VCUarts Musical Theater Showcase 2025 — Thrive Here

Director / Choreographer / Artistic Director: Joshua Denning
VCUarts Department of Theatre

As my first major project as the newly appointed Head of Musical Theatre at VCUarts, the 2025 Musical Theater Showcase (Thrive Here) served as both an artistic statement and a pedagogical reset for the program. Designed for a cast of 38 BA Musical Theatre Minors and BFA Musical Theatre Majors, the showcase centered on the foundational integration of singing, movement, and storytelling. I focused the curriculum and creative process on ensemble-driven dance numbers, ensuring every student developed the core musical theatre skills necessary for pre-professional readiness while also receiving an individual solo moment tailored to their strengths.

The theme, Thrive Here, positioned the showcase as a declaration of renewal—signaling the program’s rebirth after years of transition and articulating my long-term vision for training: a rigorous, contemporary, student-centered environment where young artists grow, challenge themselves, and graduate prepared to work professionally.

I curated the repertoire and served as the primary director, choreographer, and artistic lead, overseeing staging, movement, creative concepting, and visual presentation, including wardrobe and stylistic cohesion. The musical arrangements and cuts were crafted by collaborator Joe Revelle, with additional assistant direction and choreography by Wes Seals and Tippi Hart. In performance, I also served as the live sound mixer and operated the soundboard and house lighting to ensure a cohesive and responsive audience experience.

This inaugural showcase stands as the thesis statement for my leadership at VCU: a community where musical theatre artists are empowered, emboldened, and equipped to thrive.