The Ripple Effect of a Life in Theatre
Inspired by the Tony Awards, this reflection became something much bigger than a celebration of Broadway. It became an opportunity to look back on the people, performances, mentors, friends, students, and moments that helped shape the man I am today. From the first show I saw at thirteen to the classroom and rehearsal hall where I now spend my days, theatre has touched every corner of my life. This essay explores the ripple effect of a life in theatre—the extraordinary power of art to inspire, connect, and transform—and why, even now, I still believe there's time for one more dream.
Potential: The Ugliest Word
Monday, A Midsummer Night’s Dream nearly got cancelled. By Friday, we had sold out every performance before opening night even happened. Somewhere between teenagers carrying scripts like emotional support blankets, Shakespearean chaos, audience laughter, and one very validating conversation with a parent, I found myself thinking a lot about trust, leadership, culture-building, and the curse of seeing what something could become. This one’s about all of that — told, appropriately, as a play in five acts.
Broadway Lights & Cabin Nights
I spent this week watching my students experience New York for the first time—and then came home to the realization that this is the last week all of my kids will be under one roof. It’s a strange, beautiful tension of joy, pride, and quiet ache… and I’m learning what it means to live in all of it at once.
Fine Is Not the Finish Line
Building culture is different than directing a show. It means holding a standard steady long before everyone else is ready to carry it with you. This season has stretched me more than I expected — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Resistance doesn’t always mean something is broken; sometimes it means something is being built. It has tested my leadership, my endurance, and my conviction in ways I didn’t anticipate. There has been slow momentum, exhaustion that settles into my bones, and the temptation to lower the bar just to make it easier on everyone. But “fine” has never been the goal. Excellence doesn’t happen by accident — it’s built, protected, and sometimes fought for.