WHAT I BELIEVE:
Statements on the Theatre
“Theater is a celebration of fragility, transience, imperfection, collapse, precariousness, unreliability, and collision. Of all the arts forms, it is the one that relies most on what is avoided. It’s the space in which failure isn’t a disaster but an explosion of possibilities. It’s inherently a resistive space because, quite simply, it’s constantly in creation... It’s only theatre that could establish collapse as a collective experience: understanding the consequences and the stakes of such moments, and our responsibilities as humans and individuals in relation to them. ”
“When you tell a story, you tell it to save your life...”
An Ever-Evolving Artistic Statement
The human condition contains such fascinating stories. My job as a theatre artist is to delve into the messiness of our stories and investigate what it means to live a life. I am drawn to work by playwrights like Naomi Wallace, Suzan-Lori Parks, Maria Irene Fornes, Lucy Thurber, Adrienne Kennedy and Howard Barker, who exalt complexity and dare to push against mediocre, didactic clarity. These playwrights embody James Baldwin’s assertion that “the artist cannot and must not take anything for granted, but must drive to the heart of every answer and expose the question the answer hides.”
I am excited by plays and performances that push the boundaries of what is possible inside the theater. I strive to make work that embodies Emily Dickinson’s motto - Tell all the truth, but tell it slant. Theater has the ability to ensnare us and command our attention in an age of passivity. I want stories that explore human fallibility and expose hypocrisy. We are capable of such overwhelming kindness and passion, while committing horrendous acts of violence and self-preservation. Theater should be a movement toward nuance and empathy, expanding our resilience in the face of our own contradictions.
A Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - draft: million and one
A serious commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential to my work as a theatre artist. Diversity of experience, race, gender, identity, ability, thought and perspective, and taste enrich our art form and reflect the complexities of the human condition.
I often do not feel fully seen by society - who among us does? I am a gay, first-generation Palestinian American from South Carolina. I feel stuck in the space between cultures and races – excluded from some groups, shuffled into others, and often asked to justify my identity. So I make spaces for artists to be seen as they are; an environment where a diverse group of collaborators can bring their full, complex, messy selves to the work. How can I expect to be seen if I don’t see others? How else can artists be moved to create their best work?
I believe this work is never finished. It requires constant attention and intentionality. Unconscious biases will arise. The structures of racism, colorism, bigotry, classism, sexism, ageism and many more are embedded in our society and in our art form. We have to acknowledge them in order to confront them in order to dismantle them as best we can. This is only possible with humility, vulnerability, and generosity of spirit. I may make mistakes - you may make mistakes. It will happen. And when it happens, we listen, apologize, learn, and actively implement change.
I believe that exploring diverse stories allows our communities to witness, discover, challenge, and embrace what it means to be human. It is challenging work. I believe empowering diverse artists makes that work possible. And I believe my voice is a part of that conversation.
Feel free to contact me if you are interested in my personal actions towards an anti-racist, equitable, and inclusive American theatre.