Artist Statement
“I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.” Oscar Wilde
Working as a professional theater artist and educator focused predominantly on classic theater for more than 25 years, I have developed a collaborative approach to building ensembles that strives for an authentic connection between body and voice. My directing style can be described in four concise phrases: Ensemble Building, Physically Bold, Vocally Rich, and Self Reflective. My professional career has taken me to theaters across the country with a variety of approaches to the art of making theater including Steppenwolf Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Remains Theatre, Next Theatre, Arena Stage, Portland Stage Company, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, and, currently, Theater at Monmouth. I have repeatedly observed the ensemble-driven, collaborative nature of theater both in the process of creating and presenting. In my journey as a theater artist, I have focused on four areas: Directing, Playwriting, Theater Education, and Producing. I am a storyteller that is drawn to stories about family. Stella Adler wrote, “The word theater comes from the Greeks. It means the seeing place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation.” This is the goal of the plays I write, direct, and produce; to help audiences see our current condition through the lens of classic and contemporary literature. As a Producing Artistic Director, curating seasons that speak to the now and the next. As a playwright, I am focused on adapting classics for adults and young people. These adaptations breathe new life into classic literature by looking at them through the lens of modern concerns and issues; helping audiences, young and old, to see themselves in a way that is both distanced and familiar. In all theatrical endeavors, I strive to support actors in their discovery of the emotional life of the character and communicate that through an integrated physicality and vocal variety. I seek to create environments free of tension and judgment in order to inspire creative risks and honest responses to stimulus. I employ Liz Lerman’s Critical Response Techniques empowering artists to guide the feedback they receive about their work while increasing the sense of ensemble among all creatives in the space. I am committed to lifting up female-identifying, BIPOC, transgender artists, and early career professionals. I don’t always hit the mark, and often I fail, but I get up and keep trying. |