Playwright and Teaching Artist

EDUCATION

The New School. M.F.A. Playwriting. 2011.

Studied playwriting under Jon-Robin Baitz, Nicole Burdette, Laura Maria Censabella, Liz Flahive, Pippin Parker, Frank Pugliese, Christopher Shinn, Michael Weller. Plus, collaborative coursework in acting (instructors: Karen Ludwig, Kathryn Rossetter, Paul Rudd, Arthur Storch, Mimi Turque) and directing (instructors: Casey Biggs, Josh Hecht, Ellie Renfield).

University of Kentucky. B.A. Arts Administration, emphasis in Theatre. Summa cum laude. 2008.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts. 

Faculty Chair, Creative Writing. 2013–present.

• Taught lessons on conflict, action, story structure, revision, career opportunities, publishing, and an improvisation- and performance-based playwriting intensive. The program is structured as a college course for rising juniors and seniors in high school. 150-200 students apply each year for creative writing; 28 are accepted.

Independent Teaching Artist.

Led writing and performance workshops at Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts (2006-2009, 2011); The Berkshire Fringe (2009, 2012); Earlham College, Adelphi University (2009); Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (Lexington, KY; 2004, 2006).

PUBLICATIONS

Books

Yelling at Bananas in Whole Foods. Sawyer House Press, 2015. ISBN: 0982156056.

Phi Alpha Gamma. Sawyer House Press, 2008. ISBN: 0982156006.
–Finalist for Lambda Literary Award and ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year.

Dose: Plays & Monologues. Sawyer House Press, 2007. ISBN: 0982156014.
–Finalist for Lambda Literary Award.

Articles

“Longing to Grow Into One: Using Psychedelics to Treat PTSD in Couples.” Psychedelic.Support/Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. October 1, 2019. Available online: https://psychedelic.support/resources/longing-to-grow-into-one-using-psychedelics-to-treat-ptsd-in-couples/

“Visions to Heed: Ketamine’s Breakout In Psychedelic Therapy.” Psychedelic.Support/Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. April 30, 2019. Available online: https://maps.org/news/media/7734-psychedelic-support-visions-to-heed-ketamine%E2%80%99s-breakout-in-psychedelic-therapy

“Undoing the Tape: Experiencing Trauma Release Through MDMA Therapy.” Psychedelic.Support/Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. January 21, 2019. Available online: https://psychedelic.support/resources/undoing-tape-mdma-therapy/

 “Phi Alpha Gamma: Homophobia in College Fraternities.” Kaleidoscope, Volume 6. University of Kentucky, 2007.

 “Performance Art and the Monodrama: A Summer Tour of Fringe Festivals.” Kaleidoscope, Volume 5. University of Kentucky, 2006.

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Solo Performances

Yelling at Bananas in Whole Foods.

• The Berkshire Fringe. Great Barrington, MA. August 2012.
• Minnesota Fringe Festival. Minneapolis, MN. August 2013.
• Indianapolis International Fringe Theatre Festival. Indianapolis, IN. August 2013.
• FRIGID New York. New York, NY. February–March 2014.
• JACK. Brooklyn, NY. August 2014 (in residence with The Wardrobe Ensemble).

Swan Balloon. 

• Indianapolis International Fringe Theatre Festival. Indianapolis, IN. August 2010.
• Warner Elementary School. Nicholasville, KY. February 2011.

Phi Alpha Gamma. 

• Minnesota Fringe Festival. Minneapolis, MN. August 2008.
• University of Kentucky. Lexington, KY. September 2008.
• Absolut Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. Dublin, Ireland. May 2009.
• Kalamazoo College. Kalamazoo, MI. May 2009.
• Minnesota Fringe Festival. Minneapolis, MN. August 2009.
• The Berkshire Fringe. Great Barrington, MA. August 2009.
• Indianapolis International Fringe Theatre Festival. Indianapolis, IN. August 2009.
• Earlham College. Richmond, IN. October 2009.
• Miami University. Oxford, OH. November 2009.
• Bard College at Simon’s Rock. Great Barrington, MA. December 2009.
• Heidelberg University. Tiffin, OH. November 2014.
• University of Michigan-Dearborn. Dearborn, MI. October 2015.
• Amherst College. Amherst, MA. Spring 2021.

Thanks for the Scabies, Jerkface! 

• Firebird Studio. Lexington, KY. May 2006.
• CincyFringe. Cincinnati, OH. June 2006.
• Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts. Lexington, KY. July 2006.
• Provincetown Fringe Festival. Provincetown, MA. July 2006.
• The Berkshire Fringe. Great Barrington, MA. July 2006.
• KC Fringe Festival. Kansas City, MO. July 2006.
• Minnesota Fringe Festival. Minneapolis, MN. August 2006.
• National Gay and Lesbian Theatre Festival. Columbus, OH. September 2006.
• Buffalo United Artists. Buffalo, NY. December 2006.
• Indianapolis International Fringe Theatre Festival. Indianapolis, IN. August 2007.
• FRIGID New York. New York, NY. February–March 2008.
• University of Kentucky. Lexington, KY. April 2008.
• The Berkshire Fringe. Pittsfield, MA. August 2014.

Moments of Disconnect.

• Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Lexingon, KY. May 2004.
• Integrity at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. Lexington, KY. August 2004.
• CincyFringe. Cincinnati, OH. June 2005.
• Provincetown Fringe Festival. Provincetown, MA. July 2005.
• Comedy Caravan. Louisville, KY. August 2005.

One-Act and Full-Length Plays

This Is My Gun. Full-length play.

• The New School for Drama. New York, NY. April 2011. Directed by Tim Butterfield.
• Stella Adler Studio Reading Series. New York, NY. March 2014. Directed by Nathan Zebedeo.

Justice Queers. One-act play.

• The New School for Drama. New York, NY. May 2010. Directed by Tim Butterfield.

Flipfuck. One-act play. 2009.

• The New School for Drama. New York, NY. December 2009. Directed by Paul Takacs.

Declar/mation. One-act play. 2009.

• The New School for Drama. New York, NY. May 2009. Directed by J. J. El-Far.

Alcatraz. One-act play. 2008.

• The New School for Drama. New York, NY. December 2009. Directed by Paul Takacs.

Almost. One-act play. 2007. 

• One-Act Play Festival, University of Kentucky. Lexington, KY. December 2007. Directed by Carolyn Sesbeau.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Scribe Media. Austin, Texas.

• Head of People, July 2018–December 2019.
• Lead Publishing Manager, August 2017–July 2018.
• Publishing Manager, May 2016–August 2017.

The New School. New York, New York.

• Director of Admission Communications, June 2015–June 2016.
• Associate Director of Digital Marketing Strategies, January 2014–May 2015.
• Digital Marketing Manager, July 2012–December 2013.
• Marketing Assistant, March 2009–July 2011.

Know Theater of Cincinnati. Cincinnati, Ohio.

• Web and Graphic Designer, Fringe Festival Staff. June 2007–June 2008.

Singletary Center for the Arts. Lexington, Kentucky.

• Box Office Assistant Manager, January 2007–May 2007.
• Ticket Office Associate, October 2004–December 2006.

GRANTS, AWARDS, AND HONORS

CONFERENCES

GUEST ARTIST LECTURES, READINGS, and PERFORMANCES

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

ACADEMIC HONORS

Scholarship, The New School for Drama. 2008-2011.

Fellowship, Gaines Center for the Humanities. University of Kentucky. 2006-2008.

• The most distinguished University award in the liberal arts for undergraduates. Awarded annually to twelve rising juniors. Four-semester interdisciplinary fellowship with seminars in narrative theory, architecture, physics, Appalachian history, photography, music, creative nonfiction writing, and ritual, as well as a thesis and community project.

Dean’s List, College of Fine Arts. 2004-2007.

Presidential Scholarship, University of Kentucky. 2004-2008.

• Four-year full-tuition scholarship. 

University of Kentucky Honors Program. 2004-2008.

• Final Cut Pro
• Logic Pro X
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Dreamweaver
• Wordpress
• HTML
• CSS
• OBS
• Livestreaming

editing, Interviewing, one-man shows, Public Speaking, publishing, solo performance, Teaching, voiceover, Writing

English