As a Diversity Trainer, I have helped dismantle misogyny and homophobia through the Mankind Project (MKP) since 2008. Using dramatic play, we facilitate powerful awakenings for men. Tens of thousands of men have improved their emotional intelligence and forged bonds outside their communities through these transformative experiences. I transfer the awareness wrought from this work […]
Community Engagement
Kindergarten Truck
I conceived, produced, directed, and performed in this public performance experience staged inside a box truck. Audiences were briefly transported back to the magical world of childhood guided by playful actors. Much more information and blog posts can be found on my dedicated website: kindergartentruck.com
Shluff No More: An Immersive Shpiel Experience
To illuminate scenes from The Book of Esther, I orchestrated a 60-member crew to guide 400 audience members across nine locations of a three-story synagogue in 2 hours. Organizing the logistics required tremendous planning. With the help of my dear friend Scott Osman, here is a glimpse at how I finally laid out the teams: […]
Sacred Play: Enacting Forgiveness
Atonement on Yom Kippur can be deepened through imagination, community-building, and sacred play. Alongside Shoshana Jedwab (and once with her partner Jill Hammer), I have developed and facilitated several creative breakout sessions preceding the final prayer service, Neilah. Dramatic strategies have helped me create unique spaces for engaging, immersive prayer at Romemu. Informed by expressive […]
Jewish Topography: Shmoozing in Action
Each year, NYC’s Jewish Community Center celebrates the holiday of Shavuot with an all-night learning event, Tikkun, meaning “heal.” Jews of all races, denominations, genders, ages, orientations, and levels of observance attended my session, inviting them to “delve, encounter, connect, and discover the breadth and depth of our communal and individual identities through a series […]
Shushan Night Live
I co-authored, directed, and performed in this community-engaged Theatre of Faith performance project on The Book of Esther at Romemu synagogue, framed shamelessly around the structures and sketches of Saturday Night Live. Our “Cold Open” was Caveman Lawyer defending King Ahashverosh against Vashti over her refusal to dance, and from there we were off to the races […]
Shushan Style: A J-Pop Purim!?!
This was my 3rd Purim Shpiel at Romemu, a community-engaged Theatre of Faith performance project on The Book of Esther at Romemu synagogue. This year’s concept was all based on popular media themes. One of my favorite moments was a slow motion battle fought with giant pencils to music from Les Miserables. The title of […]
Hurricane Sandy Puppet Project
In the weeks following Hurricane Sandy, children were among the most neglected bystanders. My collaborator David Schechter and I travelled to Far Rockaway Beach in Queens, NY to contribute a puppet performance to the Rockaway Kids Carnival. We rented a van to bring fellow volunteers to the site and used the back as a makeshift […]
FACES Teen Health Education Theatre: Maimonides Medical Center
In 2012, I was hired as the new Director of FACES, Maimonides Medical Center’s teen health educational company in Borough Park, Brooklyn. I left Interfaith Medical Center after nearly 8 years for the opportunity to more fully integrate my clinical skills with pedagogy, artistic expression, and civic activism. Together with a diverse cast of teenagers, […]
Interfaith Medical Center
From 2005-2012, I worked full-time at Interfaith Medical Center on 3 different units using Drama Therapy. Inpatient Adult Acute Psychiatric Unit I began as Psychiatric Rehabilitation Therapist working with patients suffering from a wide range of diagnoses. Most of our clients were in crisis and considered to be a danger to themselves or others. Charged […]