I grew up on Cape Cod and live here still with cats Pixie and Cream Puff.

I’ve had no formal instruction in playwriting. Instead, the many, many terrific hours I’ve spent studying, performing in and attending shows at the Harwich Junior Theatre comprise the majority of my theatrical training. I was also a proud member of the Bless The Mark Players and the invaluable instruction in improv performing I received while working with them has greatly influenced my writing.  When not writing, I keep my hand in theatre by puppeteering at the Edward Gorey House Museum and performing – recent roles include Nana the dog and the Ticking Crocodile in “Peter Pan And Wendy,” Templeton in “Charlotte’s Web” and Bruce The Shark in “Finding Nemo, Jr.” at HJT.

Although I also write for adults, for 12 years, my very good friend/collaborator/director Karen McPherson and I ran the Chatham Middle School Drama Club because I love introducing kids to the joy and magic of creativity and performing. Sadly, we had to bring the curtain down on that project when the school merged with neighboring Harwich and we lost our spot. I learned a lot and had so, so much fun. My favorite part of writing for young audiences is incorporating audience participation into my scripts.

I really surprised myself by writing three new plays during the Covid lockdown – well, two new ones and one major rewrite of an old one but doesn’t three sound better? “High School Confidential” won the 2020 NETC Aurand Harris Memorial Playwriting Competition, “Sleeping Beauty Stays Awake” was one of the three winning plays in the 2021 Old Miner Children’s Playwriting Contest and “The D.I.Y. Fairy Godmother” took Third Place in the 2021 East Valley Children’s Theatre Playwriting Contest.  Not bad, if I say so myself!

Two of my plays comprised the the first summer season of the highly acclaimed Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre’s “W.H.A.T. For Kids” series – many thanks to Artistic Director Stephen Russell for supporting me.

My biggest hit is “I Hate Shakespeare!” which has received over 750 productions in 38 countries.  Other popular works include “Once Upon A Wolf,” “Nick Tickle, Fairy Tale Detective” and “The (Almost) Totally True Story Of Hansel And Gretel.”

I was sooo honored that the amazing Jim Byrne commissioned and directed “Never Eat A Talking Lobster” for his Junior Players Troupe at the Harwich Junior Theatre in 2019. He always makes every script better.

“The Girl Who Lost Her Heart – A Dark Ride” had a reading at the Play Lab at The Last Frontier Theatre Conference up in Valdez, Alaska a few years ago and I received invaluable feedback for my rewrite. The Conference was truly life-changing and although it is a long journey to get there, I am certain I will return somehow some day. Many thanks to Dawson, Bostin and Shane and everybody who made the Festival a success. As a side note, the kayaking trips I took while I was up there were astounding!

I was so amazed and proud when “High School Confidential” won the Aurand Harris Award presented by the New England Theatre Conference in 2020 – it was literally a dream come true.  The Harwich Junior Theatre is my home theater and Mr. Harris played a strong part in the group’s history so I felt very honored by this connection.

My newest play is “Invasion Of The Brain Eaters From Outer Space!”  In 1956, Aliens infiltrate a high school in small town, America to test a weapon before a full-out invasion, a weapon that is capable of changing reality and warping minds.  Only our heroine Mary Sue seems to be immune to its effects and the fate of the planet rests with her. 

But I don’t just write for children. My comedy/thriller “Red Herrings” won the Phoenix Stage Company’s 2014 New Play Contest and was subsequently selected for a public reading at the North Shore Reader’s Theater.  I’m still looking for a production for this funny, suspenseful piece.  Who doesn’t love a good thriller in the tradition of “Sleuth” and “Deathtrap?”

So that’s today’s update – be sure to visit me again soon for more news!