Time in Greater OC: 17+ Years

Neighborhood: Costa Mesa

Hometowns: Washington D.C. & Olney, MD

What are you currently working on?

I'm directing a staged reading of my full-length play, GOON, for New Voices Playwrights Theatre. It will be performed Saturday, October 12th, at 2pm at Stage Door Repertory (Anaheim, CA). I'm also co-producing an upcoming holiday production of one-act plays for New Voices Playwrights Theatre, also at Stage Door Repertory.

What's been inspiring you recently?

Attending in-store art/craft classes with my wife Jenny at our local Michaels store and decorating fall wreaths, Halloween pumpkins and other seasonal decor.

Tell us a story from your childhood that illuminates who you are as an artist.
Going to see Sir Ian McKellen's one-man show Acting Shakespeare at the Olney Theatre Center (Olney, MD) in 1987 with my best friend Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (playwright/chief creative officer of the tv series Riverdale) and joining him onstage along with other invited audience members to act out a battle scene from Richard III... to remind myself "I was onstage with Gandalf the Grey" always makes me chuckle.

What kind of theatre excites you?

One-person Shows

Who are or were your theatrical heroes?

Arthur Miller, August Wilson, Neil Simon, Eric Bogosian, Yasmina Reza, George Bryant, Lanford Wilson, John Logan, Suzan-Lori Parks, Neil LaBute, Lauren Gunderson, Sandra Tsing Loh, David Henry Hwang, Aaron Sorkin, David Mamet, Anthony Minghella, David Linsday-Abaire, John Guare, Mark Ravenhill, Theresa Rebeck, Richard Lay, Tom Stoppard, John Patrick Shanley, Gary Lennon....so many others.

What's the craziest thing you have ever needed to do for theatre?

Having to replace a keg of beer onstage behind the Irish bar at South Coast Repertory's pre-show production of "Once" without anyone noticing yet still managing to serve drinks to thirsty patrons mingling and singing along to live music with the cast/band.....college life came in handy.

Outside of a theatre, what's your favorite hot spot in Orange County?

Sipping on coffee and people watching on the third floor cafe at Neiman Marcus in Fashion Island.

What surprises you the most about your role in the theatre community?

I always loved being able to assemble talent from different areas within and outside Orange County for cold (or staged) play readings and share in the unforgettable experience of seeing a story and characters come to life.

What advice do you have for theatre artists just starting out in Orange County?

Live and play well with others, negativity hinders any progress.

Go ahead, promote your things...

New Voices Playwrights Theatre presents their fall reading series:
Goon by David Rusiecki
Saturday, Oct 12 at 2pm

Stage Door Repertory
1045 N Armando St, Anaheim CA 92806
$5 donation at the door
audience feedback after reading

On-and-off the ice struggle of a hockey enforcer

Featuring:
Brittany Berin
Philip Bushell
Shawna Kristine Jackson
Jeremy Krasovic
Sara Krasovic
Lisa Renee
Karen Wray