This symposium took place in the midst of the non-traditional casting movement, a precursor to what we have today, the drive for diversity in casting. 

 I was asked to direct a scene from “The Importance Of Being Earnest,” a non-diverse play by Oscar Wilde, with actors of color, in this case, a Chinese-American actress and an African-American actress. Very non-traditional. There were other scenes from other plays directed by other directors as well. Part of this for me, of course, was to direct something from a play that I would not even be in the conversation to direct, my relative youth and experience aside. So, directors as well as actors working non-traditionally for an audience of industry people that had the power to make the non-traditional casting movement a reality in theatres across the country.  No pressure.  The actresses were terrific and the scene got big laughs. But that’s not why I’m writing this. 

 The following year I applied for one of the first Theatre Communications Group TCG/NEA Director Fellowships. There were six fellowships to be given out.  I think my work in the symposium was seen by people on the selection panel, and that gave me a leg up, and maybe tipped the scales in my favor.  I got one.  The other recipients that first round were:  Amy Gonzalez, Stephen Dietz, Kenny Leon, Liz Diamond, and David Petrarca.  A good group. 

 That Fellowship was another big boost for me in terms of my confidence, but also in terms of my sense of self and how far I’d come in my directing.  

A scene at a symposium.   Hey, you never know.