Jesse Graham Galas

Education 

MFA, Acting – Ohio University

BA, Theatre – University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

Research Interests: Michael Chekhov and Musical Theatre – “Acting on Pitch”; Stage Combat, Stage Intimacy Choreography

Background:

Jesse Graham Galas is an actor/singer/director originally from Crossville, TN. Jesse has enjoyed a career as an actor, director, voice/dialect coach and fight/intimacy choreographer in many cities across the United States and abroad for over 25 years. She lived and worked in New York City for 5 years before branching into academia, where she taught Voice, Acting, Movement, and Musical Theatre at several universities before finding her home at High Point University as the Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre.

Certifications:

Galas is a Certified Teacher in Michael Chekhov Physical Acting Technique through the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium (2018), and a Recommended Certified Actor-Combatant in Two-Handed Sword (formerly Broadsword), Rapier & Dagger and Unarmed stage violence through the Society of American Fight Directors, where she received an award for Best Unarmed Scene and Best Actor, (2023). She is also an Examiner for the International Baccalaureate in Theatre: Director’s Notebooks (2020 – 2023) and Production Proposals (2024) and is working towards certification in Intimacy Choreography with Theatrical Intimacy Educators and Intimacy Directors and Choreographers.

Workshops:

Jesse has been invited to teach workshops both nationally and internationally; selected workshops include “Exploring Corridors: Imagination and Movement in Character” (2024) and “The ABC’s of Acting: Action + Behavior = Character” at the Southeastern Theatre Conference, 2019, “Acting the Song: Think Movement, Not Choreography”, SETC, 2022, and “Musical Theatre for Youth: My Fair Lady”, Zhuhai and Xiamen, China – 2016.

Selected Professional Credits:

Studio: Jesse was asked to record “For the Greater Good”, for the Official Studio Album of Band Geeks, a new musical, now available on Apple Music.

National/International Tours: Guys & Dolls – US, Canada “General Cartwright” (2014-2015), My Fair Lady – US, Singapore, China “Mrs. Pearce” (2011-2016) An American in Paris - USA “Madame Baurel” (2020) - Big League Productions, The Odyssey Experience – US, Ireland “Athena” (2014) – Experiential Theatre Company.

Regional Theatre: Henry IV, Part One “Mistress Quickly” – Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (2012); See How They Run “Miss Skillon”,  A Comedy of Tenors “Maria”, Bright Star “Mama Murphy” – Okoboji Summer Theatre (2022-2023).

Directing:  The Addams Family, Lost Girl (High Point University), Little Women, Women of Lockerbie (Coker University), The Seagull, Our Vital Struggle (Troy University)

Artistic Statement:

“In my work, I strive to create space where live theatre as an art form can thrive through truthful and imaginative storytelling for both the artists and the audience. I create an atmosphere of collaboration and trust, where cast and designers feel safe to risk sharing their ideas and impulses with the entire team. I listen to feedback and apply it through a cohesive artistic lens for the individual project. I celebrate the successes and failures alike and use both to constantly refine and deepen my process. I work to bridge the divide between plays and musicals, to prove both art forms are utterly necessary to humanity, and the techniques to achieve beauty and excellence in one are just as applicable to the other. I am dedicated to bettering myself in my craft by staying abreast of the latest research and experiential work in the theatre through watching and creating performances, and then bringing those discoveries back to share with my students.”