Actor • Director • Grammy Nominee

Hi! I'm an NYC-based director, new works enthusiast and Grammy Award-nominated actor. As a theater director, I specialize in developing new works (plays and musicals). I love the "soft power" of theater as a medium for live social influence, and I endeavor to work on shows that have an educational and cultural impact on the audience -- especially with regard to the Asian American, Queer and other underrepresented communities. i also believe in radical inclusivity - consciously and thoughtfully done - in terms of cast and creative teams. 

Along with my background as an actor (primarily in new works), I am also a former lawyer; I have exceptional reading and analytical skills, and one of my unique strengths as a director is deeply collaborating with playwrights to both focus the overall themes and hone the granular storytelling of their scripts. I am also a lifelong musician, and am able understand and help guide the development of musical scores (and musical performances) on the technical level as well as the artistic.

My directing aesthetic tends to be minimalist and refined, with a sense of restraint and underlying tension. I prefer naturalistic acting and staging, and simple, elegant sets -- in order for the story to shine through first and foremost. I'm always thinking about what is most effective to help the audience to understand the story and themes, as opposed to trying to wow with beautiful stage pictures or dramatic effects. Thus far I have used projections, sound effects and starkly colored lighting design to enhance black box spaces with no scenic capabilities. In the future I would like to include subtle sensory elements into my work such as smells and feels, but without going fully immersive or interactive.