Director, Writer, Teacher, Administrator, Consultant,
and Dean, College of the Visual and Performing Arts, George Mason University
Welcome. Here you’ll find information about and examples of my work as a stage director, writer, teacher, administrator, and consultant. As the site grows, I'll add a smattering of photographs, designs, and other snippets of visual work, and links to a variety of other virtual traces of a varied life. This site is a work in progress -- please feel free to be in touch with any questions, comments, corrections, and suggestions.
At the Hylton Performing Arts Center, where I have served as Executive Director since 2011, in addition to my work as Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts since May, 2015.
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SOME RECENT WORK
Directed world premiere (October 3, 2015) of "To Swing Through the Sky," a multimedia performance by the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra at the Hylton Performing Arts Center, celebrating the twinned histories of two great American innovations: jazz and aviation. Conceived by the noted aviation historian -- and jazz aficionado -- Paul Glenshaw, with actors, dancers, stunning visuals including historic stills and videos, and the full-throated roar of Jim Carroll's Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, this is a unique experience for lovers of jazz, flight, surprises, history, "STEM and STEAM," and unexpected insight.
Directed a hybrid digital workshop production of James Reston Jr.'s Luther's Trumpet (premiered May 2021), exploring the integration of remote and in-person performers in real time. We adapted the innovative "Window Wall" projection approach developed by Mason's Christopher D'Amboise and the LIVE Center, and employed a cast of professional and student actors.
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West Side Story+Roméo et Juliette
Young Artists of America
Music Center at Strathmore
March 8, 2015
FATAL SONG, or The Great Opera Murders by Kathleen Cahill, music by Mozart, Verdi, Donizetti, Massenet, Puccini, Bernstein et al. The IN Series at Source Theatre, Washington, DC. September, 2014. "Between consumption, poison, madness, exposure, stabbing, and suffocation, the divas of classic opera never really had much of a chance. Carmen, Mimi, Desdemona, and others finally get the chance to vent about their unfortunate ends through The In Series’ gleeful production of Fatal Song ... a winning, accessible production ... Who knew opera could be this much fun? - Ben Demers, dctheatrescene.com.
Directed a nearly sold-out and critically praised production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute for the IN Series, at the magnificent Scottish Rite Temple in Washington, D.C. (September/October 2017). In addition to a stellar cast and chamber orchestra led by Stanley Thurston, this production featured the world premiere of Nick Olcott’s brilliant new English translation/adaptation, and a unique "WPA-style" framing concept to make maximum use of the inspiring space. See "Links" page for reviews and more photos.
This 2016 performance was a "semi-staged" evening of beautiful and challenging song, for which I "semi-directed" the stage business and worked with the talented lighting and projections designer Autum Casey to create an atmospheric environment for each set of songs. I then served as "host" for the evening, providing introductions and commentary and leading a post-concert discussion.
