An accomplished actor, director, dancer, and vocalist, Sherry Lee Allen studied Musical Theatre and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Point Park University in her hometown of Pittsburgh. A union member of Actors’ Equity Association for 28 years, she has performed in the Broadway National Tour of Evita and the European Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. Regional favorite roles include Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain, Cha-Cha in Grease, and Milly and Dorcas in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. She has appeared in 42nd Street, The Music Man, Oklahoma!, Bye Bye Birdie, and many other productions; and she has served as dance captain.
She has directed and choreographed numerous productions for Barton College including Into the Woods, Little Women: the Musical, My Fair Lady, The Rocky Horror Show, Peter Pan, and Carousel, which was produced in partnership with Theatre Raleigh. She served as assistant director and choreographer for North Carolina Theatre’s Evita, starring Lauren Kennedy, and Hot Summer Nights’ The Marvelous Wonderettes, in which she appeared as Missy. In addition, Allen has directed these and many other shows: Cinderella, Seussical: The Musical, The Miracle Worker, Wait Until Dark (awarded Outstanding College Production). She served as director/choreographer for Pinkalicious and choreographed Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for Broadway Series South, Beehive: the Musical, Oh, What a Night!, and Parade for Theatre Raleigh. Her North Carolina Theatre Conservatory Assistant Director/Choreographer award-winning shows include In the Heights, Crazy for You, Pippin, Tommy, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Oklahoma!, Fame, and All Shook Up.
Allen has been a featured vocalist with the Tar River Swing Band, and the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Mark Petersen. Allen was a founding member of the vocal jazz quartet, The Sophisti-Cats; fronted the Blue Moon Orchestra in San Francisco, and founded the Bartonaires accapella singing group at Barton College.
As an educator, Allen was an adjunct professor in Dance and Theatre at Grand Valley State University, Aquinas College, and Cornerstone University in Michigan for 10 years. She also taught dance at Meredith College and voice and piano at William Peace University, both in Raleigh.
Allen enjoys challenging young minds to be skillfully creative, utilize imagination, discover new talents, and develop the professional competence to achieve success and fulfillment in the performing arts.