Latest News:

In October I directed Lucas Hnath’s The Christians at the University of Arkansas (UA), featuring one of our terrific faculty as Pastor Paul, along with a super cast of undergraduate actors and singers. What a fascinating play! The production generated excellent conversation and positive feedback.

I’ve now returned to collaborating with the Latin/x Youth Theatre Project, directing an original project that will tour Northwest Arkansas (and possibly elsewhere) next spring. The community support of our work with these vital artists has been incredible, and has already led to multiple presentations of fragments derived from our inaugural production of Follow Me @TioSam. ¡Además, estoy aprendiendo español!

I head the M.F.A. Directing program at the UA, and am delighted to be mentoring our two graduate directors as they helm thesis productions of The Glass Menagerie and Life is a Dream.

Plays I’m Hankering to Direct: 

I’m excited to direct Clybourne Park at the UA next fall. My recent can’t-wait-to-dive-in list includes the wonderful King Charles III and Outside Mullingar. Please contact me for a longer list and to learn more.

The Assisting World:  

I continue to pursue special assistant directing opportunities. In 2015 I was selected for an Observership with the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, observing Anne Kauffman lead a development workshop of a new play with music by Rachel Bonds. I also observed director Scott Ellis in tech for The Elephant Man, and James Lapine in tech for Act One.  I’m remain hungry to grow as a theatre artist, and assisting and observing other master directors helps me to do so. 

About My Directing Style:

I’m a highly collaboratorative director, inspiring the team to play, imagine and create, then working together to refine those ideas. I start with highly personal responses to the questions of the play, encouraging collaborators to similarly make deep connections.

I love high stakes in the theatre: raw, intense need, with characters going all out in pursuit of their objectives. Design-wise, I crave dreamscapes and surprises – how do we create visual and aural poetry?

A Tad Bit More:

I have a knack for finding comedy – even in tragedy.

I approach directing with playful abandon – willing to try anything!  (followed by continued exploration and editing)

Years of Viewpoints have made me particularly sensitive to movement, actors’ bodies, and physical relationships with each other and the space, and how they reveal story, relationships, and character.

Music experiences, such as piano playing, and Lessac training have heightened my awareness of textual possibilities. I love helping actors make vibrant, memorable choices.

Ah, One More Thing:
I seek to awaken moments, telling stories that touch hearts and provoke minds.