man with blond hair and beard in blue shirt

Associate Professor –Musical Theatre and Choreography

Head of Acting Program

Brad Willcuts received his BA from Minnesota State University and MFA in Theatre Performance Pedagogy emphasizing in Musical Theatre and Movement from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Brad’s credits as a director, choreographer, movement director, fight director, and assistant/associate span Broadway, National Tours, International Theaters, Regional Theaters and the Metropolitan Opera. He most recent credit was as Associate Director/Choreographer for the new Dolly Parton musical entitled Here You Come Again which got its start at Delaware Theatre Company and is now touring the United Kingdom.

Broadway and National Tour: Amazing Grace (Assistant Fight and Military Movement Director), International: Legende Holmes (Holmes the Legend) at the Karlin Theater in Prague, Czechia (Dance, Movement and Fight Assistant), Met Opera: Porgy and Bess (Assistant Violence Director), Mother Courage and Her Children, starring Kathleen Turner (Assistant Movement Director) at the Tony Award Winning Arena Stage in Washington D.C., Hello, Dolly (Director/Choreographer) at San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre. He recently choreographed the World Premiere of The Fantasticks at Flint Repertory Theatre. 

Brad is Associate Professor of Musical Theatre and Choreography at Michigan State University where he also serves as the Head of Acting. As a tenured professor, Brad has won multiple awards and grants including the All-University Teacher/Scholar Award, the AT&T Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award, The Fintz Award for Excellence in Teaching and multiple Catalyst Grants to continue working with new media practices for actors and dancers in the classroom. While at MSU, Brad has directed and/or choreographed Grease, Urinetown, American Idiot, Head Over Heels, Bright Star and Spring Awakening along with Grand Night for SingingSee Rock City, Love and Other Junk and The Play that Goes Wrong for the Summer Circle Theatre.

Brad’s current pursuit is the rebuilding of the Walla Walla Summer Theatre. For 47 years, this massive outdoor summer theatre stood as a destination of incredible theatrical performances for the valley but was left to ruin when its financing ran out. He and his friend and collaborator are revitalizing the this cherished company. More info here: https://www.wallawallasummertheater.org/

As a performer, Brad has worked across the country and in England as singer, dancer and actor performing with Bette Midler, Marvin Hamlisch, Christina Aguilera, Emily Skinner, and the international touring group The 12 Irish Tenors to name a few.