Theatre

William Esper defined acting as “living truthfully within imaginary circumstances,” and for me, theatre is the art of sharing this experience. The actor works by developing the capacity to fully listen, with all their senses and their entire body, intellect and emotional storehouse. Listening is what grounds them in the Moment, which is where authenticity resides. They heed the words of James Joyce: “Every moment of inspiration must be paid for in advance,” and Bashō: “Master technique, then forget it.” These methods allow us to become the other, to live in the world of someone else. As Jessica Blank says, “The actor’s job is the craft of radical empathy.” But this work of listening to be in the Moment to live truthfully to create empathy is only half the story. The art of theatre only comes into existence when this experience is shared. The audience is as important as the actors—both must give generously of their attention and openness in order to, together, create the art. Together, they live the experience and foster empathy. There are no spectators, only participants.

For the past 25 years, I’ve been lucky enough to work, off and on, as a stage director, scenic designer, lighting designer, technical director, theatre educator and actor with countless talented people at venues in Michigan, Minneapolis, New York City and Montana. Please click the following links for details.