Roy Lightner

Roy Lightner is an Associate Professor of Musical Theatre at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), with additional affiliations as Artistic Director of Red Mountain Theatre and former Associate Artistic Director at Transcendence Theatre Company. He holds a BM in Musical Theatre from Oklahoma City University and an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts with a concentration in Performance Creation from Goddard College.

• Specializes in theatre creation, directing, and choreography
• Educator with experience at Arizona State University, Cornell University, and Ithaca College
• Active in professional theatre with international credits

Research and creative interests span musical theatre performance, interdisciplinary arts, and performance creation. His work bridges academic training with professional theatre through immersive productions and educational programs.

Scientific and artistic recognition includes

• 5 National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival awards
• Dorothy Schwartz Outstanding Educator Award (2021)
• Broadway World Best Director award winner