Thursday, June 12th

Greg Hellems is an accomplished theatre educator and professional, currently serving as the Head of Musical Theatre at Wright State University, where he also teaches Acting and Musical Theatre. With a wealth of experience as a director, choreographer, and educator, Greg has helped to shape the theatre community both regionally and nationally.

Greg began his professional career as a performer in theme parks and industrial shows before transitioning into regional theatre and Off-Broadway. He honed his directing, choreography, and writing skills at Kings Entertainment Company in Cincinnati, creating shows for theme parks in the U.S. and Canada. Greg's freelance work spans industrial shows, cruise lines, and touring productions, with credits including Carnival Cruise Lines, Legoland Windsor (UK), Paramount Parks Inc., Cedar Fair, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

At Wright State, Greg's directorial and choreographic work includes acclaimed productions such as Alice By Heart, Cabaret, Sister Act, Mamma Mia, A Little Night Music, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. He also assistant directed WSU's regional premiere of States of Independence with Tina Landau and Ricky Ian Gordon. Additionally, he has directed or choreographed productions at the University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music, Northern Kentucky University, Xavier University, Miami University, and James Madison University. Greg's extensive teaching experience includes the Advanced Performance Academy at Columbus Children's Theatre, the High Scholl Musical Production and Intensive at Interlochen Arts Camp, and the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music -Prep.

In addition to his work in Ohio, Greg has directed and choreographed for various renowned theatres and institutions, working regionally at theatres like Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Hot Summer Nights. the Human Race Theatre Co., Zoot Theatre, and Mountain Playhouse, among others Greg's regional credits include Shipwrecked, The Cake, Sex With Strangers, The Glass Menagerie, Band Geeks! A Funny Thing …Forum, Little Shop of Horrors, and Music Man. Notable collaborations include direction and staging for Leonard Bernstein's Mass and choreography for South Pacific for the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Most notably he served as assistant director to Tin Landau for the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's Sycamore Trees at the Signature Theatre in Washington, DC in 2010

A member of Actors Equity, an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and a founding member of the Musical Theatre Educators Alliance, Greg has earned recognition for his award-winning work in musical theatre and play direction. He holds a BS in Communications/Theatre from James Madison University and an MFA in Directing from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.