In this thesis I explore the ways in which my artistic, political, and personal values led me to propose Naomi Wallace’s THE TRESTLE AT POPE LICK CREEK as my thesis in order to both reflect and enact what I believe in and also to respond to the dearth of those principles within the Theater Department. I address how those same ethics subsequently informed every facet of my direction of and programming around the play. Through the dual lenses of activating my values and my technical growth as a director, I analyze the “what” and “how” of my work on TRESTLE, the “what” being the artistic substance of what I was aiming to create and the “how” being my methods of engaging in the work. Ultimately, I assess the major takeaways from my experiences in Temple’s MFA program in Theater Directing overall, highlighting the major lessons I will take with me into my career. / Theater