50 years of excellence in musical theatre training.
With a reputation for excellence in pre-professional training and a constant eye on the ever-evolving industry, the musical theatre program at Shenandoah Conservatory has become broadly recognized for extraordinary artistry and innovation.
Shenandoah Conservatory's musical theatre program was ranked in the "Top 10 Schools for Musical Theatre Majors" list published by College Magazine.
The musical theatre program was also highlighted in Broadway World's "Where Do You Belong? Stats from the Most Represented Schools on Broadway" article featuring insights from Shenandoah's own Director of Musical Theatre Kevin Covert.
Pictured: U.S. Collegiate Premiere – SOMETHING ROTTEN! (Fall 2019)
Shenandoah Conservatory's BFA in musical theatre is the only program in the country dedicated to Broadway’s most popular and fastest growing genre—the pop/rock musical.
Under the tutelage of MATTHEW EDWARDS, Associate Professor of Voice, Coordinator of Musical Theatre Voice and Artistic Director of The Contemporary Commercial Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute, Shenandoah is a pioneer in the training of healthy sustainable vocal techniques for contemporary musical theatre artists.
"Shenandoah Conservatory is a training program for the next generation of true MUSICAL THEATRE TRIPLE THREATS.” — Kevin Covert
Students receive extensive and rigorous dance training with seasoned Broadway performers and pedagogues throughout their undergraduate coursework. Training is focused on the development of technique and stylistic execution in the areas of ballet, jazz, tap and musical theatre dance.
The program offers individual mentorship by leading industry professionals. Recent faculty hires include Broadway veterans:
- Director of Musical Theatre; Assistant Professor of Theatre KEVIN COVERT (Spamalot, Memphis, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)
- Associate Professor of Theatre; Music Director PATRICK BRADY (Original Music Director and Conductor – The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Fosse, Triumph of Love. Also - Big, Crazy For You, The Will Rogers Folllies)
- Associate Professor of Voice; Coordinator of Musical Theatre Voice; Artistic Director, CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute MATTHEW EDWARDS (Author of So You Want to Sing Rock 'n' Roll)
- Assistant Professor of Dance; Coordinator of Musical Theatre Dance SHYLO MARTINEZ (Wicked, Movin’ Out)
- Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dance MARY ROBARE (Singin’ in the Rain, On Your Toes, Little Me, Wind in the Willows)
To strengthen the transition from academic to professional life, leading agents and casting directors are invited to campus during the final semester of study to provide one-on-one workshops with graduating seniors.
Shenandoah Conservatory is also home to Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre (SSMT), a professional summer stock theatre entering its 37th season in 2021. With an audience reach of approximately 30,000 patrons, SSMT is one of the country’s largest campus-based summer musical theatre seasons, and employs both students and professional actors.
MAKING THEATRE HISTORY
Roman Banks ’21 (B.F.A. in Musical Theatre) is making theatre history. He’s an understudy for three parts in Dear Evan Hansen. Whenever he’s called upon to portray the title character, he’ll be the first African-American to play the role, which Banks said he finds exhilarating.
Shenandoah Conservatory’s alumni include numerous Broadway actors, in shows such as Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Book of Mormon, CATS, Dear Evan Hansen, Jagged Little Pill, Jersey Boys, Once on This Island, The Outsiders, Six, Something Rotten!, Waitress, Wicked, and many more, including Tony Award Nominee J. Robert Spencer ’91, Samantha Bello ’22, Ian Campayno ’08, Jake Emmerling ’11, Aaron Galligan-Stierle ’02, Greggory Goodbrod ’97, Brody Grant ’21, Elizabeth “Beth” Green Schwartz ’86, Rachel Haber ’15, Jessie Lee Hooker ’10, Kelsee (Sweigard) Kimmel ’16, Sara (Rusicka) King ’07, Kris Koop ’87, Cydney Kutcipal ’23, Garrett Elise Long ’91, Jordan McCaskill ’17, Mauricio Pérez ’07, Kathy Voytko ’94, Anthony Wayne ’03, Jason Wooten ’96, Laura Woyasz ’98, and Kade Wright ’21.
Pictured: Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer '91 with Aaron Tveit and Alice Ripley in Next to Normal (Photo by Sara Krulwich/The New York Times)