Chair Spotlight: Jacob Allen

JACOB ALLEN

The innovator behind the UofM’s award-winning music theatre program brings his unique skill set to the position of department chair

WITH A TENURE THAT STARTED IN FALL 2020, DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE & DANCE CHAIR JACOB ALLEN was tasked with guiding his department through what may have been its most tumultuous year to date.

the University of Memphis' highest honor for excellence in the classroom. In addition, he is a former CCFA Dean’s Fellow for Research. Allen joined the UofM in 2010 as assistant professor and head of “It’s a challenging and yet very music theatre in 2010. When he gratifying time to step into this first arrived in Memphis, there was position, due in part to the COVID-19 no BFA music theatre program in pandemic,” said Allen. “I’ve learned Tennessee or any state touching it. quickly that it’s necessary to be flexible, “When that initial job and our students and “I’ve been given description came across my faculty feel the same way. I’m very proud of the planning and the work the opportunity to become desk 10 years ago, it was like it was written just for me,” he said. “The opportunity that our department has chair and to found, build and grow a done to ensure that we are still able to provide utilize my skills new music theatre program within a very established an effective, safe and for the entire existing department was fulfilling education department and just too good to miss.” to our students, even throughout the crisis.” As a director and performer, Allen has sort of look at ways to nurture and develop all Now in its ninth year, the musical theatre concentration spearheaded by Allen has grown, worked extensively of the programs reaching an enrollment of throughout the Midwest and New England in a offered by the 48 students in the program since it officially launched range of productions Department in 2011 with a production that includes My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, The King and I, Fiddler of Theatre & Dance.” of Phantom of the Opera that sold out in mere hours. More recently, music theatre on the Roof, Little Shop achievements include the of Horrors and Anything Goes. 2019 production of Be More Chill, a show that opened before “I have been involved in musical the Broadway production and had to theatre from a young age,” he said. be created with special permission “I started taking piano lessons at from its original producers. age 5. My mother was a classically trained soprano, while my father For Allen, the new concentration had a background in choral proved to be a great success and directing. Together, they founded a hopeful sign of things to come a community National Gilbert for the department at large. & Sullivan Opera Company.” “It’s been a great joy to see that Allen’s academic accolades include the challenge fulfilled,” he said. “But now, 2014 Thomas W. Briggs Foundation I’ve been given the opportunity to Award for excellence in teaching, become chair and utilize my skills for

the entire department and sort of look at ways to nurture and develop all of the programs offered by the Department of Theatre & Dance.”

As incoming chair, one of Allen’s key objectives is to change significant parts of the existing course load to reflect where the industry is headed.

“In terms of the curriculum, we started by thinking about what skills the artists really need,” he said. “While there is a lot that remains the same in terms of the artistic training, so much is changing in terms of the use of technology and media in theatre. We’ve always been responsive to that, but that change is happening more rapidly than ever.”

When it comes to what makes a brilliant student in a department that thrives on curiosity and art for art’s sake, Allen said the difference maker often expresses itself behind the scenes.

“Anyone who comes to the Department of Theatre & Dance as a performer or in a technical role loves putting on shows,” he said. “But a lot of the work of developing those productions happens not on stage, but in the rehearsal process and in the classroom. The students that find joy in that process equal to the joy that they find when giving a bow after a successful performance are far and away the ones that get the most out of their educational experience.”