Scott S. Susong, MFA

Scott S. Susong, MFA

Associate Professor of Musical Theatre
Musical Theatre, Acting, and Directing
Department
Theatre
Office hours

M/W 3:00-3:50 PM

F 1:00-1:50 PM

additionally, by appointment

Email
ssusong [at] nebrwesleyan.edu
Headshot of Scott Susong
Background

Forty-four years of international professional theatre experience as an actor, director, designer, and educator. Over seventy directorial credits including: Hello Dolly!, She Loves Me, Bright Star, Carrie, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Passion, The Fantasticks, Chess, The Life, Violet, The Last Five Years, South Pacific, La bohème, Dog Fight, The Boys from Syracuse, Giant, Bonnie & Clyde, Catch Me If You Can, Aspects of Love, Hello Again, Urinetown, Of Thee I Sing, The Good Woman of Setzuan, Edges, Working, The House of Bernarda Alba, Jane Eyre (the musical), The Miracle Worker, The Pajama Game, Two Gentlemen of Verona (the musical), Fiddler on the Roof, The World Goes ‘Round, and Antigone. Numerous world premiere musicals including three original interdisciplinary pieces: The Poe Project, Simple Gifts (Greece tour), and Donne in Amore: Heroines in Verse (Italy tour). Acting credits include: 1996-97 national and international tours of The Sound of Music (Rolf), starring Marie Osmond and featured as part of the 100 Days of Wonder as Hong Kong returned to Chinese sovereignty; Ziggy in Tycoon, at the John Houseman & Douglas Fairbanks Theaters; Ali/PJ in Vampire Lesbians of Sodom at The Duplex;  The Lisbon Traviata (Mike), Cabaret (Cliff), The Baltimore Waltz (Carl), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Demetrius & Oberon), and Camelot (Arthur & Lancelot), as well as, 14 productions with UDT, including: Into the Woods (Baker), Metropolis (Steven), Blood Brothers (Edward), City of Angels (Stine), Joseph . . . Dreamcoat (Joseph – 10th Anniversary Production), Guys & Dolls (Nathan Detroit), and Oklahoma! (Curly); Concert credits include:  An Evening with Tim Rice with Sir Tim Rice and the 2003 concert of Jesus Christ Superstar starring original cast member Yvonne Elliman, also featuring Sir Tim Rice. Artistic Director Co-Founder:  Curtain Call Productions, 1998-2008. CCP credits include Co-producing with Towson University, directing and designing the world premiere of the new musical Lindbergh Baby Kidnapped at Baltimore's Theatre Project, featured in TCG’s American Theatre’s January 2002 musicals issue. Twenty-five years of teaching experience including: Ohio Northern University, Illinois Wesleyan University, Towson University, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, University of Texas at El Paso, Del Valle High School, and six years as the Director of Theatre/Grade Level Dean at Roland Park Country School. Personal: Two amazing children, Elijah, and Eden. 

Education

MFA, Towson University (thesis, “Investigating the Director’s Role in the Production of a New Musical”)

BA, University of Texas at El Paso.

Courses taught

THTRE-1060-001: Introduction to Musical Theatre

THTRE-2300-001: Acting III

THTRE-4480-001: Professional Preparation for Theatre

THTRE-4640-007: Voice Lessons/Studio IV

THTRE-4890-001: Senior Showcase

Research and academic interests

Currently working on his first book, Wheatley’s Folly: A History of American Musical Theatre & Literature, to be published by Cognella Publications. Scott's graduate thesis is entitled “Investigating the Director’s Role in the Production of a New Musical." His primary scholarship is centered on musical theatre history and new work creation, as well as the musical composers Stephen Sondheim and Michael John LaChiusa. A perennial Audition Workshop practitioner, Scott has been coaching actors professionally for over twenty-five years. He has presented at the 2009 & 2011 International MTEA conferences in Denmark, Germany, and Sweden. His other domestic conference presentations include “Music Theatre Curriculum/A Look at the European Music Theatre Training Model,” the 2010 MTEA annual conference in Austin, TX; “Conversation with Kaitlin Hopkins: From Artist to Educator,” the 2013 MTEA annual conference in St Louis, MO; “Conversation with Scott Miller: Writing About Musical Theatre,” the 2019 MTEA annual conference in New York City, NY; “Balancing Enrollment: DEI & Student Opportunity,” the 2021 MTEA annual conference; "Directing Musicals during COVID-19," and most recently the MTEA 2025 Summer Symposium; "Actor Training in Higher Education MT Programs: How Does it Work?" 

Professional and community affiliations, certifications and awards

Freelance Director, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)
Executive Committee- former two-time Great Lakes Regional Director, current Member at Large/Co-Head of Acting, Executive Board, Musical Theatre Educators Alliance-International (MTEA)
Member, National Alliance for Musical Theatre (namt)

Visiting Professor of Musical Theatre, Getty College of Arts & Sciences, Ohio Northern University, 2024-2025
Assoc. Professor/Head of Music Theatre-Emeritus, School of Theatre Arts, Illinois Wesleyan University, 2007-2024