New World School of the Arts has selected Alan Patrick Kenny to lead the school’s Theater Division as Dean of the program. As the chief academic and artistic officer for theater, Alan will oversee the administration of high school and college programs in the division, and is an integral member of Miami Dade College and Campus management teams. He will also engage in recruitment of college and high school students looking to pursue a career in theater, will work closely with the faculty and guest artists, and will explore innovative opportunities to augment the artistic training of the students. Alan Patrick Kenny is a seasoned artist, theater director, musician, producer, and educator.
Alan, who will officially begin his tenure at NWSA next week highlights, “I’ve fallen in love with the mission and vision of New World School of the Arts, and the unique structure with invaluable partner organizations shows that its reach is limitless. I have met so many incredibly talented, unique, dedicated, and energized students, faculty, staff, administration, and supporters. I can’t wait to join this fantastic team and work to shape the future of the American theater together.”
“Mr. Kenny has a dynamic background in both professional and educational theater which matches with our mission to train the next generation of leaders in the arts,” noted Dr. Jeffrey Hodgson, Provost and CEO of New World School of the Arts. “We are excited to welcome him to New World School of the Arts as our new Dean of Theater.”
Alan Patrick Kenny’s artistic career spans over 85 professional and academic productions. As the Head of Musical Theater at Ohio University, he led the creation and development of the school’s new BFA in Performance – Musical Theater track and created and launched an undergraduate certificate program in Actor – Musicianship. Alan served as the BFA Musical Theatre Program Coordinator and tenured Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. As an NYU student, he started a no-budget summer theater company in his hometown, Cincinnati, OH, called New Stage Collective. As the Producing Artistic Director, he led his company through 7 seasons, 32 productions, 22 regional premieres, 21 production awards, and 53 award nominations. Alan Patrick Kenny holds an MFA in Directing from UCLA and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance – Music Theatre from NYU Steinhardt. He also has a professional career as a music theater pianist, music director and conductor, and currently works as a music technology specialist for music theater for various international companies on many productions for Real-time Music Solutions and Right On Cue Services. Alan is an active member of the Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance and has presented research at several conferences.
Alan Patrick Kenny’s theater credits:
– OHIO: Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Spring Awakening, and Eighty-Sixed (Tantrum Theater, OHIO’s professional theater); Sibyl, and Cabaret (School of Theater).
– UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-STEVENS POINT: Metamorphoses, Dogfight, On the Twentieth Century, Carousel, The Producers, Monty Python’s Spamalot, How to Succeed…, …Spelling Bee, Next to Normal, and Lucky Stiff.
– NEW STAGE COLLECTIVE (select credits): Jerry Springer: The Opera, The Goat, BUG, Sunday in the Park…, Caroline or Change, and The History Boys.
– OTHER CINCINNATI: See What I Wanna See, Equus, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and Adding Machine: The Musical.
– REGIONAL: Utah Shakespeare Festival, Smokey Joe’s Cafe (national tour), Holland America Line, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Cincinnati Playhouse, and the Geffen Playhouse. He has assisted directors Robert Falls, Jonathan Moscone, Ed Stern, Michael McLain and Robert Kelley. Publications include “Hamilton and the Liminal Director: Navigating the Space Between Writer and Star,” co-authored with Mary Jo Lodge, published in Dueling Grounds: Revolution and Revelation in the Musical Hamilton by Oxford University Press.
The New World School of the Arts theater program is dedicated to the professional training of talented and committed students interested in pursuing a performing career in theater and music theater, offering students an opportunity to work in a hands-on intensive, physically demanding, artistically challenging and exciting environment. Guided by faculty who are professional actors, directors, playwrights and designers, the curriculum is a progressive journey toward the ownership of a personal technique and a comprehensive methodology of working. The faculty guides the student through the discovery and exploration of self, the learning of diverse techniques used in our craft, intensive rehearsal process, and finally the application of this knowledge into dramatic forms and styles in productions. The NWSA College BFA program culminates each year with showcases in Miami and in New York City. Information about the NWSA theater division is available by calling 305-237-3260.
A Florida center of excellence in the visual and performing arts, New World School of the Arts is an educational partnership of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College, and University of Florida. NWSA provides a comprehensive program of artistic, creative, and academic development through a curriculum that reflects our community and the rich multicultural state of Florida. Through our partners NWSA confers the high school diploma, Associate of Arts degree, and Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees in programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, Music, Theater and Art & Design. NWSA’s rigorous eight-year curriculum and conservatory-style teaching has empowered students in our community and our nation to become leaders in the arts for more three decades.
Information about New World School of the Arts at 305-237-3135 or nwsa.mdc.edu.