch Party

The Trial of Typhoid Mary

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I'm also currently Stage Managing with Live IN Theater and we just opened our new show at New York Historical Society, The Trial of Typhoid Mary.  It's an interactive and immersive theatre event for children, and they go around the museum interrogating witnesses to build a case for OR against Typhoid Mary.

The Boy at the Edge of Everything

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And now I'm about to jump into rehearsals as an Assistant Director/Production Stage Manager at Lincoln Center!  In this quirky and charming play written by Australian playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer and developed by Trusty Sidekick Theater Company, 12-year-old Simon Ives dreams of a place where he can just stop and think. Meanwhile, at the other end of the universe, The Boy at the Edge of Everything is lonely and bored. When Simon is accidentally rocketed into space their worlds collide. Neither will ever be the same.


2016 has barely started...but I can tell it's going to be one to remember!

NBC Nightly News - Up and Away

10/27/2015

 
What an unbelievable, beautiful, wild ride this show has been.
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