Growing up in rural Southern California, in a lively and often chaotic household with eight siblings, I was a very shy kid who found respite from daily familial turbulence in stories, myths and fables. School plays were fascinating, because my classmates appeared to transform before my very eyes when they stepped onto the stage. That “transformational” aspect of theater sparked a deep passion within me and I willingly volunteered to participate in any drama exercise available.  Drama thrilled me because I could hide behind characters that were the antithesis of my true, introverted self. But in fourth grade, while playing multiple roles in the annual nativity play, I suffered from a fit of nerves, and burst out laughing uncontrollably in front of the whole school.  This humiliating moment led to years of unpredictable laughing attacks, thus thwarting my ability to even stand in front of a classroom and present a report. 

It wasn’t until a university year abroad, studying in the south of France, that I was able to start all over again, to reinvent myself, in a place where I enjoyed complete anonymity.  No one there knew about my fits of laughter and performing in French gave me permission to explore my true voice through new words, with new actors, teachers and directors. I threw myself into principal roles and never once broke down laughing.

I have been teaching drama at numerous So Cal venues for over thirty years and have been the children and youth drama teaching artist at the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena since 1999. My specialty is physical theater, emphasizing corporal expression through universal gesture. I draw upon years of theater training with teachers hailing from France, Italy, Argentina, Poland and Mexico, fostering my passion for theater and feeding my love for learning foreign languages. I credit French corporeal mime master Etienne Decroux and his descendants among my principal influences.

From writing original plays for students based on short stories or myths, to teaching improv and short scene writing, to passing on my knowledge of theater without words to young students, I feel constantly challenged and inspired by the passion and creativity from students of all ages. I observe the element of surprise in every single class, with deep artistry springing from each performance.  At the Armory, I have written over 100 one-act plays that cater to the needs, ability and interests of the students who also create original costumes and backdrops in order to have a more complete experience of play production.

I am a proud founding member of the Los Angeles based bilingual Samai Theater Group. Original performances with Samai and other collaborators and my teaching venues include: CSULA, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, East LA College, La Verne University, LA River Center, Wilshire Ebell Theater, El Rey Theater, The Marsh Theater, La Casa del Mexicano, Self-Help Graphics, Watts House Project, the Mission Cultural Theater for Latino Arts, the Hammer Museum, The Hollywood Bowl, Homeboy Industries, Olvera Street, Barnsdall Art Park, MacArthur Park, The Autry Museum, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, countless libraries and schools in Southern California and numerous original radio programs at KPFK Pacifica Radio.