Collaborative creation starts with connection. For me that's the
electric energy between artists that we can build for weeks
before ever sharing it with an audience.

It's the family building, coming together to work
seamlessly, as one. As a wave that can flow
over people, that can peak at just the right moment,
to then crash spectacularly, and flow again.

It's our team putting in countless hours
to get everything to perfection. Where words finally are
given life from the page,
and design helps to
immerse someone into an ephemeral world.

It's the sharing of food
and conversation about what we're making,
who needs to see it, and most importantly why,
and why now?

It's the uncomfortable friction between diverse world-views,
and leaning into what will challenge our assumptions
and bias. The team then takes those
magical moments, breakthroughs, and bonds they've formed to
transfer their experience to an audience.

Whether I'm writing or dressing a performer, I always ask
who is the closest person in my life to this character.
Then, how can I bring touches of that authentic connection
to share with the audience. Sometimes supporting
a real person to step onto stage
makes that more convincing for the audience.

It feels like we're getting more and more disconnected
from each other, and from our emotions. Where do we create
space to drop our masks, to stop pretending, to be authentic,
to laugh and cry together.

We're all the same, each with our own complexities. But some
through systemic prejudice might have it better or worse than you. How do we
punch someone in their gut, rip out their heart and
reflect humanity back to them?