I was recently commissioned by Matthew McCray, Artistic Director for Son of Semele in Los Angeles, to write a play inspired by the work I have been doing with The Subtext Podcast. This podcast has been running for nearly 10 years, starting as a program of LA Stage Alliance in 2015 and moving to American Theatre magazine in 2018. In each episode I interview a playwright about their lives and their writing. But the subtext of The Subtext is my journey as a playwright. The play I am writing is essentially a memoir of the time following the parallel paths I’ve trekked as a podcaster and playwright over the last decade. Matt is collaborating with me on the story and I will be writing the script which will be completed in 2025.

This commission arrived at a particular time for me. When Matt contacted me about this project he had no idea how long I had been struggling to forge my playwriting path as the podcast grew in popularity. I have, on many occasions, considered ending The Subtext due to my insecurities and frustration. Instead of quitting, I get to write about it. It will be a painful and vulnerable process and I’m scared to write it. But that probably means we are on to something. This is not a play I ever would have sought to write so I am incredibly grateful to Matt and Son of Semele for bringing this to me. He is one of my all time favorite directors and literally every Son of Semele production I attended while living in Los Angeles blew my mind open and inspired me to be a better artist.

ABOUT SON OF SEMELE: Semele creates and produces theatrical work that explores compelling universal questions, celebrates creative risk-taking, and centers collaboration and community. The impact of a theatrical experience should resonate beyond the theater door. We embrace the friction between emotion and intellect, integrating design, rhythm, media, technology, and performance to present theatre that is emotionally engaging, thought-provoking, and ambitious in reach.