My commitment is to make theatre that sparks conversations. For me, theatre is an active demonstration of real social issues and personal connections. It is more than just playing pretend; it is creating the space to recognize the walks of others. It is entertainment; it is community—from the performers, to the crew, to the audience, to those they encounter when the curtains close. As the director, I take on the role to bring all of these people together into a shared space to fully experience a story by considering and incorporating different viewpoints and embracing collaboration throughout the process. As an artist, I commit to telling stories honestly, prioritizing the connections in the script and in the room, and always remaining adaptable in my practice to the people who occupy the space alongside me.

As an LGBTQ+ woman, I actively seek work that is about or includes characters who come from similar and other underrepresented backgrounds and walks of life. I believe the art we create should reflect the diverse communities we live in. I seek this diversity not only in the material I choose, but in the teams that I work alongside. I also have worked with students and adults with varying physical and neuro-diversities because I believe there is space for everyone in theatre, and I actively work to make that space welcoming and accessible for everyone. My training in intimacy choreography and consent-based work has contributed to the tools I use in my spaces to accomplish this. For example, before we even get up on our feet in the rehearsal room, the first thing I do is a boundary practice with the actors. We discuss access needs and learn to meet each other where we are at to create a secure space where we have freedom to experiment and make art. 

As a director, I value exploration and depth. My process begins with deep textual analysis that leads to full conversations in the rehearsal room. I approach these conversations with the tools I have gained through mental health and conflict resolution training so everyone can participate in them in a secure and supported space. My priority in these conversations is to focus on how we as humans experience life as individuals and how that fits into the narrative of our combined stories. We then continue our exploration with physicality through improvised and choreographed movement. This practice allows the actors to have another way into their character and ultimately gives the production a specific style that highlights the intent of the script through intentional movement.

With the production team, my approach is similar. I take the time to connect with each artist prior to acting as a guide in the conversations. With my designer background, I have learned to allow designers space to express the work and themselves through their mediums while facilitating the conversations, so everyone is on the same page as we continue to probe the work and create a cohesive production. If we agree on the reason why we are telling the story and our goals for creating it through the set, lighting, costume, and sound design, the audience is able to experience the stories of our communities and become a part of our living art.