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From an early age, my artistic voice has been shaped by a love of bringing people together through shared experiences. Growing up, my brother and I would constantly be staging homemade performances for our parents through  writing and acting out silly skits, creating makeshift sets and costumes, and reveling in the magic of channeling our imaginations into reality. Those joyful collaborative endeavors sparked my passion for theatre and the performing arts.

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As I advanced through school theatre programs, I was fortunate to work with inspirational directors and teachers who reinforced the fundamentally collaborative ethos of the art form. Putting on a play requires every person to embrace a spirit of generosity collaborating with designers, technicians, and actors where all working in service of something larger than themselves. My favorite moments occurred not just in the performance itself, but in the creative process of discovery, teamwork, and problem-solving with my castmates and crew.

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Those early foundations grounded my artistic values in the principles of empathy, listening, and collective creativity. I take pride in being a versatile collaborator who can slip into different roles as needed, sometimes as a leader with a unified vision, other times as a supporter elevating others' ideas. What drives me is fostering an environment of mutual trust and respect where each individual's unique perspectives and abilities are woven into something greater than the sum of its parts.

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Perhaps my core artistic value is a deep commitment to collaboration. I believe that the most resonant and impactful works of art emerge from collective endeavors drawing together varied skills, backgrounds, and perspectives. Beyond just being a pragmatic necessity, collaboration lies at the very heart of how I approach the creative process. As both a performer and director, I make it a priority to foster an ensemble minded environment. This means clearly establishing a foundation of mutual trust, open communication, and shared risk-taking from the very start. I believe it's crucial for all collaborators to feel empowered to contribute ideas and feel ownership over the creative decisions not just for actors, but designers, writers, choreographers, and everyone. My role is to gently guide that collective energy into a cohesive through line.I'm also a big believer in the practice of yes, and… that fundamental improv principle of accepting whatever is contributed and building upon it, rather than shutting it down. I learned it with Andy Grapko in our Improv class. This promotes an atmosphere of generosity and receptiveness that unlocks the free flow of creativity. As a director, it means avoiding getting too locked into any preconceived notions and remaining flexible to new possibilities that emerge organically through the collaborative process. There is a balance to strike between maintaining an open collaboration and ultimately assuming responsibility for unifying everyone's efforts into a cohesive artistic vision. I don't shy away from making tough decisions when needed. However,  I always strive to do so transparently and with full respect for my collaborators' investments. It's about cultivating a team environment of shared passion.

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An essential element, I try to inject into all my artistic endeavors with a spirit of play and humor. To me, the most electrifying performances are imbued with a palpable sense of joy and delight that renders the material alive and present. It is the  intangible artistic sense where the sheer pleasure of the artists' commitment resonates out into the audience.  I think too often theatre can veer into self-seriousness or get bogged down in intellectualism at the expense of emotional immediacy. I have tremendous respect for aesthetically rigorous and conceptually dense works that challenge audiences. However, I also believe in the cultural importance of creating experiences that offer relief, release, and revelry.  That's why I'm particularly drawn to comic performance styles and playful theatrical forms that revel in elements of spectacle and unbridled expression. For example, I am a big fan of Commedia dell'arte, a tradition brimming with archetypes, slapstick, improvisation, and delicious irreverence.