Fresh, Bold, Provocative

I believe that a director is a storyteller, editor, and advocate. I am charged to tell the playwright’s story in the most compelling way possible, at this moment in time, with the collaborators assembled for the production. To compellingly tell the story, I must create a collaborative culture that draws out the best in all participants; this begins with communicating a deep understanding of the playwright's story so the collaborators understand the production's goal we are working towards. I must enter design meetings and rehearsals with informed possibilities, but also with an open mind and the understanding that I do not have all the answers. I tell my casts and designers that, “if I had all of the answers, I would just do the piece as a one man show”. The need for collaboration is vital to crafting the most impactful productions.

Creating a brave rehearsal environment built on trust and respect is a necessity to the creative process. I tell my ensembles that, “We will spend more time figuring out what it isn’t than what it is.” Once we find a strong possibility for a given moment, we can work to refine and craft it. I use a scale of validity when examining choices; what choice is more valid for this moment in the story? To arrive at that moment we must fail big, explore, and ultimately reject other possible choices by asking questions and respecting the perspectives of others. It becomes the director’s job to edit these possibilities, so that the time of exploration is well spent and the choice that is settled on is fully appreciated by all through our willingness to explore.

A production is of no value if it doesn’t cause a reaction in the audience; the director must serve as the audience’s advocate in the rehearsal room. I am interested in creating work that is approachable for audience members while also challenging them to expand their thinking. I want to remove barriers that limit cultural participation, meeting people where they are and engaging them to explore possibilities outside of their comfort zone. Theatre at its best can illuminate our shared humanity and can also celebrate the ways in which we are different. I am interested in work that is fresh, bold, and provocative.  

One of the Michigan Arts and Culture Council’s 2022-23 Rising Leaders, D.B. works as a director, producer, teacher, and designer.  He is well versed in all critical components that combine to create powerful, moving, and vital Theatre. Southeast Michigan audiences will be familiar with his work as the Producing Artistic Director of Puzzle Piece Theatre. Memorable productions for Puzzle Piece include: Ambition Facing West, R.U.R., and The People’s Temple. Other Michigan directing credits include On Golden Pond at Riverbank Theatre, Fool for Love at Open Book, and both Macbeth and Henry V for Shakespeare in Detroit. D.B. comes to Detroit after serving as the Artistic Director of Chicago based Thunder & Lightning Ensemble, which he co-founded in 2004. He lead this organization to artistic acclaim including directing and designing the Chicago Premiere of Ambition Facing West and a production of The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek, both named to NewCity Chicago Magazine's Year End List of “Top 5 Memorable Productions by Smaller Theatres” in 2006 and 2007 respectively. A hallmark of T&L Ensemble’s work was collaborating on the creation of original outreach programs serving The Croatian Culture Center of Chicago, The Center on Halsted, and Young Chicago Authors.  Currently D.B. is the Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts and Lorenzo Cultural Center. For the Lorenzo Center he produces and directs the popular series of Museum Theatre programming. Schroeder holds an M.F.A. in Theatre Arts- Directing Concentration from the University of Idaho. He holds a B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Missouri State University and Apprenticed at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.