Accomplished theatremaker and educator Chaz Wolcott joins CCM’s faculty
Wolcott is perhaps best known for his work with the musical 'Newsies'
UC College-Conservatory of Music Interim Dean Jonathan Kregor has announced the addition of Chaz Wolcott to the college’s roster of distinguished performing and media arts faculty members. An accomplished director, choreographer, actor and educator, Wolcott’s appointment as Assistant Professor-Educator of Musical Theatre begins on Aug. 15, 2023.
New CCM faculty member Chaz Wolcott. Photo/Michael Hull
Wolcott is a theatremaker and educator who strives to spend his days developing, curating and telling stories that will challenge audiences to think in new ways. Wolcott is passionate about creating supported spaces for artists to collaborate where everyone has the ability to opt in and consent to the work, and exhibit empathy for each other.
Wolcott earned his MFA in Theatre Arts from the University of Idaho, where he also obtained his Certificate in Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Universal Design for Learning. He earned his BFA in Musical Theatre Dance from Oklahoma City University. He has trained extensively with Theatrical Intimacy Education, and he is certified in Mental Health First Aid from the National Council for Well-Being.
Wolcott brings decades of experience to his work, ranging from his performing career—which took him to Broadway, television and film—to his work on the creative side of theatre: producing, directing, choreographing, casting and devising. Wolcott is perhaps best known for his work with Newsies. You can see him as Buttons in Disney’s Newsies: The Broadway Musical, which is available on streaming platforms including Disney+, AppleTV and Prime Video. He performed on the first national tour of Newsies for two years, and he has since directed and/or choreographed the show at theaters all over the country.
On Broadway, Wolcott has served as choreographer for Red Bucket Follies, Broadway Backwards and Gypsy of the Year for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BCEFA). He has directed and choreographed shows at MT Wichita, Forestburgh Playhouse, The Gateway, Westport Country Playhouse, 3D Theatricals, Woodstock Playhouse, Millbrook Playhouse, Interlakes Theatre and more. His regional theatre credits as director/choreographer include productions of Priscilla - Queen of the Desert, Altar Boyz, Crazy for You, Bright Star, La Cage aux Folles, Cats, Cabaret, Newsies, Kiss Me Kate, Me and My Girl, Footloose, The Addams Family, Jersey Boys, Bullets Over Broadway, Mary Poppins and Mamma Mia. Wolcott also created and produced The Newsboys’ Variety Show, a series of benefits which raised over $35,000 for BCEFA.
Wolcott’s performing credits include Newsies (first national tour and movie), Cats (Mistoffelees in the national tour), New York City Center Encores, Arena Stage, MT Wichita, Casa Mañana, The Rev, The Fulton, The Gateway, The Fireside, Gretna Theatre, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and Westchester Broadway Theatre. He also competed on So You Think You Can Dance.
Wolcott is currently on faculty at both Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in New York City. He served as full-time faculty at Penn State Musical Theatre for two years, where he directed and choreographed Cabaret, and staged the First-Year and Fourth-Year Showcase. He has served on the faculty of many prestigious arts organizations, including TADA! Youth Theater, The Big Apple Tap Festival, BroadwayCon, The Broward Center, Arena Stage, The Smith Center, Dancers Responding to AIDS and Disney on Broadway.
Wolcott is a member of Actors Equity Association, Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance, and the Screen Actors Guild. He’s a proud dog dad to Quincy Bo.
"Our faculty search committee was understandably impressed by Chaz Wolcott's extensive experience as a performer, choreographer and director," said Kregor. "Chaz's innovative approach to performing arts education, coupled with an ardent dedication to student success, will make him a wonderful addition to our distinguished faculty. I want to recognize the exemplary work of our search committee, which was chaired by Diane Lala, and also included Mark Halpin, Joe Miller, Eric Santagata and Shauna Steele."
Next Lives Here
At the University of Cincinnati, we realize the impact our teaching, research, artistry and service can have on our community and the world. So, we don’t wait for change to happen. We break boundaries, boldly imagine and create what’s Next. To us, today’s possibilities spark tomorrow’s reality. That’s why we are leading urban public universities into a new era of innovation and impact, and that's how we are defining Next for the performing and media arts.
We're about engaging people and ideas - and transforming the world.
We are UC. Welcome to what's Next.
Featured image at top: Chaz Wolcott performing in the musical Newsies. Photo/Margot Schulman
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Rebecca Butts | Assistant Public Information Officer
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