The Heritage of Bob Chapel

Robert Chapel is professor of Drama and former chair (1990-2005) of the University of Virginia’s Department of Drama and has been with the Heritage Theatre Festival since 1987, first as a stage director, then as managing and stage director and, since 1995, as its producing artistic director.  Bob also chaired the Virginia 2020 Commission on the Fine and Performing Arts.  In addition, he has served as executive director of the Virginia Film Festival.  He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.  Bob has directed over 120 plays and musicals and has acted in over 60 more in New York, Los Angeles, regional, and university theatre.  He has produced over 200 productions during his career.  

Prior to joining the UVA faculty, he taught and directed at San Diego State University (head of MFA Musical Theatre Program and recipient of an outstanding teaching award), New York University's Tisch School of the Arts (coordinating director of the MFA Musical Theatre Composing and Writing Program), the University of Michigan (assistant professor and head of BFA Musical Theatre Program), and the University of Alabama (assistant professor in Theatre).  While in New York, he created and produced, with Brooks McNamara, a series of shows out of the Shubert Archive, culminating in Shubert Alley that was performed at the Players Club and the "Performathon" at Lincoln Center.  In addition he has served as artistic director for Music Theatre North in Potsdam, NY.