make

verb form (something) by putting parts together or combining substances; construct; create.

be·lieve

verb accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of. to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something

make-be·lieve

verb pretend; imagine.

What exactly is a professional make believer? Well, quite simply – I like to tell stories and play pretend. And I especially love playing with others. I believe in the power of stories. Their ability to provoke, engage, entertain, and connect.

Like most theatre folks, I began as an actor but found I also loved being in charge and found immense joy in directing and producing. I’m most passionate about new writing and devised work, but I also love reinterpreting the classics. I love playing pretend so much that I even have two degrees in it:  one from the University of Southern California (a BA in theatre and minor in Cinema) and another from Queen Mary, University of London (an MA in Theatre and Performance). I also taught Contemporary Theatre at USC for 2 years – focusing on current methodologies that interrogate “why theatre?”

Playing make believe is how I make sense of the world around me. It’s also fun. So how about it? Let’s play.

“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but without it we go nowhere.”

-Carl Sagan