Filming 4 New Monologues for CPH's C.A.R.E. Program

I'm thrilled and honored to be directing four different original monologues, to be filmed here in NYC as part of Cleveland Play House (CPH) education department's C.A.R.E. (Compassionate Arts Remaking Education) program. Supported by a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, this one-of-a-kind program for K-5th students is being developed to improve social emotional learning (SEL) skills and increase literacy learning through the use of real-time professional development, high-quality digital tools and Common Core standards-based instruction integrating Drama, English Language Arts and SEL. CPH has commissioned a diverse group of nearly two dozen playwrights from across the country to create original monologues as program teaching tools. I'm directing two pieces by Philip Dawkins (Charm), one by Kimber Lee (Brownsville Song [b-side for tray]), and one by Lisa Loomer (Roe), all of which feature bilingual (English/Spanish) characters. Once the pilot phase is completed, the program--and these filmed monologues--will be disseminated for use in schools nationwide.

New play workshop at UConn.

I'm looking forward to spending a week at the University of Connecticut/Connecticut Repertory Theatre with a group of BFAs, MFAs and faculty developing Oracle, a new play by Aoishe Stratford. It will also be a welcome reunion with dramaturg--and UConn faculty member--Lindsay Cummings, who I first met while working as an intern at Portland Stage Company many years ago. I believe this Oracle holds good omens!

Audition class at AADA

Tonight I had the pleasure of being a guest of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the nation's first school of acting (Est. 1884!). I spent the evening with as an auditor for mock auditions with 25 talented young actors finishing up an Audition class. I look forward to seeing these artists join the ranks of AADA alums like Robert Redford, Grace Kelly, Paul Rudd, Jessica Chastain, and Cecille B. DeMille!

Joining the staff of The Playwrights Realm

I'm thrilled to be joining The Playwrights Realm as Artistic Associate this month. I've long admired this unique, playwright-centric organization and the unique and meaningful ways in which they help writers write (and make a living doing it!). Among other duties, I'll be producing the annual INK'D Festival of New Plays, featuring works by The Realm's 2016-17 Writing Fellows; producing multiple internal readings and development processes; and spearheading logistics related to the creation of an exciting new open submission program (more details available this spring!).  

Directing for the Fordham University-Lincoln Center Studio Series

This fall I'll be working with a very talented--and very funny--young musical theatre writer, Billy Reece, on his new musical political satire, Wally Weasel's GOP Jamboree. I'm looking forward to diving in to this fantastically over-the-top mash-up of political extremism, family dysfunction and American theme park culture with Fordham University-Lincoln Center students and staff! Tickets and more information HERE.