Where are you from?

I am from Beachwood, actually. I grew up in Beachwood.

What did you do before this?

I went to college for musical theatre at Baldwin-Wallace University. And then I moved to New York and lived there for two-and-a-half years. I did a tour, some regional shows. And  I now run my own theatre company that runs in the summers. That’s been going on for 16 years, it’s our 16th anniversary this year.

What are some things you are proud of?

It takes a lot of perseverance and patience to be an artist. Students that are going into a career in the arts, their parents are always worried that they’re not going to make enough money. I was able to make my own possibilities, if you want to have a career in any type of art, to be a painter or dancer or actor, it’s out there. You just have to be patient, and a lot of times be creative about making your own possibilities, and that’s something I’m proud of–I’ve been able to be creative with my career.

Were you working as an actor or a director?

I was working as an actor in New York, while directing on the side. I went to school for acting, which is why, [now] as a director, I understand the actors’ jobs and what it takes, and so I’m very conscience of that as a director…. It’s ultimately their performance, I’m not on stage doing their performance. So I really kind of see who each individual is and look at their strengths and how we can bring that out in the character.

Why did you choose to become the drama director here?

I knew the community, just because I grew up in Beachwood. I’ve also worked with high school students before, but not in this capacity where [I’m] running a program. So that really excited me, to be able to build a program for students who are looking to be able to go into college for this.

What are some other plays that you’ve directed?

Some other plays–I’ve done To kill a mockingbird, Annie, Avida, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek… I’ve directed a countless number. My favorite was a musical called Grand Hotel.

What are your goals for the future?

The goal for the play was to put the drama club on the map again, so that we would become a huge event within the school. My goal for the theatre program is to see students that really want to go into this [profession] in college get into good schools[for it], because it’s getting harder and harder and much more cutthroat nowadays; I know what it takes to get into good programs for the students. So that’s kind of my long-term goal, to see students really make that happen.

Besides patience and perseverance, do you have any personal philosophies regarding theatre?

My main philosophy is that I like to work with people that have something to share not prove. There’s the actor that’s like, “I’m good and I know it”. It’s not really the type of actor that I really like to work with…[as opposed to] the actors that are really giving and sharing of their craft. I guess that goes across the board to any kind of business. You can really only get so far if you’re just trying to prove something instead of being collaborative or sharing.

So you’re a Beachwood graduate?

I actually am not. I did not go to Beachwood [High School], I went to Notre Dame.

But you were born here?

Yep, so I lived in Beachwood. I did Beachwood Youth Theatre, it was my first theatre experience, many years ago.

So, what do you plan to bring to Beachwood now?

More recognition in the theatre department, right now my main goal right now is to put us on the map.