Academic Leader/Educator/Director

e-mail: daroldheal@gmail.com

Cell: 250-884-3409

Overview

• Experienced Instructor, Artistic and Program Director, Manager/Administrator in post secondary education.

• Theatre Artist with a specialty in directing, choreography and performance.

• Highly effective as a leader, builder and member of an educational or production team.

Education

• Bachelor of Education in Drama, from the University of Alberta

• Masters of Fine Arts in Directing from the University of Calgary (Thesis Production – The Crucible)

• Master classes and summer schools in dance, theatre and singing in Edmonton, Vancouver, New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. (1975-1993)

• Leadership and post secondary institution marketing seminars at The International Chair Academy (2005, 2006)

  Career Highlights

Semi-Retired and Free-Lance Director/Choreographer, 2017- current

Directed and Co-Choreographed - The Drowsy Chaperone and Mamma Mia! - Keyano Theatre Company (KTC)

Directed – Led Me a Tenor (KTC)

Artistic and Education Director – The Canadian College of Performing Arts, 2010-2017

Senior College Director for a prestigious National Private Post Secondary College which trained Performing Artists from all across Canada and internationally. I ensured the success of all the staff, students and faculty and reported directly to the College President. In this role I was responsible for all artistic and educational matters including the overall leadership, strategic planning, student recruitment, operations (including staffing and program scheduling), plus the annual evaluation of all faculty and related staff. In addition, I was a spokesperson for the college and was very involved in external community relations. I also produced our season of performing arts events which included plays, musicals, community performances, guest appearances (i.e. with the Victoria Symphony and the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy), fundraisers and a major Awards event (The Canadian Legacy Award) which honored David Foster in 2017. During this time I directed and choreographed almost 100 performances which included major productions of; Crazy For You, Footloose, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Young Frankenstein, Mary Poppins and Beauty and the Beast and more.

Instructor – Red Deer College, 2008-2009

Curriculum development and Instructor in the Theatre Studies Program.

Trained students in Acting, Play Analysis, Movement for the Actor, Dance, Scene Analysis, Voice and Speech.

Directed and choreographed; Beauty and the Beast and Affairs of the Arts

On Deferred Leave from Red Deer College, 2007 – 2008

Traveled around the world.

Free-lance choreographer for professional productions of; The Full Monty (Calgary Cooperative) and Beauty and the Beast (Western Canadian Theatre)

Chair of Performing Arts - Red Deer College, 2006 – 2007 and 2008-2009

Provided academic and artistic leadership in the Music, Theatre Studies and Motion Picture Arts programs. In Theatre Studies I was the leader of an educational team of thirteen full time staff plus guest artists who instructed forty performance majors, thirty technical theatre majors and twenty-four costume cutting and construction majors. The program was recognized by the National Theatre School, the Banff School of Fine Arts and other receiving institutions as a leading two year College Program. The Music program had five full time faculty, fifteen part-time instructors and numerous guest artists throughout the season. They had over fifteen major musical productions each year. The Motion Picture Arts program is nationally recognized with graduates working in the industry across Canada and in the USA. As it was originally a new Applied Degree program I was an active catalyst in the development, recruitment and promotion of the degree.

Other Professional activities:

• Producer, Artistic Director for resident Theatre Studies presents… - a season that serves to integrate instruction for all majors into four fully mounted productions per season. Gate receipts and fund raising for the Company recover production expenses (including visiting professionals) and returned an average of $20,000 to College surplus annually.

• Directed and choreographed The Wizard of Oz and ROAD

• Representative on the Affairs of the Arts committee (major College fundraising event).

• Peer Evaluator for new and conditional faculty members (College-wide).

• Chaired a major program review for the Acting stream.

Interim Dean of Arts – Red Deer College, 2005 – 2006

Provided leadership, strategic planning, support and development of four areas; Performing Arts, Visual arts, Social Work Program and all of the Humanities and Social Sciences. My leadership work with the Program Chairs and the College leadership team was to ensure alignment of academic policies and professional standards, budget planning, as well as ongoing quality assurance and development of all programs.

Other professional responsibilities:

• Dean representative on the Professional Standards Committee.

• Nurtured, evaluated and supported full-time faculty members to achieve Permanency/Tenure.

• Member of College Leadership Team and of Academic Council.

• Performing Arts Director – 2006 Alberta Summer Games (Cultural Component).

Chair of Performing Arts - Red Deer College, 2000 – 2005

Provide academic leadership to students and faculty in five programs (see above)

Other Professional activities:

• Directed and Choreographed Crazy for You, and Footloose.

• Directed Lion in the Streets.

• Adjudicator, animateur of civic and provincial dance and theatre festivals.

• Chairperson of College United Way Special Events Committee.

• Representative on the “Affairs of the Arts” committee (major College fundraising event) and on the College Recruitment Advisory Committee.

Instructor, Red Deer College, 1999-2000

Curriculum development and Instructor in Theatre Studies Program. Trained students in Acting, Play Analysis, Movement for the Actor, Dance, Scene Analysis, Career Path, Voice and Speech.

Other Professional activities:

• Directed and Choreographed Fiddler on the Roof.

• Adjudicator, animateur of civic and provincial music and theatre festivals.

• Chair of Recruitment Committee, Curriculum Development and Play Selection Committee.

Artistic Director, Keyano Theatre/Instructor, Keyano College, 1993 – 1999

Provided leadership and supervision of all artistic activities of a Main Stage (600-seat theatre) season that incorporated students from the Drama program and community actors. This work included selecting and designing the season and all the artistic staff (guest designers, directors, choreographers, etc.) and managing a full-time staff of twelve with numerous part-time and volunteer staff. During my time there I successfully steered the company through a massive 30% cutback from the College financial department, yet managed to increase over-all subscription sales by 23%. I was a leading team member that integrated the College Drama program into the popular community theatre that was extremely successful and proved to be a “first” in Canada.

Full-time, continuous instructor in the College Drama Program. I trained students in Acting, Play Analysis, Movement for the Actor, Dance, Scene Analysis, Career Path, Introduction to Theatre Art and Musical Theatre Performance.

Other Professional activities:

• Member of the College Peer Support System program.

• Directed and choreographed over twenty productions. Four of my productions are in their top ten, all-time, top-selling productions. My direction of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and The Wizard of Oz remain the top two most popular shows in their production history.

Instructor (Part-time), Red Deer College, 1986-1993

Instructor in Drama. Trained students in Movement for the Actor, Acting, Dance Technique, Musical Theatre Styles and Performance.

Other Professional activities:

• Member of Program Planning Team for College/Community Arts Centre.

• Directed and choreographed numerous student productions.

Co-Artistic Director – Kompany! 1979 – 2007

Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director, Choreographer and Performer of a professional Song and Dance Troupe. Kompany! toured all across Canada and to Europe, Japan, Australia and the United States. I earned over eleven Sterling Award nominations (for excellence in the Edmonton Theatre) including Outstanding Musical Production. I employed hundreds of professional artists and created numerous original works and musical revues.

Guest Instructor, Director, Performer and Choreographer, 1978 - ongoing

• Active as a freelance professional artist, teacher, adjudicator and administrator in professional theatre and television and in the post-secondary educational system across Canada, as well as at International Festivals and theatres.

• Co-author of the original Canadian musical – The Jazzcracker.

Awards and Recognition

• Leadership Award – International Chair Academy, 2005

• City of Red Deer Mayor’s Award in the Arts, 2005

• Numerous Sterling Award nominations (for excellence in the Edmonton theatre community)

Interests

Sailing, Travel, Reading, Skiing, Tennis

Other

Professional Directing and Choreography Resumes available upon request