20
Mar

The Empty (Virtual) Space

Like many theater artists, I’m finding myself at loose ends, with a project more or less dissolving in my hands, getting less likely with each news break. Future projects are getting less certain as well. I’m trying to look on the sunny side; while I’m mourning the projects that might not happen or might be […]

16
Mar

Hairspray at Harrisonburg High School

When my local high school announced it was slating Hairspray as its spring musical, I was terribly skeptical. Although the school, like the city, is extremely diverse, I had only rarely seen a non-white kid in their productions. At that school, as at many schools, theater is for white kids. Ken Gibson, the theater teacher […]

26
Feb

STA 2020: Be Bold and Resolute, Ya’ll

After years of trying to make it work, I finally went to the Shakespeare Theater Association conference. It was fantastic. I am so glad I finally went! Shakespeare Dallas hosted the conference. I hadn’t been to Dallas before—and had only been to Texas one other time. We mostly were inside the conference hotel, but we […]

3
Feb

Rejected Taglines

I’m learning about Branding. It is one of those things for which I have no natural gifts, but it’s important and necessary in this industry. One element of branding is to come up with some quick phrase that tells people a whole lot about who you are and what you are trying to accomplish in […]

1
Dec

The Geography of Yearning

I had a great time this semester, directing On the Verge, or: The Geography of Yearning, by Eric Overmeyer, for York College Theater. The story is about three Victorian “lady explorers” who go on a trek together into “Terra Incognita,” and are surprised to discover that they are adventuring through time, as well as space. […]

27
Oct

The Tempest at Synetic Theater

The first time a friend invited me to see a show at Synetic, I rolled my eyes, but went along. I’ve seen some of my favorite shows by saying yes to invitations I didn’t think I was interested in. This was no exception. The show was Romeo and Juliet, which I had just finished directing […]

22
Oct

To You, Whoever You Are

I keep thinking about an episode of the Backstory podcast, where they talked about Walt Whitman. One of the historians they interviewed, Robert Shultz, described how Whitman destroyed his health during the war by working long hours in the hospital, caring for wounded soldiers. He read them letters from their families, he dressed their wounds, […]