ESPrit de Corps

The essential elements in great storytelling are the content of the story and the manner in which that story is conveyed to its audience.  If a director focuses only on the content story and fails to convey that story to the audience in a clear and compelling way, the production will have failed.  If the […]

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In 1975, I just barely graduated high school. But I wore a crown of lilacs and gardenias upon my graduation from Sunset Hill, the one square mile rock, my beloved townies, the sleepless nights. My Mother placed the crown on my head and recounted to her friend proudly…”Did you know she […]

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The atmosphere of a play is certainly important.  In order to convey the world of the play to the audience, the atmosphere must be just so.   The atmosphere in the rehearsal room is important in order for the best work possible to occur.   The first rehearsal between actor and director is, in essence, the audition. […]

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THIS IS JUST A BLOG PAUSE.
I just made that up and I like it!
I’m taking a moment to thank everyone who is writing on and reading this!  I am so inspired by all of you.  I have 10 million ideas!  Thanks to Stephanie and Phil for piloting this!  As they say in Coney Island: It’s […]

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That night I lie awake in a cold sweat and I’m convinced someone is watching me from the closet. I spend the next few hours getting the nerve to throw off the covers and leave the room. I head for the porch and I find Mom smoking, her bare feet touching the grass. […]

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Not to be confused with “take it personally,” it is important as a director to make a personal connection to the play.   Even when assigned a play–which is often the case–in order for the play to achieve greatness in production, a director must find the specific theme or moment of quality or whatever it might […]

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The four siblings ahead of me have moved on into the world, so Lucilla (mom), Herman (dad) and I have created our own unique dinner ritual. There is the cocktail hour and the centerpiece of our kitchen scene: the radio! There is the part where no matter WHAT is happening if SOMEWHERE […]

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When I was directing Betty’s Summer Vacation (pictured here) by Christopher Durang, my MFA thesis production, I was in a panic in the days before opening night; we had a good show, but it was on the verge of being great. Like a coach before the big game, I sat the cast down for […]

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There was a time when I couldn’t imagine life off that rock. The cold and clear green waters, the salt in my night skies. One square mile of endless mystery and coded silence. No questions asked. None answered. I never wanted to take off my favorite summer orange dress that […]

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Recently my colleague and now friend, the esteemed Rob Southworth and I were locked in glittery pre-holiday party banter. Wine in hand we recollected early childhood groundbreaking inspirations in art and in education. My story had to do with a black and white poster featuring a shirtless Paul Newman as Cool Hand Luke.
The […]

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