Virginia Monte
Artistic Director
An artist and theatrical director with an extensive background in classical theatrical pedagogy, performance theory, production artistry and design, fine art, art history, semiotics, and literary analysis.
Virginia had directed and designed productions nationally and internationally for two decades. Past directorial highlights include KING LEAR (RCS/ Globe Theater, London), BUDDY BOYS (Manhattan Theater Source, NYC), MR. 80% (Cheeky Monkey Productions, NYC), POOL (NO WATER) (Wallbyrd, Rochester Fringe), THE WINTER'S TALE (RCP, Rochester), ROMEO AND JULIET (WallByrd/RCP, Rochester), TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (WallByrd/RCP, Rochester), MACBETH (WallByrd, Rochester), TAMING OF THE SHREW (WallByrd, Rochester), WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF (WallByrd, Rochester), THE 39 STEPS (WallByrd,Rochester), THE DUCHESS OF MALFI (WallByrd, Rochester), ARIA DA CAPO (Stover Theater, FL).
Recipient of 2011 National Youth Theater Award for “Outstanding Costume Design”. Ms. Monte holds a Masters Degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Directing for Classical & Contemporary Text. virginiamonte.com
Kate Duprey
Production Manager
Having been given a Shakespearean name at birth, Kate has been immersed in theatre her entire life. Growing up learning Shakespeare, and participating in her first production at the age of 9, she has always loved the stage. Being able to tell a story, live, to so many people, sharing that experience with them has been a huge draw since day one.
At the age of 17 she was thrown into the deep end of Stage Managing, being called in during tech week to run a show, and loved it immediately. Making things run super smoothly for everyone involved, letting the actors focus on what they need to, and not what’s going on backstage is what she prides herself on.
Kate studied at SUNY Fredonia and received a B.A. in Theatre, after Stage Managing such shows as Electra and Don Juan in Chicago. She has Stage Managed musical productions including (Avenue Q, RENT Geneva Theatre Guild) and Operas Cosi Fan Tutte and Die Fledermaus (Geneva Light Opera).
A part of WallByrd since its conception, you've seen Kate's Stage Managing work in Pool (No Water), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), The Duchess of Malfi, and Romeo and Juliet.
Christina Hurtado-Pierson
Dramaturge
Christina Hurtado-Pierson is a NYC-based dramaturg and producer for Martian Media. She recently made her directing debut with the documentary TRANSMILITARY, which premiered at the Queer Film Festival in Eugene, OR. She previously served as the story consultant for the documentary feature MOUNT LAWRENCE, and as head writer and producer on the award-winning television pilot SOX NEWS. Upcoming projects include BLINK (feature film), KATE + DATE (web series) and IN THE RUBBER ROOM (feature film).
Prior to Martian, Christina spent ten years as a theatrical dramaturg and script consultant in New York and Manchester, UK. Theater credits include COOL HAND LUKE (Godlight/59E59), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (CSC), ARABIAN NIGHTS (Williamstown), ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (Godlight), and THE POOR OF NEW YORK (Connelly). She is the resident dramaturg for the award-winning Godlight Theatre Company. Education: BA- Pomona College, MFA- Columbia University.
Lara Ianni
Associate Artist
Lara has been studying and performing stage combat for ten years, training with SAFD certified teacher Bret Yount (London), SAFD Fight Master J. David Brimmer(NYC), Shakespeare and Co. (Lenox, MA), and En Garde Entertainment (NYC), where she was also an assistant teacher. As a performer, her fight work has been featured at The New York Renaissance Faire, The Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park, live events and TV commercials with Off Sides Entertainment, as well as stages in NYC and regionally. She served as Adjunct Lecturer in stage combat for Utica College and has taught combat workshops locally for RAPA, The Harley School and UPrep. Lara holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College and is a proud member of Actors' Equity and SAG-AFTRA.