Author of critically acclaimed books "No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous" (Faber & Faber, 2005) and "Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube" (Bear Manor Media, 2013), and the blog Travalanche (travsd.wordpress.com). He has spoken at the Museum of Modern Art, the New York Public Library, Columbia University, NYU Tisch School of the Arts, the Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, the Museum of Sex, the New-York Historical Society, the University of Kansas, the Barnum Museum, Makor (92nd Street Y), Coney Island USA, the Theater Museum, Eldridge Street Synagogue, the Ziegfeld Club, the Moisture Festival (Seattle), and dozens of other institutions around the country.

Trav has written over 400 articles for publications such as the The New York Times, Reason, the Village Voice, Time Out New York, The New York Sun, American Theatre (where he was an Affiliated Writing Fellow in 2001), and many others. Artists he has interviewed have included: Amy Poehler, Margaret Cho, Matt Walsh, Mink Stole, Penn & Teller, Jules Feiffer, Bill Irwin, Harry Anderson, Loudon Wainwright III, Andy Borowitz, Rose Marie, Oskar Eustace, David Ives, Jay Johnson, Penny Arcade, Ralph Bronner (of Dr. Bronner’s soaps) Uncle Floyd Vivino, and dozens of others. In 2000, he became the first contributing reviewer, after editor Martin Denton, to nytheatre.com; where he also hosted dozens of podcasts (and two television specials), interviewing 250 indie theatre artists between 2006 and 2009. 2009-2012 he wrote the “Downtown Theatre” column for the Villager family of papers, to which he still contributes. Since 2008, he has written the blog Travalanche (travsd.wordpress.com)

Trav began producing, directing and starring in his own plays in New York City in 1989. In 1995, he formalized his production company as Mountebanks, whose projects have included the long running American Vaudeville Theatre (https://travsd.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/american-vaudeville-theatre-in-ny-intl-fringe-fest/), the New American Lyceum, and his own plays and solo works for the stage. He is best known for producing and directing the first revival in history of the 1924 Marx Brothers' Broadway show "I'll Say She is", a sold-out hit of the 2014 NY International Fringe Festival.

Writer of the monthly Downtown Theatre column carried by The Villager, East Villager, Downtown Express, Chelsea Now and Gay City News from January 2009 through December 2012. Have since written scores of reviews and features on theatre, film, art exhibitions and other cultural subjects, and hosted a web tv interview series, for which he interviewed top downtown performers like Mink Stole, Penny Arcade, Angie Pontani, Clay Mcleod Chapman, et al.

Part of the team supporting political advocacy organization founded by author and attorney Philip K. Howard

Acted, produced, and performed in dozens of plays and variety shows at Williamsburg, Brooklyn's premiere indie theatre

Host of "Indie Theatre Now" on nytheatre.com. Anchored dozens of podcasts (and two television specials), interviewing 250 indie theatre artists.

Wrote 16 features and 14 reviews for theate editor Brian Parks at the nation's premier alternative newspaper The Village Voice

Oversaw creation and distribution of all marketing collateral for Brooklyn’s public access television station serving 470,000 cable subscribers, including program guides, education catalogs, postcards, invitations, flyers, and other marketing pieces, as well as all print advertising and signage; responsible for all content on BCAT’s web site, as well as weekly e-mail blast to 9,000 subscribers; initiated and oversaw social media pages; administered online community calendar and Brooklyn Bulletin Board (television); in charge of press and public relations for BCAT: wrote and distributed press releases; organized press events; fielded media inquiries; handled viewer complaints and concerns; interfaced with p.r.consultants; took p.r. photos; point person for BCAT re-branding efforts: managed creation and roll-out of new identities for 9 different BCAT programs; organized focus groups, surveys, petitions, and letter writing campaign in preparation for two community needs assessments; liaison for BCAT’s community partners, 500 BCAT community producers, and elected officials including the Borough President’s office, local City Council members, and members of NYS Senate and Assembly, organized BRIC and BCAT presence at conventions, public meetings, street fairs, created and administered promotional contests

Wrote 81 reviews and 9 features for Time Out New York's theatre pages under section editors Jason Zinoman and David Cote

Oversaw and implemented all corporate, foundation and government fundraising for a Obie-winning not-for-profit theatre company with a $600,000 annual budget, created and implemented donor cultivation event, oversaw board relations and drafting and implementation of strategic plan organized and administered programmatic events

Booker, line producer and host of weekly variety show at Galapagos Art Space at its first, Williamsburg Brooklyn location

Oversaw and implemented all press promotion for exhibitions, public programs & other special events at 200 year old cultural organization to local and national news media; responded to daily media inquiries; produced press releases, collateral material, brochures, newsletters, annual reports, and speeches for the president; planned and implemented press conferences, exhibition previews, and other special events; oversaw all print, radio & television advertising; acted as liaison for all press and media, including documentary film-makers; interacted with exhibition project teams at decision-making level; oversaw content of N-YHS internet site; efforts resulted in a doubling of press coverage for N-YHS over the previous three year period

One year fellowship in theatre criticism and arts journalism at America's pre-eminent theatre magazine. While there, spearheaded the magazine's September 11 coverage, went on assignment to Nashville to cover the theatre scene there, and interviewed cartoonist/ playwright Jules Feiffer, among other assignments.

Grant writer and membership manager for not-for-profit one-ring circus organization. Wrote grant proposals; conceived, designed and implemented direct mail acquisition campaigns; wrote and dropped regular renewal mailings and acknowledgements to 3,000 BAC members; oversaw maintenance of 10,000 name donor database; oversaw benefits fulfillment; planned and managed donor special events