Practice
Directing. Devising. Dramaturgy.
What Critics are Saying
“This is theatre of the future.”
– Laurie Woolery, The Public Theatre
“Nourishing.”
– Laurel Butler, Everyday Arts
“For those who are a part of disabled spaces and/or experience disability, this performance was revolutionary…
Throughout the piece, a unified feeling or singular experience is explicitly eschewed for a multitudinous galaxy of understandings. These understandings hold the performance together, embracing the curved, sharp, porous worlds of disability. In this deliberate disorder, disabled bodyminds touch, collide, and dare to flourish.”
– Nick Wingez-Yanez, review of kin • song for QT Voices
What Students are Saying
“I’ve never experienced this level of trauma-informed practice within a theatre space before. I would love to see this incorporated in more performance trainings and spaces.”
“I’ve gained a lot of confidence in myself and my instincts. I feel more like I’m creating rather than just reciting.”
“This has been such a different and eye-opening experience for me.”
“I felt like there was less of a power imbalance between the actors and the director and it felt very freeing. It also made me feel safe which is important for any show but especially ones that touch on sensitive topics.”
Mental Health Dramaturgy
For the past few years, I have been developing a dramaturgical practice that combines mad and disability history/theory with mental health first aid practices to support actors and directors as they craft informed, respectful, and safe representations of mental (ill) health. Sometimes, this means working with a director to contextualize a character’s diagnosis within the play’s historical, geographical, and cultural context. Other times, this means meeting with a production team to work through the politics of a particular staging, or collaborating with actors to implement strategies for performing mental distress without inducing mental distress. I also share my expertise on talkback panels, particularly for shows with mental health themes.
For more information, or to discuss collaborations, please reach out via my contact form.