As both a teacher and an artist, I am interested in new work and new voices. Just as my work in the classroom centers on developing creative, curious, and risk-taking artists, my artistic work focuses on developing creative, curious, and risk-taking performance. I am particularly drawn to collaborative, ensemble-based creation; inquiry-driven approaches to making new work; and performance shaped by the generative actor. I believe that the classroom and the studio exist on a continuum, and that my approach to each is connected, with work in one informing and strengthening work in the other.
My artistic work spans original devised projects, regional theatre productions, national commercials, and improvisation and sketch comedy performances and festivals, alongside work in educational and community-based settings. This breadth of experience has prepared me to teach students across a variety of styles and genres, translating professional theatre-making practices into accessible, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences.
I hold an MFA in Devised Performance from the University of the Arts, in partnership with the Pig Iron Theatre Company, as well as a BA in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech. My primary specialty is physical and devised theatre, including improvisation, movement analysis, mask, commedia dell’arte, and clown, supported by a strong foundation in Stanislavski-based approaches to acting, directing, playwriting, theatrical design, stage and lighting technology, voice, and theatre history and theory.
SELECTED ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE:
Slippage - Dancer/Director - Digital Short - 2020
Lies of our Lives - Deviser - UArts + Pig Iron Theater - 2020
Twelfth Night - Feste - Shakespeare on Tap - 2019
Border Towns - Deviser - UArts + Pig Iron Theater - 2019
Those People - Writer/Performer - The Magnet Theater - 2016 (Dir. Jana Schmieding)
NFL, Friends Talk Fantasy - Principal Actor - National Commercial - 2015
Sketch Sundays - Writer/Performer - The Magnet Theater - 2014-2015 (Dir. Jana Schmieding)
Del Close Marathon - Improviser - The Upright Citizens Brigade - 2013
The Weave - Improviser - The Magnet Theater - 2013
Megawatt - Improviser - The Magnet Theater - 2012-2014
Awkward Medium - Featured Extra - The Onion News Network - 2011
Dr. Columbina - Arlecchino/Co-Director - Virginia Tech - 2009
Trunks: A Clown Show - Deviser - The Hub Theater - 2008
Dr. Arlecchino - Arlecchino - Virginia Tech - 2008 (Dir. Marco Luly)
SELECTED TRAINING:
MFA, Devised Performance (Theater) - University of the Arts & Pig Iron Theater Company
Coursework: Improvisation, Movement Analysis, Mask (Neutral, Larval, Character, Commedia, Clown)
BA, Theater Arts - Virginia Tech
Coursework:
Physical & Devised Theater - Movement Theater Studio (Richard Crawford, Norman Taylor), The Funny School of Good Acting (Virginia Scott)
Improvisation & Sketch Comedy - The Second City, The Upright Citizens Brigade, The Magnet Theater (Armando Diaz), The People’s Improv Theater
Commedia de'll’arte & Clown - Antonio Fava (Italy), Luoghi dell’arte (Italy), Joan Schirle
Shakespeare - Shakespeare & Co. (Tina Packer)
Movement Analysis - The Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies
Voice - The Linklater Center for Voice & Language
Commercial Acting - Brooke & Mary
Complete list available upon request.