This Global Performer Could Teach Anywhere—Here’s Why He Chose Ohio

Okay, so I know I’m biased, but my big brother is one of the most extraordinary people I’ve ever met—and not just because he can play piano like Billy Joel, sing like Franki Valli, and directs like a Broadway rockstar who skipped the ego but kept the genius. 💁‍♀️

He’s a world-class performer, director, and teacher who’s lived and worked all over the globe, and now he’s bringing that experience back to Ohio, where he’s building something really special. 🥰

Right now, he teaches theater at Youngstown State University, where he’s leading a dynamic and multidisciplinary theater program focused on something every performer dreams of: hire-ability. As in, “Hey, you’re talented and trained AND someone’s gonna pay you to do this.”

And it’s working. 🤩

About half of their current graduating class already has job offers—some are performing on cruise ships, some are joining touring companies, and one is even completing a prestigious props apprenticeship at Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, the oldest professional theater in the country. Not too shabby, right?

But let’s back up a bit.

Adam didn’t have to come back to Ohio. He’s had legal residence in three other countries and boasts a passport full of stamps. He chose to come back. First for family (he even came all the way back from China for my wedding!) and then to stay because—plot twist—he fell in love and got married. 🥰

And now, instead of keeping all that international stage magic to himself, he’s using it to train the next generation of working artists right here in Northeast Ohio.

And speaking of Northeast Ohio: he’ll be the first to tell you it’s one of the best places in the world for theater. That’s not hyperbole—it’s fact. While New York might be the theater capital of the U.S., Cleveland ranks second in per capita paid professional theater seats. (Take that, Chicago.) 💁‍♀️

And while we’re at it, the Cleveland Play House is the oldest continuously operating repertory company in the country and a Tony Award winner. Add in the Great Lakes Theater Festival, Cleveland Public Theatre, and Dobama Theatre (which has hosted some of the highest-paid equity actors outside of NYC), and suddenly you’re not looking at a “local” scene—you’re looking at a national one.

My brother calls it “The Ohio Effect.” People from here often assume that if something is from here, it can’t possibly be world-class. But it is. Just like our museums, just like our food scene, just like our people.

And this is why I admire my brother so much. Not just because he’s brilliant (which he is), but because he’s using his brilliance to elevate the arts in a region that he deeply believes in—and that too many people overlook.

He’s also the only (to his knowledge) certified American teacher of the Vocal Process Methodology—a voice training system that’s kind of like the vocal equivalent of a professional athlete working with a kinesiology expert. It’s anatomy-based, science-backed, and truly transformational. 😲💪

I’ve heard him explain it like trying to learn ballet in total darkness—when you can’t see what your voice is doing, it’s really hard to make it better. His students don’t just sing better—they understand their instruments, and it shows. He’s had countless “lightbulb moments” in the workshops he teaches, and his excitement about helping people find their voice—literally—is contagious. 💡

One of the things he’s constantly telling students is to take initiative and be part of the community you want to work in. Audition. Volunteer. Usher. Take workshops. Ask for feedback. Don’t wait for someone to open a door—knock on it yourself, and introduce yourself when they answer. 🙋‍♀️

And if they don’t answer, knock louder. Keep working. Keep improving. Don’t see professionals as gatekeepers—see them as mentors. I think that’s beautiful advice no matter what field you’re in. 💖

At YSU, he’s created a space where students are expected to take their craft seriously and build real careers doing what they love. They’re not just actors or singers or designers—they’re multi-skilled, multidisciplinary artists. 

And the success stories keep rolling in. 🙌

When he’s not teaching or traveling to present at national conferences, you’ll usually find him lending a hand with local productions—like the upcoming A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder.

Whether he’s coaching vocals, helping with direction, or just offering solid advice, he’s all about supporting the local arts scene in every way he can. He even helps his incredibly talented (and formally trained!) wife make their kids’ school productions look like something straight off Broadway. 🤩

So yeah—my big brother could be anywhere. But he’s here, in Ohio, pouring his talent into a place (and the people) he loves. And that love shows. The work he’s doing at Youngstown State is shaping a new generation of artists who are confident, capable, and—most importantly—ready to work.

And as his proud little sister and a steadfast and loyal Ohioan, I think that’s pretty amazing.

Learn more about YSU’s Theatre Program here: https://ysu.edu/ccca/university-theatre

Order Adam’s book about note-taking here: https://a.co/d/hl4QeSD