All About the Text

From a very rewarding wrap-up of our Étude run (for now, but hopefully not for long :) to several one-day staged readings, April into May has been all about supporting playwrights' new work! Looking toward the early summer, I’m also eager to start spreading the word about a project that gets back to my classical theatre roots, but with a twist… 

Recent & Upcoming: Work in Development 

With PlayGround-NY

I enjoyed catching back up with PlayGround, a wonderful short-play incubator for New York-area playwrights, to direct Sio Hornbuckle’s fun and playful The Monster Moves On for their end-of-the-season “Best Of” event in late April. The evening’s programme is still streaming through this weekend, and for a donation of any amount, audiences can vote for the recipient of this year’s New Play Commission. The selected playwright will receive a paid commission to adapt their award-winning ten-minute play into a full-length piece over the upcoming year. 

At The Growing Stage

Last weekend we kicked off the 2026 New Play-Reading Festival at The Growing Stage, which spotlights a dynamic selection of four finalist plays for young audiences and their families. It’s always exciting to hear these fresh new works and characters on their feet for the first time, and this year I directed the first staged reading of the elementary-grade adventure Timmon and the Magic Shoes, in which a young giraffe with a shorter neck learns about making new friends and embracing differences. Further selections from this play (likely featuring some new and revised material!) as well as the other finalists, will be presented at the next festival event, coming up on the afternoon of Saturday, June 13. 

In between, I’m looking forward to spending some additional time at TGS as we workshop for another developmental project. This one features some familiar, beloved characters who you’ll be able to come visit onstage in the fairly near future… stay tuned! 

The Greatest Classic Monologues You’ve Never Heard 

If you read these updates, you know that I love my work with Expand the Canon, and in particular the way in which these advocacy projects for historical texts by female and gender-expansive writers combine my passions for classical theatre and for introducing audiences to texts that are new to them. In one of our most ambitious undertakings yet, our ETC team has been hard at work on a monologue book spotlighting incredible speeches from many of our featured plays, and it will be headed your way SO SOON. I am tremendously proud to be part of this publication, which we hope will improve the visibility and accessibility of these texts for use in auditions, scene studies, and classrooms. Before the book hits shelves in June, consider joining our waitlist for ordering updates or signing up for our Book Launch event if you’re near NYC! 

May-June: Upcoming Calendar

Saturday, May 23 - Developmental Workshop at The Growing Stage

Following a week-long workshop for a new musical, we will present a partially-staged reading on Saturday afternoon. Stay tuned for more details! 

Monday, May 25 @ 8pm - Take Root with Forager Theatre Company 

My ballroom and social dance classes with Forager continue this spring! Take Root provides pay-what-you-can, all-levels classes, and this spring’s Monday evening session will offer a rotation of instructors teaching varied dance styles. My next class will be on 5/25 at 8pm teaching Swing, covering a basic technique primer as well as a fun choreographed combo. 

Monday, June 8 @ 6:30pm - Monologue Book Launch with Expand the Canon

Toast ETC’s publication debut with us in midtown Manhattan, and be among the very first to peruse our favorite under-performed gems from across the canon. 

Saturday, June 13 @ 4pm - “Festival of Scenes” Showcase at The Growing Stage

Come join us for a sampler of selections from this year’s New Play-Reading Festival finalists, likely featuring new revisions and additions incorporating feedback from the Round 1 readings. 

Recent Highlights & Recommendations

Some favorite media and performances from the past month!

Reading The Alice Network by Kate Quinn

On (the Big) Screen Project Hail Mary dir. Phil Lord & Chris Miller

Upcoming, On Stage I’ve spent too much of the past month in rehearsal and performance to catch many other shows, but in the coming weeks I’m eager to check out Mexodus (off-Bway, Daryl Roth), The Emporium (off-Bway, Classic Stage), and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Broadway). 

In Community It's always a pleasure to catch my colleagues’ readings during festival events such as PlayGround and NPRF!