My generation of director has no illusions that we are going to be fed and cared for by subsidized theater in America.

At the core of what I'm doing is a belief in the audience, a belief that populism doesn't mean dumbing down theater, but rather giving the audience a voice and a role in experiencing theater.

I had this epiphany that I like the interaction with people. I wanted to make things happen at a grassroots level.

As a director, I never feel that I have the answers.

I've gotten to the point that I don't even know what tomorrow brings. When I'm teaching, obviously I'm in town for the class every week.

The musical theater is a glorious and distinctly American innovation in the history of theater.

The idea of making audiences feel like they matter, that the theatre matters, and that they're a partner in the event—that's what fuels me as a director . . . I believe it's actually radical to think about the audience.