Joshua Denning, M.F.A.
Elder Memorial Theatre Center Rm 124A
402-465-7552
Joshua Denning, originally from Louisville, KY, is a director and educator who previously served on the acting faculty at Houston's prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), where his leadership earned multiple awards, including a Congressional Certificate of Recognition for his direction of The Wiz, numerous YoungArts winners, Broadway World Austin awards, and Heller Awards for Young Artists. He holds an MFA in Directing from the University of Idaho and a BFA in Acting with a Musical Theatre Emphasis from Wright State University. Joshua has performed in international Broadway productions, Equity regional theatre, Equity national tours, and Norwegian Cruise Line productions, with notable credits including The Lion King (Simba, Theatre Im Hafen, Hamburg), We Will Rock You (Britney, Theatre 11, Zurich), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Tick/Mitzi, ZACH Theatre), Les Misérables (Enjolras/u/s Valjean, ZACH Theatre), Next to Normal (Dr. Fine/Madden, ZACH Theatre), RENT (Angel, ZACH Theatre), and Hairspray (Seaweed, ZACH Theatre). His contributions to musical theatre curriculum are featured in the widely used textbook Acting in Musical Theatre: A Comprehensive Course.
MFA Directing, University of Idaho
BFA Musical Theatre, Wright State University
During my time in Austin Texas, I had the incredible opportunity to pose for The Cycle of Terror and Tragedy, the monumental Pietà painting by renowned artist Graydon Parrish pictured above. Known for his masterful technique and meticulous attention to detail, Graydon is one of the most accomplished contemporary realist painters, often drawing comparisons to the great academic masters. His works, housed in major collections like the New Britain Museum of American Art, capture human emotion with staggering intensity. It was a profound experience to contribute to his work, which memorializes the emotional weight of 9/11 and stands as a testament to his remarkable skill and artistic vision.