photo by Craig Stokle // Jackie Alexis and Lisa Purrone in The Revolutionists by Lauren Gunderson
I view the stage not merely as a platform for performance, but as a dynamic and essential petri dish of human experience. It is, in the truest sense, the ultimate laboratory; a rigorously contained, yet creatively boundless space where we can subject the fundamental laws of human behavior and societal structures to intense scrutiny. My creative focus is rooted in this belief: that the theatrical space is the ultimate forum for dialogue, confrontation, and change. Within the walls of the theater, we can encapsulate everything that defines our reality. The structured elegance of science informs our understanding of human biology and environmental forces; the complex machinations of politics are played out in struggles for power; the deep analysis of sociology is made visible in community dynamics; and the enduring lessons of history are given a pulse, moving out of the textbook and onto the floor.
In this laboratory, ideas are not just discussed; they are tested in three dimensions. The rehearsal room becomes the space where we test the variable of the human spirit against the constants of social and historical pressure. My directorial process demands an experimental rigor: challenging assumptions, dissecting language, and observing the precise moment when emotion transforms into action. We are seeking not just truth, but the mechanisms of truth. The outcome of this experiment is the live, shared experience, where the audience serves as the final and most crucial observer, analyzing the data: the performance, and drawing their own conclusions about the world we share.
Before even reaching that point, I seek to harness a rehearsal room in which the actors and other creatives feel at liberty to experiment for themselves. Part of the process is to tear down expectations and limitations placed on the actors themselves, whether on their own accord, or having been placed by outside forces. The experimental sandbox is also there for them to truly connect to their characters and the world of the piece, in ways where they can also experiment with their own identity.
The work I am most compelled to create and share is driven by an unyielding commitment to narratives that prioritize feminism, queerness, and social justice. I seek to center voices that have been historically marginalized, transforming their lived experiences into an immediate, embodied reality for an audience. I believe that true dramatic tension often resides where power is challenged, and my artistic practice is dedicated to staging these necessary confrontations. This active commitment to analysis, testing, and radical observation is an ongoing effort to move society forward. By illuminating systemic inequities, celebrating radical hope, and fostering deep empathy through this shared, live experiment, we empower the audience to recognize the world as it is and imagine the world as it could be, sparking the vital conversations that lead to tangible, progressive transformation.