ABOUT CARSON
As a arts educator, Carson believes teaching is a honor that demands great care and attention. She places emphasis on the basics - storytelling, technique, expression through movement, dynamics, and musicality. Each student is given focused energy, respect, and encouragement, and her goal is for every student to be empowered, energized, inspired, and supported. Carson primarily teaches theatre jazz, musical theatre rep, audition technique, and tap to all ages and abilities - as well as incorporating improvisation and acting into her warm up and teaching methods. She resides in Wilmington, NC, with her husband and 4 children.
EDUCATION
Carson has a B.A. in Fine Arts from New York City’s New School University, after 3 years at the University of Georgia and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts (CAP-21).
CAREER
Professionally, she was in Broadway’s hit show, WICKED, as the Witch’s Mother, and also performed in WICKED’s LA, Chicago, and national touring companies.
Other touring and regional highlights include: A Chorus Line (Cassie, Kristine, Val), Footloose, The Full Monty (Vicki), 42nd Street, Anything Goes, Funny Girl, Carousel, South Pacific, & Nights on Broadway.
Her TV and commercial credits include: One Life to Live, The Today Show, ESPN, Toys R Us, Bell South, Mastercard, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Inside Edition, and Dance Spirit Magazine.
Carson has taught at Broadway Dance Center, UNC-CH, Dallas Ballet Center, Kennesaw State University, StageCoach (LA), many studios in the Southeast, and for The Pulse and NC Dance Ambassadors.
While in NYC, she worked closely with Andy Blankenbeuhler (HAMILTON, In The Heights, Bandstand, Cats), Josh Bergasse (SMASH, On The Town), and David Marquez. Other New York credits include the NYMT, BCEFA benefits (Gershwin, Neil Simon, and Minskoff, Broadway), and Elton John’s "Down the Yellow Brick Road 35th Anniversary Benefit Concert" (assistant choreographer to director Andy Blankenbeuhler).
Carson 's directorial and choreography credits include Cabaret (chor), Annie (dir/chor), The Prom (dir/chor), Newsies (chor - ILM Theatre Award), Kinky Boots (chor), Footloose (chor), Spring Awakening (dir/chor), The Full Monty (chor), The Drowsy Chaperone (chor).
Her proudest moments have been as a teaching artist with (and current board member of) DREAMS of Wilmington, a nationally recognized non profit that cultivates confidence through the arts. She also taught at the Boys & Girls club of Metro Atlanta, founded the first dance and theatre program at Hope Hill Elementary School in Atlanta, and taught dance at Classical Charter School of Wilmington.
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Carson is currently on the dance faculty at UNC-Wilmington as their first theatre dance and tap teacher, as well as the Artistic Director and the Director of Education for Opera House Theatre Company, where she develops and oversees their education program, including summer camps, after-school classes, community involvement, and pre-professional workshops.
RESUME
Broadway
WICKED (Witch’s Mother/ensemble)
LA / Chicago / National Tour
WICKED (Witch’s Mother & international swing)
TV / Commercials
One Life to Live
The Today Show
ESPN
Toys R' Us
Bridezillas
Camel
Inside Edition
Dance Spirit
Mike's Hard Lemonade
Mastercard
Bell South
Regional
A Chorus Line (Cassie, Val, Kristine)
The Full Monty (Vicki)
Nights On Broadway (dir/chor: Andy Blankenbeuhler)
South Pacific (chor: Josh Bergasse)
Crazy For You
Footloose
42nd Street
Anything Goes
Annie Get Your Gun
Carousel
Funny Girl
Director / Choreographer
Cabaret (OHTC, Chor)​
Annie (OHTC, Dir & Chor)
The Prom (OHTC, Dir & Chor)
Newsies (OHTC, ILM Theatre Outstanding Choreography Award)
Kinky Boots (OHTC, Chor)
Footloose (OHTC, Chor)
Spring Awakening (City Stage, Dir & Chor)
The Full Monty (City Stage, Chor)
The Drowsy Chaperone (Thalian Association, Chor)
Elton John’s Down the Yellow Brick Road 35th Anniversary Benefit Concert (assistant choreographer to Andy Blankenbeuhler, Director)
Faculty / Teaching
Broadway Dance Center (NYC)
University of North Carolina - Wilmington (Dance Faculty)
Opera House Theatre Company (Artistic Director & Dir. of Education)
NC Dance Ambassadors
Stagecoach LA (Director of Dance for US)
Dallas Ballet Center
N'House Productions
Evolution Dance Complex
UNC Drama Department & Master Classes Nationally
The Pulse on Tour with Mia Michaels (Emcee)
DREAMS of Wilmington
Hope Hill Elementary
Orbit Arts Academy
Atlanta Workshop Players
Kennesaw State University
Topsail High School
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Training
University of Georgia
NYU CAP-21 (Tisch)
New School University graduate with a BA in Fine Arts
Broadway Theatre Project Alumni
Broadway Dance Center
Steps on Broadway