Personal statement

Every question in a production - for the playwright, the director, the designer, the actor, all of us - every question really comes down to this: How can we best serve the action of the play?

Our analysis, our research, our explorations into meaning and physicality and environment, every element of our wonderfully collaborative, empathetic, demanding art contributes to the unitary effect the action of the play demands.

As a dramaturg (or as a director or actor or designer), I do everything I can to facilitate the production's focus on that unitary effect. 

John's work is exemplary: smart and insightful, organized and detailed, never losing sight of the big picture yet able to unearth the telling detail.

-Oskar Eustis, dramaturgy professor, artistic director NY Public Theater

John’s dramaturgical brilliance is unmatched. His ability to hear and see what a play needs, even through the weeds, is a true gift. And not only is John able to identify a problem and ask thought-provoking questions, he is also able to provide clear, direct, and creative answers. Through it all, he treats the playwright with dignity, care, and passion.

-Jessica Toltzis, playwright