Research

As a practitioner-scholar, my research is a direct extension of my creative work. By studying other theorists and artists, I seek to elevate my own practice and strengthen my ability to collaborate and embody meaningful stories. In turn, my directing and performing experience informs my scholarship and leads me down new avenues of discovery. 

Over the last several years, much of my research has focused on the intersection of ethics and directing. With the advent of intimacy directors and ceative frameworks like the Chicago Theatre Standards, it is evident that the theatre industry's values are shifting towards actors and their well-being. I argue that the implicit moral system behind this shift is 'ethical caring'. A system proposed by Nel Noddings and Carol Gilligan in the 1980s, ethical caring views morality as a constant consideration for people we care for, rather than addressing  actions as objectively 'right' or 'wong'. By researching directing and teaching practices from the 20th Century through today, I aim to connect actor-first methodologies together under this moral framework, as well as advocate for the continued adoption of this approach at all levels of theatre.  

I am a member of the Mid-America Theatre Conference, and my article "Directing with Care: The Morality of Contemporary Theatre" was recently published in Volume 15 of Theatre/ Practice. 

Conference Presentations