About Me
I genuinely hate writing these. What do people really want to know about me? Do I make it personal and quirky, or do I keep things professional? Do I try and encompass the many professional hats I wear, or do I keep things focused?
I've probably already messed this up. You don't care about these internal conflicts. You just want to read a normal bio section on a website, whatever that means.
I guess the first thing you should know is that first and foremost, I consider myself a writer. I think that the world is grounded in story and that our lives and work are best understood through the framework of story as well.
I've been writing since I knew how. When I was in third grade, I wrote poems and short stories that my classmates would stay inside during recess and read. When I was even younger, my grandmother and I told stories out loud. There was a family of fish that had all kinds of undersea adventures. (Their names were Lake, Pond, and River. Because I was a deeply creative four-year-old.)
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Theatre is my storytelling outlet of choice now. As a playwright, a musical writer, and a dramaturg, I see myself as someone who seeks to tell cutting-edge stories that inspire, challenge, and heal. I genuinely believe in the power of theatre to shape social narratives and bridge communities.
As a queer survivor of domestic violence myself, I am passionate about representing traditionally marginalized populations on stage in ways the empower and embolden. Above all else, my writing seeks to elevate the experiences of trauma survivors. Too often, those of us who have experienced violence or abuse either (1) don't see ourselves represented in media or (2) see our experiences presented with an eye toward trauma-glorification rather than authenticity.
My goal is always for people to see themselves on stage in ways that are surprising, humorous, honest, and hopeful. My writing explores issues of identity, resilience, sex, faith, and the unfortunate ways these things intersect throughout our culture in ways that end up honoring oppressors and shaming victims. My experience as a gay man growing up in the religious south and even attending a Baptist seminary comes to the forefront in trying to depict this culture of purity and power.
When I'm not examining these structures of power on stage, I'm probably doing them through my other writing. I am a published author and poet whose work seeks to empower communities and congregations to uplift the voices on their margins.
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In fact, I once had two separate websites - one for my authorship and congregational work, and one for my theatrical pursuits. I have since realized that these are two sides of the same coin. I am both of these things, and I think that my work helping communities of faith to reimagine themselves only serves to enhance my ability to help artists do the same with their scripts and manuscripts.
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If you want to learn more about my plays, my books, my work with other writers, or my work with Reclaiming Faith, poke around a little on my website. There's lots to discover.
And here's the quirky personal bit that people expect when they read these things: When I'm not fully immersed in telling new and exciting stories, you'll probably find me spending time with my incredibly supportive husband, Chris. We and our two dogs like to spend our evenings laughing, taking walks, playing board games, hosting dinners, or reading novels together.
“The writers life and work are not a gift to mankind; they are its necessity.”
-Toni Morrison