Professor Michael McElroy will delight, inspire and inform us by sharing his own journey from beginnings in Cleveland, Ohio to Broadway and the halls of academia: how music in all its forms was a common thread, and the ways in which art has the ability to empower, connect and heal communities.
He will offer his vision for the University’s School of Theater, Music and Dance (e.g., building on the many strengths of the school, using musical theater to bring diverse communities together.)
Michael McElroy joined the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance in Fall 2021 as chair of the school’s top-ranking Department of Musical Theatre and the Arthur E. and Martha S. Hearron Endowed Professor of Musical Theatre. He comes to Michigan after ten years as Associate Professor in Tisch/Undergraduate Drama at New York University.

The Tony-nominated Broadway veteran is a composer, vocal arranger and has introduced a number of diversity initiatives to the performing arts. Broadway credits include: Sunday in the Park with George (2017 revival with Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford), Next To Normal, Rent (Closing Cast), The Wild Party, Big River (Tony Nomination Best Supporting Actor in a Musical, Drama Desk Nomination Best Actor in a Musical), The Who's Tommy, Miss Saigon, Patti LuPone on Broadway, and High Roller Social Pleasure Club. Michael is also a composer and arranger. He has a 2005 Grammy nomination for his arrangement of “Joy To The World”. Michael also is the founder of Broadway Inspirational Voices a choir made up of Broadway performers. Under his artistic direction BIV was awarded the 2019 Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre.

This is the second lecture of a six-lecture series. The subject of the series is Music in Detroit and Michigan: The Legend Continues. The next lecture in the series will take place March 17, 2022. The title is Modern Opera. Learn from well-known experts about an array of interesting subjects, with an interactive Q&A period following each lecture.

Preregistration is required via the OLLI website or phone. A link to access the lecture will be e-mailed to you approximately one week prior to the lecture.