Summer Musical Theatre Intensive Faculty
Nancy Jones is a Professor of Theatre and Director of the Musical Theatre Certificate at the University of Kentucky where she teaches performance, directs productions, and brings an international resume of theatre experience to the classroom. Moliere’s Women (a play she wrote and directed) premiered in 2006 at the Mae West Festival in Seattle, Washington and in Paris, France July 2007.
Her work as a Theatre Director has been featured in New York at the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, where she staged Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream, the New York International Fringe Festival, the American Living Room Festival at HERE, Immigrant’s Theatre Project, New York Performance Works, New Dramatists, the country’s premiere playwright development organization, and the Actors Theatre of Louisville 24-Hour Play Festival.
On UK campus, she has developed many interdisciplinary projects: Tartuffe and Le Grand Guignol (both cross-disciplinary collaborations with the French Department); El Mundo de los Suenos (a project with Latin American Studies); and Affrilachia (developed with Anthropology and African-American Studies). Her passion for French Theatre led to the development of a UK Study Abroad Program held in Paris, France each summer.
Her professional performance career includes Equity Tours, Dance Companies, Television, Commercials and Film. She has received Grants from the Kentucky Foundation for Women and the Kentucky Arts Council, is serves on the Board of the National Association of Schools of Theatre. www.nancycjones.com
Patrick Garr is a New York-based dancer, singer, actor, choreographer and dance teacher currently performing on the Angelica Tour of HAMILTON: An American Musical as Samuel Seabury and Man 2. He was most recently seen as a swing in Mean Girls on Broadway. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BA in Theatre, Musical Theatre Certificate, and a minor in Dance. Patrick is a proud Contemporary Dance alum of the School for the Creative and Performing Arts and the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts.
Patrick’s professional credits include: Jerome Robbins Broadway, Fiddler on the Roof (The MUNY), Mary Poppins (The Lexington Theatre Company), Hello, Dolly!, Aida, Billy Elliot, Big Fish (Music Theatre Wichita). Patrick is on faculty with Groove National Dance Competition, Varsity All Star Dance Competition, Broadway Classroom, and Man In Motion NYC. As a choreographer, Patrick's credits include: Addams Family, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and selections from Matilda, Chicago, Pippin.
He is a proud member of Actor's Equity Association. For more information: PatrickGarr.com or @mrpatrickg
Mary Joy Nelson teaches voice in the Musical Theatre Certificate Program at the University of Kentucky and is the Founding Executive Director of InnOVATION Arts Academy. Previously, she founded the A.C.E. Preparatory program and Broadway Bound Summer Camps at the University of Kentucky, where she completed her MMus in vocal performance. Several students in her programs have landed major roles in national Broadway productions in recent years (Audrey Bennett, Brooklyn Shuck, Kyla Carter). She has been teaching youth and children in the performing arts for over 20 years and currently works at InnOVATION as an administrator, producer, director and music director. She teaches students in Lexington, New York, LA, Utah, and Florida in voice, acting and audition techniques.
American baritone Michael Preacely is a rising star on the operatic stage and is also known for a versatile singing ability and style that allow him to cross between genres from classical repertoire to pop, contemporary, and Broadway. He has received critical acclaim for many of his performances, including Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, Scarpia in Tosca, Ford in Falstaff, Marcello in La Boheme, the High Priest in Samson and Delilah, and Porgy and Jake in Porgy and Bess. Mr. Preacely has performed with many major and regional opera houses and orchestras in the United States and abroad. Recently, Mr. Preacely completed a European tour of Porgy and Bess where he received great reviews for his performance of both Porgy and Jake. He also toured Russia in a concert series with New York based Opera Noire, debuted with Opera Memphis in the role of Marullo with a Rigoletto Cover, and Opéra de Montréal in the role of Jake. Michael made his debut with the Butler University Symphony Orchestra opposite world-famous soprano Angela Brown in a beloved performance of the Porgy and Bess Suite. Michael has performed with Cincinnati Opera, Opera Company Philadelphia, Opera Memphis, Kentucky Opera, Cleveland Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, and Bohème Opera of New Jersey.
Mr. Preacely has received numerous accolades. He was invited under scholarship to participate in the International Vocal Arts Institute with Joan Dornemann and the VOIC Experience with Sherrill Milnes and Friends. He was the First Place Graduate Winner in the Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition at the University of Kentucky and the recipient of awards in various competitions such as the National Opera Association Vocal Competition Artist Division, the Fritz and Jensen Vocal Competition, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Currently, Mr. Preacely is working on the release of his first album, Spirituals and Hymns, followed by a series of concerts and recitals in various venues across the United States. Michael resides in Lexington, KY with his wife LeTicia and three sons, Joshua, Benjamin and Jayce Bryson.
Hello everyone! My name is Cory Samuel Lee Evans and I am an upcoming junior here at the University of Kentucky with as major in Theatre along with the Musical Theatre Certificate. I grew up in the farthest southeast region of Kentucky as I grew up performing in my tristate area in local and high school productions as well as festivals. I have played roles such as Conrad Birdie from “Bye Bye Birdie”, Brad from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, and most recently Evan Hansen in the “Pasek and Paul” cabaret at our university. Growing up, I always had dreams of becoming the best version of myself, and I found a way to do that through musical theatre. There is something about developing yourself along with your craft as time continues that I am mesmerized by, and I aspire to inspire those who have the same mindset. I have been involved with the Musical Theatre Certificate since my first semester at UK, and I have fell madly in love with the environment and community created in the program itself. Along with being an assistant to Nancy through the MTC, I have recently been working for Innovation Arts Academy as a mentor for children 3-18. I am overjoyed to help with the Musical Theatre Summer Intensive not only because I love to see the future thespians of our world learn and grow as performers, but also build an amazing foundation that can propel them to achieve their lifetime goals and aspirations.
