Clay James

Biography

CLAY JAMES (Director), is a three-time recipient of the American Regional Theatre Award for Outstanding Direction and Choreography; winner of the Moss Hart Award; the NHTA Award for Outstanding Direction and Choreography and served as Coordinator of Musical Theatre for the BFA Musical Theatre Program at Montclair State University, the first such BFA program in the state of New Jersey, which he created and developed, from 2005 – 2022. Clay currently serves as Associate Professor of Musical Theatre for MSU. He also currently serves as Master Specialist in Musical Theatre for the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts in Shanghai, China. For MSU he has directed, staged and/or choreographed Parade, A Grand Night For Singing, Cabaret, And the World Goes Round, The Full Monty, A Bernstein Tribute, Crazy for You, Side Show, Sweeney Todd, Sweet Charity, A Chorus Line, Closer Than Ever, Kiss of the Spider Woman, An Evening for the Arts, 42nd Street, The Producers, Bright Star and Anything Goes. Other Directorial and/ or choreographic assignments include those for St. Louis Muny Opera, Playhouse in the Park, North Shore Music Theatre, The Kenley Players, The Orange Bowl Halftime Show and The Orange Bowl Parade for NBC, Jones Beach Theatre, Shores Performing Arts Center, The Pink Garter Theatre, Resorts International, Walt Disney Productions, CRF Productions, Mt. Washington Valley Theatre Company and The Zeiterion Theatre among many others. Clay's education includes a B.F.A. in Theatre with a minor in Music and an M.F.A. in Directing from Florida Atlantic University. He is an active member in Actors Equity Association (AEA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) and is proud to be an honorary member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

Education

• BFA, Florida Atlantic University
• MFA, Florida Atlantic University

Resume/CV

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Research

Professor of Musical Theatre, Direction, Staging and Choreography, Musical Theatre History