EDUCATION
Columbia University, New York City — MFA in Playwriting
2014-2017
Studied under David Henry Hwang, Lynn Nottage, and Charles Mee.
Visiting Scholar at Shanghai Theater Academy
2016
Represented Columbia University while pursuing courses in Chinese theatre.
Lincoln Center Directors Lab
2013
Joined directors from around the world in a prestigious month-long laboratory.
Davidson College, Davidson, NC — BA in Theatre
2005-2009
Graduated Cum Laude. Stewart/McCrae Scholar.
TEACHING
CUNY Hunter College, New York, NY — Adjunct Instructor, Theatre and Humanities
2019 – PRESENT
Designs syllabus and teaches Play Analysis, Introduction to Theater, and Explorations in the Arts for undergraduates of all backgrounds. Covers a range of forms and perspectives. Explorations in the Arts aims to bring students into conversations between contemporary artists, institutions, and the political moment we inhabit together. Play Analysis investigates the play as a text designed for production. Serves as Mentor to undergraduate theater artists, leading them through process of script revision and collaborative production. Frequently directs independent student productions.
CUNY Hunter College, New York, NY — Assistant to Muse Scholarship Program
2017 – 2020
Served as TA for year-long foundational course in the arts. Assisted in curriculum building, course materials, grading, and student feedback. Led classes on theatre.
Administered scholarship program from recruitment to graduation. Coordinated scholar events, programming budget, and communications.
NOMADS, New York, NY — Graduate Playwriting Mentor
2014- 2017
Mentored undergraduate playwrights from Columbia University as they developed their first full-length plays for public reading. Read drafts and offered feedback on work at every stage. Shared artistic and professional experience with young writers.
Junior Players, Dallas, TX — Drama & Writing Teacher
2012- 2014
Designed and taught after-school creative arts courses for diverse middle school and high school students in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Freelance, Miniac-Morvan, France — English Tutor
2010
Created and taught course of English language baccalauréat prep.
Ben Milam Elementary, Dallas, TX — After-school Math Teacher
2009-2010
Helped groups of 4-8 4th graders complete their homework and improve their grasp of key math concepts twice a week after school.
Darmang Junior Secondary School, Darmang, Ghana — English Teacher
2008
Taught classes of 35 middle school students persuasive writing, essay structure, and drama. Developed lesson plans to fit existing curriculum.
PLAYWRIGHT – SELECTED PRODUCTIONS & READINGS
Cascadia Full-length play. Astoria Food Pantry. New York, NY (2024). Semi-finalist Bay Area Playwrights Festival
The Maenads Full-length play. Pete’s Candy Store (2023) and Theater for the New City (2024)
Monster! A Tale of the Baker Basement. Full-length play. Baker Underground, Hunter College. New York, NY (2024)
May’s Mandala Full-length play. Studio 537, Hunter College. New York, NY (2023)
Outer Banks Full-length play. Ford Studio, Signature Theatre Center. New York, NY (2017) Shanghai Theatre Academy. Shanghai, China (2016). Finalist, Columbia@Roundabout Series
September Gurls Full-length play. Columbia University. New York, NY (2016). Finalist, Against The Grain Theatre Festival
No Angel In The Bushes Full-length play. Dreamscape Theater. New York, NY (2016)
Mistress Of The House Full-length play. Barn Arts Collective. Bass Harbor, ME (2015) Hamilton Project Residency.
The Woodking’s Daughter Full-length play. Dixon Place. New York, NY (2015)
Worlds Of Fun Full-length play. Semi-Finalist, Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference (2015)
Arabian Nights Full-length play. Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX (2014)
Tindersticks Full-length play. Undermain Theatre. Dallas, TX (2014)
Joyce’s Ulysses Full-length play. Dallas Museum of Art. Dallas, TX (2012)
Voyager Short play. Columbia University. New York, NY (2015)
Carla Collodi Unscrolls The Hurt Short play. Columbia University. New York, NY (2015)
Houses Made Of Hands Full-length play. Undermain Theatre. Dallas, TX (2013)
PLAYWRIGHT – UPCOMING
The Maenads full-length play. production planned as part of The Tank’s Core Production series, fall 2025.
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Paradise Ranch, Buffalo, WY — Hiking Guide / Naturalist
2016 – PRESENT
Organizes and leads wilderness trips. Teaches the history, geology, and ecology of the Bighorn Mountains and the American West to visitors of all ages and backgrounds.
War Paint, New York, NY — Assistant to Doug Wright
2016-2017
Master of book for a new Broadway musical from rehearsals through opening, tracking changes in dialogue and lyric.
Antigone In The World, International — Assistant Director
2015
Assisted Gregory Mosher on production of Antigone that toured Kenya and South Africa. Master of script. Coordinated visas and travel documentation for company. Prepared set and props on-site. Published tour journal documenting experience.
Undermain Theatre, Dallas, TX — Literary Manager
2009 – 2014
Responsible for reading submissions, discovering new work, developing and maintaining relationships with playwrights and agents. Served as acting dramaturge for productions including Ages of the Moon, Endgame, Time In Kafka, The Ghost Sonata, Profanity, and An Iliad. Head writer and editor for Undermain publications, including Undermain Blog and Study Guides.
Ran Undermain staged-reading series at Dallas Museum Of Art, producing work that highlighted global voices in conjunction with museum exhibitions.
Director For Stage
2004-Present
Selected productions include Monster! A Tale of the Baker Basement and May’s Mandala at Hunter College, Mistress Of The House at Barn Arts Collective, The Conference Of The Birds at Dallas Museum Of Art, Time In Kafka (Assistant Director) at Undermain Theatre, and Voyager at Columbia University School of the Arts.
