I've spent much of my career not only making theatre, but building the organizations that make theatre possible. As a producer and artistic director, I've helped found and lead theatre companies, plan seasons, develop productions, build creative teams, manage budgets, raise funds, and take projects from the first idea through opening night.

From concept to performance

I believe a producer's job is to give artists what they need to do their best work while keeping the artistic vision, practical realities, and audience in mind. At the end of the day, every decision should serve the same thing: the story we're trying to tell.

I've produced a little bit of everything over the years: Shakespeare, contemporary plays, musicals, comedies, and new work. I'm not particularly interested in one type of theatre over another. If it's a good play, has something to say, and I think an audience will want to see it, I'm interested.

Building the foundation for great theatre

Producing means figuring out what it will take to actually get the show on the stage. That includes putting together the right people, finding the money, building a realistic budget and schedule, solving problems as they come up, and making sure the production has what it needs. I like that part of the job. I like taking something that exists on paper and figuring out how we're going to make it happen.

Collaborating for artistic success

I like working with people who are good at what they do, and I don't believe in hiring talented people and then telling them how to do their jobs. Give people a clear idea of what we're trying to accomplish, give them the support they need, and let them bring something of themselves to the work. Some of the best ideas I've seen onstage weren't mine, and that's exactly how it should be.