Mission Statement

The following mission statement is still under development. I expect it to change, with any luck, for as long as I continue to write, because I never expect to stop learning, either about myself or about my place in the theater. I welcome any comments, especially if you’re familiar with my work.

I write plays about the Big Ideas we’re all struggling with in 21st-century America, particularly the bitter conflict between science and faith. Sometimes my work is funny, sometimes it’s serious, but whatever I write, I want people to leave the theater invigorated, with renewed minds ready to think new thoughts. I want them to wake up, ask hard questions, and hopefully — in time — live more authentic lives.

Although my work is predominantly naturalistic — though with structural elements that often defy conventional expectations — I prefer my theater rough, rather than polished. Extraneous embellishment in scenic design, I find, puts fewer imaginative demands on an audience; the same seems to be true of over-rehearsed performances. Let the seams and loose strings show, please, whenever appropriate.

Finally, please let me point you to this piece I wrote some time ago about theater-as-service. Although my thinking on the subject has perhaps matured somewhat since I posted it, the spirit of what I wrote still holds true for me.

Thank you for your interest.