One Singular Sensation

Leading the work was guest director Nathaniel Shaw, Producing Artistic Director of Richmond’s Firehouse Theatre and a former Artistic Director of Virginia Repertory Theatre. Shaw is also a director-choreographer with Broadway, off-Broadway and regional credits spanning decades. He taught the spring class himself, shaping both the artistry and the cohesion of the ensemble long before the first rehearsal.

Matthew Couvillon joined Shaw as guest choreographer. Couvillon deepened his training at The School at Jacob’s Pillow under the direction of jazz master and Broadway veteran Chet Walker. As a performer, he has graced both national and international stages in productions such as West Side Story, A Chorus Line, Cats and many others. He also spent more than a decade as associate choreographer to Tony Award-winning legends Bob Avian and Baayork Lee—co-choreographer and original cast member in A Chorus Line, respectively. This gave both students and audiences a direct, living connection to the show’s original Broadway staging.

VCUarts faculty and staff rounded out the creative team. Christopher Hansen served as voice coach, and Phillip “Duane” Coston was the pit conductor. Eric Rivera, associate professor of dance, offered guidance on movement. On the design side, BJ Wilkinson served as lighting designer, Chris Raintree brought the iconic stage to life as scenic designer; and Weston Corey designed the sound.

Students stepped into key production roles, taking on professional responsibilities. Theatre students Emily Andrew Matteos designed the costumes and Annika Smith served as production stage manager. Dance student Shauna Paddyfoote served as dance captain. 

Alum Abby Bobb (B.I.S. ’16), who studied both Dance and Theatre, served as production supervisor.

The result was much more than a production—it was a proof of concept. 

The yearlong partnership gave music, theatre and dance students a deep appreciation for other disciplines and helped them gain the kind of skills and experiences that open doors to new avenues of performance, explained VCUarts Dean Carmenita Higginbotham.

The collaboration is a preview of what’s to come: the production is laying the groundwork for deeper cross-disciplinary work ahead of the departments’ move to the new CoStar Center for Arts and Innovation—the much awaited $253 million building currently under construction at the corner of Broad and Belvidere streets, anticipated to be completed by late 2027. The state-of-the-art center will feature flexible classroom spaces, interdisciplinary performance venues and makerspaces to bring multiple performing arts programs together under one roof.

What you see in these photographs is the beginning of something magical.