👋🏼 Good morning. California friends - you are on our hearts and minds.

If you’re located in another state, moved by what’s happening, and in a position to give, here’s two places you can donate that will directly help the humans (and pups) being affected:

Over the last two weeks, I’ve been asked a lot about the story behind The Fourth Wall—why I started it, what it is, who it's for, and how I hope it helps people. So this week we're diving into all of that.

My hope is that this “special edition” can serve as an introduction for anyone who’s new here or discovers us in the future. And FYI at the end of this email, there’s a quick poll on what we should cover next!

Let’s do it, shall we?

Why are we here?

Growing up, I was the kid who hated (and didn’t do) homework but poured my heart and soul into creative projects. Posters, PowerPoints, videos—anything that let me create.

At The Boston Conservatory (where I was a Musical Theatre major) I couldn't stick to just performing. I dabbled in lighting design, directing, even prom planning. I was the girl with seven plates spinning at once, always.

I kept that up in New York, where I’ve spent the past decade working on projects alone and with friends. And it wasn’t because I had a master plan - it’s because, for me, creativity feels like breathing (dramatic but true.) Every project, no matter how small, has opened unexpected doors and taught me lessons I couldn't have planned for.

I spent most of 2024 on the national tour of COMPANY, and when I got home, facing what felt like a blank page for the first time in a long time, I started noticing a pattern. The conversations that lit me up all circled back to one thing: the invisible bridge between art and audience.

Why do certain moments stay with us? Why do some performances, stories, and artistic experiences refuse to let go? At its heart, these questions are about the relationship between creativity and the human spirit—how they're intertwined, and why that connection feels so essential.

What is this?

The Fourth Wall isn't just about exploring that bridge between art and audience—it’s an embodiment of it.

This newsletter is both observatory and laboratory: a space to study how creative work finds its people, and a living, breathing example of these principles in action.

Every Friday morning, you'll get insights into how theater, film, television, music (really, any creative work) finds its audience. But there’s no great work with creators, so you'll also hear directly from the actors, creative teams, marketers, and artists who bring these projects to life.

And we're already growing. Keep an ear out for something new soon—another way we're putting these ideas into practice (hint: it’s a podcast.)

Whatever shape this takes, the goal remains constant: to give you something useful, inspiring, and worth sharing.

Who is this for?

If you're an artist—whether you're stepping onto a stage, picking up an instrument, or calling "action"—and you want to understand what makes your work resonate, this is definitely for you.

If you're a marketer or storyteller who wants to create campaigns or content that feel like conversations, not ads or billboards, you’re in the right place.

And if you're someone who's ever been moved to tears by a performance, gotten chills from a perfect chord progression, or stayed up late binging a TV show—welcome home.

How will it help?

At its core, The Fourth Wall is about connection, and the creative work that builds bridges—between artists and audiences, between us and ourselves, and between strangers sharing a collective experience.

Think of The Fourth Wall as:

• 🔍 Your Connection Compass: Each week, we'll investigate moments that bridge the gap between art and audience. Sometimes they're crafted, sometimes they're accidents—we'll break down how and why they work.

• 🛠️ A Practical Tool: Whether you're planning a campaign, building a performance, or just trying to understand your audience better, you'll find practical insights you can put to work right away.

• 🎤 A Conversation Starter: Share this with your team, debate it with friends, use this to make deeper connections.

My hope is that this newsletter will inspire you to make (and share) something bold, messy, or even unfinished. That’s exactly what this new adventure is for me—a space to create, share, and connect without chasing perfection.

Whew. That was a lot.

Thanks for reading all the way through—it really does mean a lot.

If this is your first time, won’t you stick around and subscribe?

And if you can, do me a favor and share this with a friend—let’s keep growing 🥰

Appreciate you! See you next week!