Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Morgan.
Amanda, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up doing theatre in San Diego, California as a performer. My family relocated to Florida when I was in high school and I got cast in a professional show when I was 17 at Seaside Music Theatre. I went on to study theatre and music at Florida State, followed by grad school at the University of Central Florida where I got my MFA in Acting. While I was in college & grad school, I started teaching and music directing, and fell in love with all of that. My career took off from there and has taken me all across the country as a music director, actor, director, and educator!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ha, no… Along with the typical rejections from programs, jobs, etc., one of the things I’m very open about is that I suffered from a vocal issue my senior year of college – I was diagnosed with a vocal cyst which I had to have surgery for removal. This really piqued my interest in vocal anatomy and vocal health which has led me to being the voice teacher & coach I am today. I went through a long recovery process and while I fully “recovered,” I will never get back some of the vocal dexterity I had before all of that. It came at a time when I was launching into my career. It forced me to explore other jobs in theatre which led me to music directing and teaching. I have made it a real priority of mine to empower singers (especially of musical theatre and contemporary styles) with knowledge about vocal function & health.
Kennesaw State University Department of Theatre & Performance Studies – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I have a main job – what I call my “big girl job” – and then I have many “gigs” around Atlanta! I’m so fortunate to work full time at Kennesaw State University as the Coordinator of Musical Theatre in the Department of Theatre & Performance Studies. I’m in my fourth year of teaching there and was just granted tenure & promotion. I teach classes in voice, acting, and the synthesis of the two – musical theatre! I also teach musical theatre history & literature. I’m so proud of the work being done at Kennesaw State University, especially in our Department of Theatre & Performance Studies. My colleagues and students are amazing and very committed to creating art (and artists) who inquire about the world around them and develop their professional skills to create high-quality theatre and art that positively impacts our community. Our alumni are continuing to flourish in Atlanta and regionally and doing wonderful things. Hire them! And come see the amazing work we do up at Kennesaw State!
Around Atlanta, I have worked mostly as a music director – at the Alliance, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Actors Express, Synchronicity, and Six Flags. I’ve also done some music arranging and some music assistant/copyist work. I’ve taught at the Lyric & the Alliance in some of their camps and intensives. Additionally, I do offer private vocal lessons and coachings to those outside of KSU when time allows (i.e., the summer).
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Honestly, I am most proud of my students. When my students (either from Kennesaw State or Ole Miss – where I used to teach) get big jobs or opportunities, my heart soars for them. Danny Crowe and Tad Cameron are a couple of KSU alums of mine out there working in other states. Michael Nero and Andrea Mora are out on cruise ships so that’s awesome. We have so many KSU alums working here in Atlanta pretty steadily – Joseph Pendergrast, Damien Lockhart, Chani Masonet, Elliott Folds, and MANY of our design/tech alums… Also, winning the Suzi Bass Award in 2018 for Music Direction was cool because I felt like even being nominated was a great way to say “I’m here!” I love the Atlanta community of theatre artists and feel so lucky to be a part of it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.amandawansamorgan.com
- Email: amorga97@kennesaw.edu
- Instagram: wansaham
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