ABOUT ME
BIO
I am a freelance actor, director, and teacher with dual citizenship in the US and Canada. I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Acting and Theatre Arts from the University of Akron, graduating with honours, and an MFA in Theatre Directing from York University. While an undergraduate, I was a founding member of New World Performance Laboratory (NWPL), a physical theatre company founded on the working principles and process of Polish Director Jerzy Grotowski based at The Cleveland Public Theatre.
After several years of working with NWPL as an actor, assistant director, and musical director on successful productions and tours to Europe, NY, Los Angeles, I relocated to Chicago where I worked as an actor at Shakespeare Repertory, European Rep, and The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. At that time, I also joined Shakespeare’s Motley Crew, a Shakespeare-dedicated company with whom I worked as an actor, and briefly as Technical Director.
In 1999 I was a member of the inaugural Stratford Shakespeare Festival Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre Training. I subsequently spent 11 seasons at Stratford as Associate Director, actor, casting associate, and fight captain.
In the summer of 2008 I was a participant in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Directors’ Summit – a three-week director masterclass/workshop with Jonathan Kent, Garry Hines, Mike Alfreds, William Gaskill, and Christopher Newton. In 2009 and 2010, I served as Program Coordinator to Bob White and Robert Blacker in Stratford’s Dramaturgy and New Play Department.
Over the years I've been very fortunate to work closely with some amazing theatre artists such as Michael Langham, Des McAnuff, Sir Jonathan Miller, Richard Monette, Don Shipley, Marti Maraden, Joseph Ziegler, Matthew Jocelyn, Christopher Plummer, Simon Callow, William Hutt, Colm Feore, Martha Henry, Brian Bedford, Geraint Wyn-Davies, and Paul Gross, among many others.
Most recently I directed an abridged Julius Caesar by W. Shakespeare, and ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore by John Ford at York University. In January of 2013 I wrote and directed an adaptation of Francis Beaumont’s The Knight of the Burning Pestle for Theatre@York. Previously I directed Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, and the Toronto premiere of Kander & Ebb’s Curtains at the Al Green Theatre; Patrick Marber’s Closer, an adaptation of Shaun Tan’s graphic novel The Arrival, Euripides’ Alcestis, Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor, and Tadeusz Slobodzianek’s Our Class also at York University.
a few favourite quotes...
“Art is the Lie that tells the Truth.”
“Realism is only exposure whereas Art is revelation.”
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
Artistic Development
2013 -MFA in THEATRE DIRECTING from YORK UNIVERSITY
with David Smukler, Erika Batdorf, Paul Lampert, Theresa Przybylski, Shawn Kerwin,
Ines Buchli, and Melee Hutton
2008 -STRATFORD FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORS’ SUMMIT
with: Jonathan Kent, Mike Alfreds, Garry Hynes, Martha Henry, Christopher Newton, and William Gaskill
2006 – MASTERCLASS “ON SHAKESPEARE” with JOHN BARTON
2002 –MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY: DIRECTING SHAKESPEARE MODULE
with Leon Rubin, Roy Battersby, Janet Suzman, and John Russell Brown
2001 - ACTING WORKSHOP with UTA HAGEN
2000 - VOICE WORKSHOP with PATSY RODENBERG
1999 –STRATFORD FESTIVAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATORY FOR CLASSICAL THEATRE
with Michael Mawson, Janine Pearson, Kate Lynch, Anne Skinner, and Jeannette Lambermont
1996 – CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATRE: The Folio Technique with Barbara Gaines
1994 -B.A. IN THEATRE ARTS from the University of Akron
with James Slowiak, Dr. Susan Speers, Dr. Paul Daum
1992 – OBJECTIVE DRAMA PROGRAM at UC IRVINE
with Jerzy Grotowski, James Slowiak, and Jairo Cuesta
1992 – SHAKESPEARE ACTING WORKSHOP WITH SHAKESPEARE & CO
at University of Akron.
1991 - DIRECTING MASTERCLASS with PETER BROOK
at OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
1990 – ACTING SHAKESPEARE, a Performance Study
with PATRICIA DOYLE of the RSC
Awards and Recognition
Joan Chalmers Playwright Award
September 1999
I received this award for my stage adaptation of Dumas' The Three Musketeers.
Derek F. Mitchell Artistic Director's Award
Awarded by Richard Monette, Stratford Festival Artistic Director from 1994 - 2007
October 2001
This award was given to me for my work as Associate to the Artistic Director, Richard Monette, preceding and during the 2001 season at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
Jean Gascon Director's Award
Awarded by the Stratford Festival Guthrie Awards Committee
October 2007
I received this award in acknowledgement for my directing as Associate Director of the 2007 Stratford Festival Productions of 'An Ideal Husband' and 'The Comedy of Errors'.
2007 Tyrone Award for Excellence
Awarded by the Stratford Festival Production Department, Director's Office, Crew, Wardrobe, and Acting Company
November 2007
I received this award, named for the founding Artistic Director Tyrone Guthrie, the highest honour bestowed on an employee, artist, or artisan at the Stratford Festival, for my work during the 2007 season and for my service as Associate Director to then Artistic Director Richard Monette during the final years of his tenure.