Hometown: Taunton, MA
Education: MFA, Yale School of Drama
Favorite Credits: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Musical in grad school and most recently, the US Russian premiere of Prokofiev's opera Maddalena for Opera Slavica.
Why theater?: What else is there? I'm not trying to be flip, I just really can't think of anything else I want to do or am qualified to do, or could do without becoming homi- or sui-cidal. It's kind of a bummer because I'd love to make like, a LOT of money and not have to worry about student loans and such. I mean, I'd really love it. But I have no affinity for those kinds of jobs. I like theater. I get to make stuff and think about stuff and work with cool people and spend time doing really weird shit and it's you know, meaningful at times, and funny almost always and slightly disturbing. It's a good life when I'm not eating my heart out with jealousy. And I get to share it with other people and that's good too.
Tell us about The Brink of Us: It is the finest play of this or any other generation.
What made you want to direct The Brink of Us?: If I tell you that, I'll give it away!!!!!!! It's funny and it's sexy and it's vicious and it's gritty and there may be a dance break or a drug break or something. It deals with real shit in such a meta-way that you can hunker down and just enjoy the narrative, or you can dig a little deeper and feel validated (or offended, depending). I like that about it.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: I like theatre that asks big questions in irreverent ways, that requires a mastery of language AND physicality. I like theatre that is so much better when you see it than when you read it. I like theatre that couldn't possibly be better as a movie or a TV show. I'm inspired by people who keep plugging away at their own piece of awesome, regardless of accolades or reviews. I strive to be that artist.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: I could direct the shit out of a Marcus Gardley show. You hear that Marcus!?!?! I'm a big fan of Hilary Bettis, too.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: All of them!
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: It's not who would play me, it's who would play my love interest. And that person would be Robert Downey Jr. And I would then have to play myself, or at least be my own stunt double for all the kissing and the witty repartee.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: I don't feel guilty about pleasure.
What’s the most played song on your iPod?: "Tightrope" by Janelle Monae and everything Foo Fighters
If you weren’t working in theater, what would you be ______?: Probably be a UU minister. Got accepted into seminary. True story. Imagine!
What’s up next?: Goin' to Appalachia to do a play and then back to NYC to do an opera and then I'll probably never work again.
