I took my first Drama class in 1971. I was a freshman in high school, and I wanted to avoid flunking Spanish. I told my counselor: "Put me anywhere. I don't care. I'll take German next year."
So there I was, in Drama 1. It didn't take long for the Drama Department to become my home. I ushered for the school production of A Man for All Seasons. When the spring musical came up, I tried out and was cast in the chorus of Flower Drum Song. (really)
So I tried out for more plays, I took more Drama classes, and soon enough, it was time to go to college- I went to Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay) and followed the pattern - take all the Drama classes you can fit in your schedule, and try out for every play that came along.
In 1978 I earned a BA in Drama with a minor in English.
In 1979 I earned a California Teaching Credential that allowed me to teach both English and Drama.
I taught for 2 years in Hayward, until massive teacher layoffs forced me to find a new job.
I moved to Arroyo Grande and taught there for 29 years.
I moved to Sunnyvale and taught there until I retired in 2018.
I created a comprehensive co-curricular theatre education program, including courses in Acting, Dramatics, Theatre Productions, Performance Studies, Costume Design and History, Dramatic Literature and Shakespeare.
Over the course of four decades, I produced, designed and directed over 200 plays, including the majority of the Shakespeare Cannon. Most years we presented between 4-7 plays.
My specialties are playwriting, producing new plays, (especially student-written work) and Shakespeare. I find that the mastery of Shakespeare informs and compliments student writing.
All three of my children grew up in the theatre and participated in my program.
I joined Thespians in my Sophomore year of high school. I have had a troupe at every school I worked in. I have served on the State Board of California Thespians and am currently the Northern California Representative to the Board. I have attended the California Thespian Festival nearly every year since the early 1980's, and have attended the International Thespian Festival at least 30 times.