Edward Reichert

Faculty/Musical Theater Vocal Coach in the School of Music since 2001, is originally from Ohio. He studied music and theater at the Aaron Copland School of Music/CUNY (B.M.) where he worked under the tutelage of composer/conductor Hugo Weisgall as both a vocal coach and stage director in the Opera Studio and Musical Theater Workshop. His NYC credits include numerous Off Broadway plays, musicals, operas, as well as many college/university productions and cabaret venues. (He even accompanied Wesley Snipes for his senior showcase at Purchase University and taught Lisa Lisa at a performing arts high school!)

Highlights since moving to Maine in 1987: 20 years in residence at Maine State Music Theatre; musical director/conductor for productions at Walnut Street Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, Seacoast Rep, Portland Stage Company, The Fulton Theatre, Arundel Barn Playhouse, and Florida Repertory Theatre; producing the critically acclaimed Songbook Series at the Portland Museum of Art; conducting the Portland Symphony Orchestra in a concert version of Evita starring Andrea McArdle; his collaborations with TONY Award winning composer Maury Yeston; and his long associations with vocalists Marie Pressman and Judith James. Ed has been a guest instructor and director at the University of New Hampshire/Durham (Regional ACTF Finalist for Blood Brothers), St. Joseph’s College, and Sacramento State University.

He is a member of Actors’ Equity Association and has appeared onstage as “Manny” in productions of Master Class opposite Lucie Arnaz (SRT) and Rosemary Prinz (PSC). His favorite directing credits at USM include Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party, Urinetown, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Bat Boy, and Titanic. Ed is very proud of all of his current and former students’ accomplishments.