We began collaborating in 1992 as a Director/Choreographer team. Over the years, our work has been seen at The Kennedy Center, Pittsburgh CLO, Starlight Theater, Dallas Summer Musicals, TOTS, TUTS, and The MUNY. Our award-winning productions of Dreamgirls range from regional theaters to national tours — two of which were for the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta, starring Tony Winner Jennifer Holliday, another where we re-directed the national tour starring Tony Nominee BJ Crosby, and finally, a production for the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities with Billy Porter and Kecia Lewis, which earned 19 nominations and won 11 awards, including 2 for Best Production. Our production of Ragtime also earned multiple award nominations, including Best Director and Best Production. We are overjoyed and very proud to be associated with multiple theatrical honors including Emmys, Tonys, Ovations, and Garland awards, and to have worked with a wealth of celebrated performers and industry professionals including Michael Bennett, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jeff Calhoun, Murphy Cross, French Davis, Placido Domingo, Gloria Estefan, Mitzi Gaynor, Montego Glover, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Maurice Hines, Jennifer Holliday, Eric Idol, Christopher Jackson, Paul Kreppel, Adriane Lenox, Norm Lewis, Donna McKechnie, Ken Page, Harold Perrineau, Billy Porter, Diana Ross, Tommy Tune, Lauren Velez, and LaChanze, among others. In 2012, we were both honored to be chosen as judges for the first Blumey Awards (the High School version of the Tony Awards) sponsored by the Blumenthal Performing Arts organization in Charlotte, NC. Over the years, we have also had the opportunity to workshop shows and original musicals, including the debut of First Kids, as well as The Stephen Schwartz Project. In 2017, we co-produced The Time of Nick reading in New York, with Tony Winner Lillias White. Fun Fact: The Time of Nick began as an enhanced reading at Clater-Kaye Theatreworks (NC) under the title of Young Santa.
I received my B.A. from Temple University, and hold a graduate education studies certification from California State University at Northridge. I started my career working with the legendary Broadway director Michael Bennett in the original cast of the Dreamgirls International Company, which received a Tony Nomination for Best Revival in 1987. I also hold the distinct honor of being the only actor in history to have played all five of the Principal roles in Dreamgirls. I am a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) Society, and am honored to be recognized as an award-winning director of multiple productions of Dreamgirls, and Ragtime. I have also had quite a successful career in the world of film and television: I co-starred on hit soap operas such as General Hospital and The Young and the Restless, and have hosted multiple television series. In fact, my career path has enabled me to work internationally in four countries, on three continents. I spent many years as an accomplished performer on Broadway, in films, and on national television before co-founding Clater-Kaye in 2006 with Lesia. I have dedicated the past 20 years of my career to teaching aspiring performance artists the in’s-and-out’s of the industry; moreover, in addition to writing, producing, and directing the Web Series Studio 127, over the last 15 years I have directed a variety of productions, including Les Miserables, Crazy For You, A Chorus Line, The Stephen Schwartz Project, First Kids, The Wizard of Oz, Winterfest, and High School Musical, to help my students hone their craft. As a result, my alumni are now performing on Broadway, in film and tv, writing, directing, and producing, as well as casting everything from cable network series to feature films and musical theatre.
I grew up in North Carolina and studied dance, drama, and voice at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Thereafter, I earned my AEA, SAG, and AFTRA cards before graduating from the University of Houston with a B.F.A. in Theatre and later getting my Master of Science in Performing Arts Management. I went on to serve as Artistic Director and Choreographer for the Lenoir Rhyne College Dance Co. in North Carolina, and Choreographer for the Wortham Theatre and Children’s Theater Festival in Houston, TX, prior to launching my theatrical career in New York. My work in Houston included performing at Houston’s Grand Opera, Theatre Under the Stars, and as a spokesperson for Exxon and Dupont. In New York, some of my favorite musical performance credits include 42nd Street, They’re Playing Our Song, Hello Dolly, Evita, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum off-Broadway. My film and TV credit includes Robocop, General Hospital, commercials and industrials. Adding another layer to my theatrical career, I moved behind the table as an SDC Choreographer. Robert and I teamed up to direct and choreograph multiple award-winning productions of Dreamgirls, as well as Ragtime. My choreography has also been seen in The Producers, and Chicago, for which I won Best Choreography by the Metrolina Theatre Association. Throughout my career, I felt a drive to teach, and to share my hard-earned knowledge with the next generation. However, I discovered that early childhood arts education was lacking an innate understanding of the different ways in which children learn. After developing a more three-dimensional teaching method for these young artists’ minds, and piloting the program in North Carolina with astounding results, I co-founded Clater-Kaye with Robert. There, together, we were able to successfully incorporate the science of practical training with performing arts education! I am proud to say that my dynamic teaching method has been implemented by industry parents such as Angelina Jolie, Catherine Zeta Jones, The Disneys, and Jason Winston George. Truly my passion is providing my students with the kind of insider knowledge that is typically reserved for the children of pros. My extensive knowledge of the entertainment industry, combined with my innovative teaching techniques, has led to my students achieving their dreams across an array of platforms, including Broadway, national and international tours, film, television, commercials, and more.