Join Philip Drennen and Josh Stucky on Dayton Drama Queens as they welcome Joe Deer—legendary Wright State musical theatre professor, Broadway dancer, award-winning director, and author of Acting in Musical Theatre and Directing in Musical Theatre. In this episode, Joe shares:
27 years at Wright State University: how he built a national-level BFA Musical Theatre program and mentored stars like Nicole Scherzinger and countless behind-the-scenes pros.
Broadway & beyond: his journey from studying tap with vaudeville greats to dancing in Guys and Dolls alongside Nathan Lane and Faith Prince.
Learning from the best: tales of meeting Hal Prince, working in New York City Opera, and stage-managing under legendary choreographers.
Pivoting to directing: why Joe left center stage for Carnegie Mellon’s MFA program and how he balances teaching, directing, and writing.
Writing the definitive guides: insights behind his two best-selling textbooks on musical theatre acting and directing, now translated into five languages.
Life after “retirement”: how Joe embraces the “adventure of the day” through Italian residencies, local arts leadership, and ongoing creative projects in Dayton.
Whether you’re an aspiring performer, director, educator, or theatre enthusiast, this conversation is packed with insider stories, career advice, and inspiration from one of Dayton’s most influential arts figures. Tune in to learn how to cultivate resilience, creativity, and a lifelong love of theatre!
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