The Director.Upcoming:
Current Project:
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2021
Love and Information by Caryl Churchill
Millersville University
Cast: 23
Experimental, Devised Theatre, Live-Streaming Technology
As our communities began to gather in person again, Millersville took the opportunity to move into a more open space for this large-cast production. With mask requirements in place for both the audience and actors, we focused on engaging our audience from a distance and holding their attention with unique and innovative choices. Rehearsals were spent experimenting with Churchill's flexible, dynamic script; I gave students a lot of freedom to develop characters and storylines based on the barebones dialogue that Churchill provides. There was also the opportunity to get creative with dance choreography, vocalization, live video projection, and even voice amplification through plant-life, implemented by one of our student sound technicians.
Photos by Victoria Pappas
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The Far Reaches (Supervising Director)
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2020
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 by Anna Deavere Smith
Millersville University
Cast: 13
Diverse Cast, Social Justice, Live-Streaming Technology, Black Box
This was Millersville's first foray into live-streaming technology for a theatrical production. With strict Covid-19 procedures in place, our cast worked within the challenging safety protocols to create a surprisingly intimate piece of theatre that also addressed social and political unrest happening in our area at that time. I worked with Assistant Director John Bolds - a talented student who also performed in Twilight, to create a timely show with the most diverse cast in MU Theatre history.
Photos by Matt Jurgensen
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She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen
Millersville University
Cast: 11
Stage Combat, Intimacy Choreography, Comedy, Black Box
A fast-paced, action-packed comedy, She Kills Monsters was meant to be my independent directorial debut at Millersville University. Due to Covid-19, our production was canceled, leaving us with only one invited dress rehearsal - two weeks before our scheduled performance dates - as the culmination to our work. Regardless, the experience was incredibly valuable for the cast as well as myself. We brought in NYC fight director Jared Kirby to develop challenging and intricate fight choreography. We also discussed and implemented vital safety strategies for on-stage intimacy. Each actor grew in their skills sets and grew close as a cast, even as we missed the chance to see this production fully realized.
Photos by Sylvia Garner
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2019
A Midsummer Night's Dream adapted by Phil Rooney (Assistant Director)
Millersville University
Cast: 20
Shakespeare, Literary Adaptation/Translation, Comedy, Black Box, Alley Staging
I served as the Assistant Director on this production to a truly creative Director/Designer. My role was primarily to prepare the cast for rehearsal each day and support the director's vision. I also provided additional character and performance development as well as unarmed physical conflict, vocal, and intimacy coaching for the actors. The play was imaginative and the theatre was made to feel "site specific" for the audience.
Photos by Sylvia Garner
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Charlotte's Web adapted of Joseph Robinette
Clarks Summit University
Cast: 8
Theatre for Young Audiences, Comedy, Educational Theatre
A beloved adaptation of this classic piece of literature, our production was energetic and inviting. We had a featured dancer who played Charlotte and served as the choreographer for the barn and square dancing. We also included simple, but movable set pieces and "found object" costumes ala children telling the story.
Photos by Vantage Photographer
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2018
Alice in Wonderland adapted by William Glennon
Clarks Summit University
Cast: 9
Theatre for Young Audiences, Comedy, Educational & Sensory-Friendly performances offered
A fast-paced, imaginative adaptation of a beloved piece of classic literature. This was my first foray in the TYA world for many years. I had two students who wished to pursue TYA as a career, so we pursued a season of TYA shows at the university. This production included quintessential TYA practices such as shadow-play, puppetry, dancing, live sound effects, and multi-purpose actors and scenic elements.
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Hamlet by William Shakespeare, edited by Jonathan Strayer
Ghostlight Productions' 10th annual Shakespeare in the Park
Cast: 10
Tragedy, Shakespeare
An open-air production my own edit/adaptation of the script which was carefully crafted from the available 1603 (Q1), 1604 (Q2), and the 1623 (F1) texts. This production also included a great deal of stage combat (longsword, sword/shield, spear, and unarmed) to tell the story. I also worked with a professional fight director to train our actors in the appropriate fighting styles/weapons and create the violence for our story.
Photos: Jonathan Strayer and Jessica Eddy
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Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, edited by Jonathan Strayer and Rachel Luann Strayer (Co-Director)
Clarks Summit University & Keystone College
Cast: 18
Comedy, Shakespeare
The first collegiate co-production in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the cast was comprised of students from both CSU and KC. We rehearsed and performed on both campuses in a three-quarter round setting. This production included live music, dancing, and unarmed stage combat.
Photos by Rachel Strayer
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2017
Emma adapted by Jon Jory (Supervising Director)
Clarks Summit University
Cast: 11
Comedy, Jane Austen
A fast-paced adaptation featuring Regency era singing, dancing, and period costumes. I directed this production with one of my theatre students as she worked to fulfill the senior project requirements for her degree.
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The Tempest by William Shakespeare, edited by Jonathan Strayer
Ghostlight Productions' 9th annual Shakespeare in the Park
Cast: 14
Comedy, Shakespeare
An open-air production featuring singing, dancing, stage combat (unarmed and quarterstaff) and live original music played by the actors. I worked closely with the composer/music director and the choreographer on the music, singing, and dancing. I also worked with a professional fight director to train our actors in the appropriate fighting styles/weapons and create the violence for our story.
Photos: Jason Belack and Jonathan Strayer
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Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice and Wayne Barker
Clarks Summit University
Cast: 12 actors, 2 musicians
Comedy, Musical
A musical play featuring singing, dancing, stage combat (unarmed) and a live orchestra. I worked closely with a musical director and choreographer. My approach for the direction/design was largely poor theatre/found object storytelling.
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2016
Everyman, original adaptation by Suz Ferbrache and Jonathan Strayer
Clarks Summit University
Cast: 6 actors with a swing and rotating main character, 6 musicians
Devised, Drama, Dance, Original Live Music
This was a beautifully artistic devised piece that featured live new music, rhythmic breathing, vocalizations, and dance. I worked with the musical director and live band to create 80 minutes of new music for this production and a choreographer to teach our ensemble dance and fabric work. A different actor played the title character each night. I also served as the lighting designer on this project.
*View a Documentary Film about Everyman here.
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Drowning Ophelia by Rachel Luann Strayer
Gaslight Theatre Company
Cast: 4
Dark Comedy
This is a play with song and boasts a small 4 person ensemble with two incredible female leads. The biggest and most exciting challenge with this play is the requirement for water in the tub (and then splashing out of the tub!) on stage. Due to the intimate nature of the subject matter, I staged it in a tight 3/4 round, so the audience could not escape the culpability of being a part of the action. Some of them also got wet. I worked with an incredible lighting designer on this one!
Photos: Brad Barry
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The Poe Asylum, adaptation by Rachel Luann Strayer, based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe (Co-Director)
Ghostlight Productions at the Scranton Fringe Festival
Cast: 10
Mystery, Poe
This is a multi-story/multi-director experience with 3 works being performed in 3 separate, but nearby locations. The audience changes rooms after each work is finished. I directed The Pit and The Pendulum with the story told by one actor/narrator and 9 other actors creating the movement, the sound, and the action in which the narrator is engaged. The ensemble was in black, my narrator began and ended in a straight jacket.
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2015
Almost, Maine by John Cariani (Assistant Director)
Ghostlight Productions' Underage Theatre program at The Abington Community Library
Cast: 10
Comedy
This was an open air youth theatre production. As Assistant Director, I directed several scenes, ran rehearsals and exercises, and provided additional input and troubleshooting help for the stage combat.
Photos: Jason Belack
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2014
Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman (Assistant Director)
Ghostlight Productions' Underage Theatre program at The Abington Community Library
Cast: 11
Comedy, Mythology
This was an open air youth theatre production. As Assistant Director, I directed several scenes, ran rehearsals and exercises, and provided additional input and troubleshooting help for the stage combat.
Photos: Jason Belack
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Macbeth by William Shakespeare, edited by Jonathan Strayer
Ghostlight Productions' 6th annual Shakespeare in the Park
Cast: 18
Tragedy, Shakespeare
An open-air production featuring stage combat (unarmed, knife, and broadsword) and live, tribal percussion played by the actors. I worked closely with the composer/music director on the music. I stage the fights and created the violence for our story myself. My approach also featured 9 witches (instead of 3) playing multiple characters.
Photos: Daniel Lanton and Laura Moore
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2013
Jaunty Cats! an original performance inspired by Vivaldi's The Four Seasons
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2012
A Midnight Dreary by James Goode, based on selected works of Edgar Allan Poe (Co-Director)
Ghostlight Productions
Cast: 17
Mystery, Poe
This is a full length play composed of Poe's short stories. This was a multiple director project. My two stories were The Tell-Tale Heart and Murders in the Rue Morgue. Tell-Tale was staged with two women playing two parts of one person (instead of just one man as in the story). Murders was staged in a the noir style. This was a dinner theatre production.
Photos: Hannah Strayer
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2011
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, edited by Jonathan Rachel Luann Strayer
Ghostlight Productions' 3rd annual Shakespeare in the Park
Cast: 11
Comedy, Shakespeare
An open-air production featuring live music and dancing. I worked closely with our live musician on the music and a choreographer on the dance. My approach highlighted the jovial atmosphere and featured a mix of bright colors and big personalities to match. I also made the choice to roll Verges and The Watch into the character of Dogberry with that actor playing those roles as a hand-puppet and pink flamingos--like a child playing with his toys.
Photos: Daniel Lanton
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2010
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, edited by Jonathan and Rachel Luann Strayer
Ghostlight Productions' 2nd annual Shakespeare in the Park
Cast: 19
Comedy, Shakespeare
An open-air production. My approach highlighted the magic atmosphere of the woods and featured a wide array of natural elements and textures. I also added a few versatile scenic pieces to help change the setting from the woods to the town/castle. The donkey head was a stand-out prop.
Photos: Daniel Lanton
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2009
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, edited by Jonathan Strayer and Rachel Luann Strayer
Ghostlight Productions' 1st annual Shakespeare in the Park
Cast: 10
Comedy, Shakespeare
My first open-air production. My approach highlighted the natural elements of our park setting. I also added a few versatile scenic pieces to help with setting and costume changes. Malvolio's yellow cross-garters and red velvet shorts were the stand out costume.
Photos: Daniel Lanton
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2003
The Sandbox by Edward Albee
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