Directing

I have directed and developed over 100 professional productions, almost all new works, including premieres by Thornton Wilder, Derek Walcott, Robert Brustein, Howard Zinn, Shel Silverstein, Christopher Durang, Erik Ehn, James Carroll, Alan Brody, Kate Snodgrass, Russell Lees, Brenda Withers, Zayd Dorn, Ronan Noone and Jeffrey Sweet.  I have directed at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Theatre X, the Organic Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Next Act Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Vineyard Playhouse, Boston Lyric Opera, SpeakEasy Stage, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, the Market Theatre, Central Square Theatre, Theatre Gigante, Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theatre as well as many universities including Darmouth, University of Rochester, Marquette, UW-Milwaukee Professional Theatre Training Program, Brandeis and MIT. I directed the Japanese premiere of Len Jenkin’s Pilgrims of the Night at DARTS/Company Subaru in Tokyo as well as my own adaptation of a Noh play, Canton, performed in Japanese at the Yokohama Noh Theatre with excerpts broadcast on NHK. 

Playwriting

I have written, co-written or adapted twenty-five plays, all produced.  These include many theatrical adaptations of non-theatrical material:  Einstein’s Dreams and Mr g adapted from Alan Lightman’s novels; one state, two state/red state, blue state, a new musical inspired by National Book Award finalist Arlie Hochschild’s “Strangers In Their Own Land;”  Waters Rising, a new musical about fate, hubris and global warming inspired by the writings of climate scientist James Hansen; Yesterday Happened: Remembering H.M., created in consultation with neuroscientists from MIT and Harvard as well as Dr. Suzanne Corkins (MIT) who was chief researcher of Patient H.M.;  Car Talk: The Musical!!! inspired by the beloved NPR show and in created consultation with Tom and Ray Magliozzi; Shouting Theatre in a Crowded Fire inspired by and adapted from the writings of historian/activist Howard Zinn; shrapnel, inspired by and adapted from the writings of psychologist James Hillman and war correspondent/social critic Chris Hedges;  The Strength and Indifference of the Snow commissioned by the Mayor of Milwaukee and adapted from the writings of diplomat George F. Kennan; The Magic of Believing, an original opera based on the life of Liberace; The Desire of the Moth for the Star, adapted from the writings of medieval holy woman Margery Kempe and a 10-minute play, For Whom the Bell Curve Tolls, commissioned by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, adapted from an essay by surgeon/writer Atul Gawande and performed by Brooke Adams and Tony Shalhoub.  

Leadership

I have served as artistic director of the internationally acclaimed ensemble Theatre X as well as artistic associate of Chicago’s Organic Theatre, resident director at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, interim artistic director of both the Drama League of New York’s Directors’ Project and the Coyote Theatre in Boston, regional vice-president of the Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of America and founding artistic director of The National Theatre of Allston, a company devoted to the creation of experimental political work for the stage.  I recently founded Juvenilia, a professional company in residence at Suffolk University. 

Education & Academic Appointments

I attended Dartmouth College (BA), Marquette University (MA), Northwestern University (PhD – ABD) and Boston University (MFA).  I received a prestigious Bunka-cho Grant from the Japanese government to study traditional theatre in Tokyo.  I was admitted to the first class of the American Repertory Theatre Institute for Advanced Theatre Studies at Harvard and the second class of the Drama League of New York’s Directors’ Project.  I have served as a guest director to Theatre Masters, a producing program for young playwrights at 59E59 in NYC.  I am a tenured professor at Suffolk University.