Liz Gray

Voice

Sponsored by John Lunde in memory of Joyce Povlacs Lunde

Biography 

A justice-centered educator, advocate and artist, Liz currently serves as Lecturer of Musical Theatre at the University of Michigan Department of Musical Theatre. Liz’s professional artistic experiences span collaborations with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Maestro Riccardo Muti and The Chicago Symphony to a range of musical, operatic and concert productions throughout the U.S. and abroad. Favorite roles include Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire, Armelia McQueen (Ain’t Misbehavin’), Lula Buffington (Violet), Nettie (Carousel), and workshops and premieres including the alt-rock musical, Gods & Kings, To Find Happy and Meet John Doe.  

As a vocal technician and coach, her students are actively engaged across stage, television, film, new media, and commercial music industries existing in these spaces as socially conscious innovators within their respective fields. Previous faculty appointments include Michigan State University, Interlochen Arts Academy, Metropolitan State University of Denver and Falmouth University at DIME-Detroit, Saginaw Valley State University, and New York University. 

As both actor and director, Liz has worked with Parallel45 Theatre in their efforts to amplify  new works by contemporary BIPOC playwrights including Nikki Brake-Sillá, Larissa Fasthorse, and Monet Hurst-Mendoza. Most recently, Liz directed and facilitated Ike Holter’s Hit the Wall at Michigan State University initiating anti-racist, anti-oppressive production efforts to center student artistic experiences, engage the ensemble in critical thought and uplift local BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. 

Liz holds degrees from Wayne State University, The University of Michigan and is a recipient of the King-Chávez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship from Eastern Michigan University where she is pursuing a PhD in Educational Studies with a concentration in Urban Education currently exploring intersections of classism and racism in musical theatre education/training concurrently with social identity and casting. Liz is a member of Actor’s Equity, currently serves as the Michigan District Governor for the National Association of Teachers of Singing and is a board member of Detroit’s Mosaic Youth Theatre Programs Committee and  the Traverse City based Mash-Up Rock & Roll Musical.