I create. I teach. I make theatre.

I hold this notion that theatre must be daring, different, sincere, urgent and profoundly human. It also has the option to be many other things; it may be subtle, outrageous, gritty, sublime, quirky, sorrowful, hysterically funny, or disturbingly dark. Regardless of its voice, exceptional theatre resonates. It resounds deeply from within us, and gives back the very essence of our shared humanity.

Having developed my craft for over thirty years, I continue to evolve and grow as a director, playwright and a teacher. I am a work-in-process.

My aesthetics have shape-shifted as well. Now, I make great effort to find purity and create simplicity. I strive for theatre that is meaningful, provocative and new. I have an affinity for the antihero, the strange, the "Other" and those who are terminally lost. Ultimately, there must be a glimmer of light in the darkness, or if a comedy, flickering shadows behind the lightness. The challenge is to breathe spirit and soul into the work. To achieve this, one must look at the whole picture, looking for the intangible, and seeking the negative spaces. It is the tension between characters, the pauses between the actions, and the silences between the words that create the energy and the life force of the work.

The most important qualities a director or teacher can instill in actors are the grace to listen, the power to be in the moment, the courage to take risks and the confidence to be truthful. An ensemble must be utterly collaborative and generous. We are part of a noble and colossal tradition, something much larger and greater than ourselves. I expect my actors, playwrights and students to strive for excellence. First, however, I must inspire them to be open, fearless, humble and fully committed to the journey ahead.

Extraordinary theatre is communal, transformative and transcendent. I believe theatre can and should change you. I hope it will.