Journalistic Theater

What is Journalistic Theater?

It’s sometimes called documentary theater, theatrical journalism, or immersion research theater. I studied ethnography and performance studies at Northwestern University under Performance Studies pioneer Dwight Conquergood. My practice has evolved into “the journalism of hanging out” which combines formal interviews with participant-witness work. Rooted in deep listening, respect, humility, transparency, and joyous collaboration, I seek to hear people’s stories and lived experiences on their terms, on their turf. I develop relationships stepped in trust, permission, genuine curiosity, empathy, and joy.

It usually takes two years to create a show, having dozens and sometimes hundreds of interviews and conversations that are a mix of close observation, deep inquiry, and joyful hangout session. I also read and study the larger historical, economic, and sociopolitical context of the issues.

I then take all these experiences and craft monologues and narratives based on my experiences and conversations to tell the story of what I learned to theater audiences. I strive to present people and stories with specificity, nuance, respect, complexity, and compassion. My work has been noted for the way it subverts stereotypes, humanizes, and endows every story with dignity. I strive to amplify the underheard stories of our time in as impactful a way as possible. The relationships I form in the research often turn into lifelong friendships, and I often hold fundraisers for and spotlight the communities and organizations that helped me in the research.

I believe that by sharing these stories in this way, it allows us to see each other in one another. The radical empathy of this work shines through and inspires others to pursue connection, understanding, and joy in their work and everyday lives. I believe art needs to be simultaneously celebrating the diversity and specificity of who we are as unique, complex, many-sided individuals while also illuminating our shared core humanity.