Nicholas Fuqua

Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre

Location
Williams Music Building
Department

Nicholas Fuqua is a distinguished professor of performing arts with extensive expertise in musical theatre, opera, and arts education. As an Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre at Catawba College, Nicholas leads the musical theatre program, serves as Music Director for the theatre department, and provides specialized instruction in voice and string performance. His commitment to fostering artistic excellence has established him as a key figure in theatre education, teaching various technique workshops at International Thespian Festivals at the state level.

Prior to his tenure at Catawba College, Nicholas served as Theatre Director and Auditorium Manager at Clarksville Community Schools and spent seven impactful years in Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky, where he held the roles of Fine Arts Facilitator and Performing Arts Department Chair at Fern Creek High School. His earlier positions include work as a Catholic cantor, Music Director for Art and Sol Youth Theatre, and an arts advocate at Mesa Arts Academy Charter School in Mesa, Arizona.

Nicholas holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Directing and Pedagogy, with a thesis exploring the relationship between fine arts involvement and standardized academic performance. He also earned a Master of Music in Musical Theatre and Opera Performance from Arizona State University and a Master of Education from the University of Louisville. A native of Flint, Michigan, he completed his Bachelor of Arts in Musical Theatre with a minor in Viola Performance at Siena Heights University.

As a performer, Nicholas achieved national recognition as a semi-finalist in the inaugural National Musical Theatre Competition and garnered critical acclaim for his leading roles in the Canadian premieres of Thyrsis and Amaranth and The Harpies with the Halifax Opera of Nova Scotia, where Opera Canada praised his artistry. Additionally, he collaborated with the Kentucky Opera, enhancing his credentials as a versatile and accomplished artist.

Nicholas is a seasoned professional actor and singer, having spent two summers at the Barn Theatre, where his performances in Hair! and Peter Pan! earned commendations. Other notable credits include roles in 42nd Street, Shrek, Fiddler on the Roof, and Hello, Dolly! A proud member of the American Guild of Musical Artists, Nicholas continues to contribute to the performing arts through his dedication to education, performance, and scholarship.