John has been an avid supporter and practitioner of the performing arts for all of his adult life. After graduating from Hamilton College with a BA in Theatre, John spent the next ten years in New York as an actor and director. He also completed his Masters in Directing at Columbia University and worked with such notable directors as Jerry Zaks, Liviu Ciulei, Andrei Serban and Howard Ashman. He also worked in the casting office of Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival. One of John's passions has always been developing new plays and he has worked in theatres across the country bringing new works to the stage.