directing
The opportunity to start directing was longed for but not sought after. When it knocked on my door, I was honored, thrilled, and very nervous. After many years of having Too Many Opinions about the macrocosm of a production, I finally put those ideas to the test to see if they held water.
I have found that my study of movement, particularly LeCoq and Laban, and even of art history and architecture, has very much informed my work as a director. Above all, my task is to support actors in their storytelling. In order to do so, I offer a rhythmic and geometric structure, crafted in collaboration with each actor's instincts, in which they can explore, much as heightened text provides structure in which to play.
My directorial work includes War of the Roses, Part 1: She-Wolves and Queens in 2023 followed by War of the Roses, Part 2: Curses and Queens in 2024, and Romeo & Juliet in 2026, all at Advice To The Players based in Sandwich, NH.
acting
Working primarily with Shakespeare, I seek conversation and collaboration amongst actors and audience, supported by thorough textual investigation, clear physical life, and a deeply personal voice.
I have worked with companies throughout the (mostly) Northeast, including New York Classical Theatre, Shakespeare & Company, Majestic Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Elsewhere Shakespeare, and Advice To The Players.
As an ongoing student of this art form, I have trained in movement, voice, clown, fight, dance, and acting with a number of companies, including Alexandra Beller Dances, Shakespeare & Company, The Barrow Group, the Linklater Voice Center, and The Humanist Project. I also hold an M.F.A. from the Academy at Shakespeare Theatre Company in conjunction with George Washington University.
Select credits include Juliet (Romeo and Juliet), Helena (All’s Well That Ends Well); Mistress Page (Merry Wives of Windsor); Sir Toby Belch (Twelfth Night); Hero (Much Ado About Nothing); Lucy (The Rivals); Friar Lawrence (Romeo and Juliet); Adriana (Comedy of Errors); and Gertrude, Ophelia, Osric, and both gravediggers (Hamlet).
From Romeo and Juliet
The Woolgatherers Theater Group
Brooklyn, NY
2019
producing
My first company was born in 2016, out of a corner of our neighborhood bar. We called ourselves The Woolgatherers Theater Group and we sought to tell old stories in new ways with artists from a broad range of backgrounds in their artistic methodologies and social communities. Despite shared undergraduate training, my co-founder and I had since pursued vastly different training, but shared a philosophy and passion for audience engagement, truthful storytelling, and a visceral experience.
As a producer, my job is to balance logistics and creativity in support of the artistic team. With The Woolgatherers, I managed fundraising campaigns ranging from $2,000 to $15,000 as well as marketing strategies that sold out numerous performances. And, as any theater maker knows, I picked up any and all bits and pieces that needed tending throughout the process, from hiring front of house staff to running out and buying ice myself. I also worked as an actor for this company, strengthening my prioritization, delegation, and self-awareness as I balanced creativity and logistics in tandem.
I stepped away from The Woolgatherers a stronger leader, a more supportive team member, and a lifelong student of group dynamics and interpersonal communication. It brings me deep pleasure to bring artists together and help facilitate a shared creative process.
Photos from 'Eyes of a Blue Dog,' 'Romeo and Juliet,' and 'Genesis 22.' The Woolgatherers Theater Group, NY. Photos by Ariella Axelbank and others.