If you've worked with me in theatre and endured any of my pre-curtain speeches, you probably know two things about me: 

1) I tend to cry and 

2) I'm probably going to talk about my dad. 

Some of my earliest memories of him involve the smell of sawdust and paint backstage, Aquanet in the dressing rooms and the bird's eye view of the threatre from a tech booth. From the beginning of my memories, I've watched him tell stories through art and through theatre, and those memories have shaped my love for the arts and for storytelling in a way that I consider one of the greatest gifts he could have ever given me.

Someone mentioned recently when Zach and I were talking about our plans, that this was going to be a family legacy project. And it is. I feel incredibly privileged and proud to have a family full of so many amazing creative minds who are ready and willing to be a part of this journey. That said, if my dad has taught me anything, it's that one of the best parts of theatre is that it is never a solo endeavor and it's all about creating a community. Our hope is that Byway Theatre Company will be a way to honor the passion, dedication, and creative spirit my dad poured into each production he was a part of, and the way he nurtured those same qualities in others to create an amazing space for community and storytelling. 

But really, more than just a family legacy, we want this space to be his stage to keep inspiring. A place where young actors and artists can continue to learn from him. Where folks can see some of what I got to see and what I got to learn from him. Heck, where I can keep learning from him, too. Where this legacy that he's fostered in so many isn't just remembered, but lived.

Here’s to storytelling, to community and to learning as we go.