Leslie Ayvazian is an

Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...

award-winning playwright and character actress.High Dive by Leslie Ayvazian
New Theatre, January 28 - February 13, 2011.

Biography

Ayvazian is the recipient of the Roger L. Stevens (1994) and

Susan Smith Blackburn Prize The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize established in 1978, is the largest and oldest playwriting prize for women+ writing for English-speaking theatre. Named for Susan Smith Blackburn (1935–1977), alumna of Smith College, who died of breast cancer. W ...

(1996) for her work ''Nine Armenians'', which was produced at

Manhattan Theatre Club Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) is a theatre company located in New York City, affiliated with the League of Resident Theatres. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has g ...

. She also received a fellowship from the New Jersey Council of the Arts and assistance from the New Harmony Writers Project in developing the play. Her numerous works have been produced off-Broadway, in major regional theatres, and in Poland and Slovakia. Most recently, the

Atlantic Theater Company Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater, whose mission is to produce great plays "simply and truthfully utilizing an artistic ensemble." The company was founded in 1985 by David Mamet, William H. Macy, and 30 of their act ...

produced her play "Make Me" as part of their 2008-2009 Stage 2 season. In addition to her writing achievements, Ayvazian is an accomplished actress and teacher. She has also appeared in the films ''

Working Girl ''Working Girl'' is a 1988 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols, written by Kevin Wade, and starring Harrison Ford, Sigourney Weaver, and Melanie Griffith. Its plot follows an ambitious secretary from Staten Island who t ...

'', '' Alice'' and ''

Regarding Henry ''Regarding Henry'' is a 1991 American drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by J.J. Abrams. It stars Harrison Ford as a New York City lawyer from a dysfunctional family, who struggles to regain his memory and recover his speech and mo ...

'', and is a recurring guest star in the '' Law and Order franchise''. Ayvazian is currently an adjunct professor at the graduate school of

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

Plays

*''Deaf Day'' *''High Dive'' *''Lovely Day'' *''Mama Drama'' *''Nine Armenians'' *''Plan Day'' *''Singer's Boy'' *''Twenty Four Years'' *''Make Me'' *''Lost in Yonkers''Leslie Ayvazian
Internet Broadway Database *''A Naked Girl on the Appian Way'' *''High Dive''

Selected filmography

*''

'' (1988), as Dewey Stone Reception Guest *'' Me and Him'' (1988), as Paramedic *''Ask Me Again'' (1989), as Maxine *'' Alice'' (1990), uncredited *''

'' (1991), uncredited

TV appearances

*''

CBS Schoolbreak Special ''CBS Schoolbreak Special'' is an American anthology series for teenagers that aired on CBS from December 1978 to January 1996. The series began under the title ''CBS Afternoon Playhouse'', and was changed during the 1984–85 season. The concept ...

'' :''Flour Babies'' (1990), as Mrs. Emerson *''

American Playhouse ''American Playhouse'' is an American anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Overview It premiered on January 12, 1982, with ''The Shady Hill Kidnapping'', written and narrated by John Cheever an ...

'' * The Sunset Gang'' (''The Home'' segment, 1991) *'' Law & Order'' :''Jurisdiction'' (1993), as Korolek :''House Counsel'' (1995), as Priscilla Lempert :''Homesick'' (1996), as Mrs. Karmel *''

Law & Order: Criminal Intent ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' is an American police procedural Drama (film and television), drama television series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and Executive producer#Motion pictures and television, p ...

'' :'' Gone'' (2005), as Ruth Stockton *'' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', as Judge Valdera :''Limitations'' (2000) :''Baby Killer'' (2000) :''Abuse'' (2001) :''Ridicule'' (2001) :''Resilience'' (2002) *'' The Jury'' :''Mail Order Mystery'' (2004), as Lynette Bradwell

References

External links

Armenian General Benevolent UnionBroadway World entry
* *
New Jersey Theater
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayvazian, Leslie Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Columbia University faculty American film actresses American television actresses 20th-century American actresses American women academics 21st-century American women