MUSIC DIRECTOR / CONDUCTOR

Richard Crawley currently serves as the Faculty Music Director for Theatre UCF and Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Voice. A conductor of significant scale, he recently led a 24-piece orchestra for Sweeney Todd at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and served as the 2024 Festival Music Director for the Texas Shakespeare Festival. His current 2025–26 season at UCF includes music directing Urinetown and One Man, Two Guvnors, and serving as Music Supervisor for Legally Blonde at the Dr. Phillips Center.

As a pianist and MD, Richard is a dedicated advocate for new works; he music directed and played the workshop for the new LGBTQ+ musical Start From Hello, which went on to be produced at NYC’s The Green Room 42 in September 2025. His diverse portfolio spans musical theatre and opera, including Into the Woods, A Little Night Music, and Verdi’s Macbeth.

A specialist in contemporary vocal mechanics, Richard teaches college-level courses in vocal technique, music theory, sight-singing/ear-training, score analysis, and musical theatre performance. He remains active as a professional guest artist on the lyric stage and is slated to Music Direct Young Frankenstein in the Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts as part of UCF Celebrates the Arts in Spring 2027.

(Photo: Mckenzie Lakey)