Broadway Veteran Named New Head of CCM Musical Theatre

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is pleased to announce the appointment of established Broadway veteran Eric Santagata to the position of Associate Professor and Patricia A. Corbett Distinguished Chair of Musical Theatre. A 2004 graduate of CCM's nationally recognized BFA Musical Theatre program, Santagata's appointment concludes an extensive national search that began when long-time CCM Musical Theatre Chair Aubrey Berg retired in 2019 after holding the position for 32 years.

An accomplished director, choreographer, performer and educator, Santagata has worked on Broadway, Off-Broadway, on national tours and in regional theaters across the country. He was most recently seen on Broadway in the Hal Prince retrospective Prince of Broadway. Santagata has also served as associate director to Tony Award-winning director/writer James Lapine (Falsettos) and Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Susan Stroman (The Scottsboro Boys). 

"The appointment of Eric Santagata ushers in an exciting new era for CCM Musical Theatre, which is recognized nationally for its tradition of excellence in preparing our graduates to take their places on the world's stages," CCM Dean Stanley Romanstein said.

CCM's Musical Theatre program was the first of its kind in the country, and was used by the National Association of Schools of Theatre in creating the guidelines for accreditation of Musical Theatre programs nationwide. Many CCM Musical Theatre graduates are following careers as performers and creative artists in every facet of the entertinment industry. The program is regularly ranked near the top of Playbill Magazine's annual list of "10 Most Represented Colleges on Broadway."