Earnest was the play that started my directing journey. I was reached out to by my long time audition coach and director Nate Plummer, who knew I was taking a directing class for college in the Fall of 2023. He asked if I wanted to take what I learned from my class and apply it to a fully fledged production. I decided to give it a try, being given the iconic “tea scene” between Cecily and Gwendolen. I had first used that scene as a project in my class, and then I got to fine tune and shape it as needed to fit within the world for our version of Earnest. Our particular production was one where Oscar Wilde provides commentary on the action of the play, having monologues revolving around him being an amazing writer, but also what it means to be in love. He also would put himself into the world of the play, appearing as the butlers Lane and Merriman. Getting to direct the tea scene with Oscar was a welcome challenge, his antics helping heighten the “girl drama” of it all. Getting to see it on stage with an audience, hearing them laugh, is one of the proudest moments I’ve ever had in my career.