I suppose that I try to keep things simple, really. Because I so firmly believe in the transformational power of the arts, I'm able to lose myself in mission. That's what connects my dots—as it were. Whether I'm directing, acting or teaching, I make myself very aware of how each step of the work will add up and become the most powerful approach to tell a story; the story that will start the largest, most passionate conversation in my community. That's what I'm interested in, that's what feeds me, because that's how we all become a catalyst for positive change.
Those who know me, know that I've often quoted the famed Chicago newspaper writer Finley Peter Dunne, who believed that the point of newspapers was to "Comfort the Afflicted and Afflict the Comfortable". Well I agree, Mr. Dunne, except I would co-opt that notion for my own purposes; I think the point of art—and teaching, really—is exactly that; to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Some art does the first, some the latter, the greatest art does both. That's how I help to choose our season's programming here at Geva Theatre Center, that's also how I direct, teach and act. It's a potent one-two punch—and a hell of a scale with which to weigh ideas. Try it some time and you'll see what I mean.
How'd I get to be this way? Well, my father worked on the GM assembly lines while putting himself through night school in Detroit, where I was born. Both he and my mother instilled working class values in all five of the children. They taught us the value of risk, without which little is accomplished. And they told us to "decide who you are and let that take you where you're going—don't get to where you're going and then try to decide who you are. It'll be too late". I've wedded those values to the many mentors I've scooped up and fed off of along the way—Professors Porter Woods and Morris Burns at Colorado State University (Undergraduate), Directors Jim Edmondson and Alan Fletcher at the American Conservatory Theatre (Masters), Director Paul Barnes and Artistic Director Jerry Turner at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, to name a few. I've stolen from all of them. Freely. They know it. And their ideas and influences make up who I am, I'm proud to say.
I believe in process. I believe truth can be found inside of a big lie. I believe you can't create and analyze at the same time. I believe that a safe environment allows risk which creates vulnerability, which develops trust, which creates an even safer environment which fosters artistic and personal growth and results in the tightest "ensemble"—leading to the highest quality work that can be seen on American Stages.
My beautiful wife. My son. Arthur Miller, Shakespeare, Nottage, Morisseau, and Connor McPherson. Curiosity. Perseverance. Collaboration. Albinoni. Bourbon. Ishiguro. Friendship. Joy. Wonder.