Spencer Reese

Instructor of Voice

Dr. Spencer Reese, tenor, is a Connecticut-based performer, director, teacher, and choreographer.  He is—by nature—a wearer of many hats: both in his career interests and as a notorious dapper dan in his community!  He is inspired by the way various disciplines in the performing arts inform and enrich one another, and consistently seeks out collaborative spaces that push the bounds of creating art onstage.  Dr. Reese was an undergraduate Nutmeg Scholar at the University of Connecticut majoring in voice performance, where he also completed a University Scholar project in lyric theatre in production and direction.  He went on to earn a master’s degree in stage direction at the Eastman School of Music, before returning to UConn to complete a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in vocal performance and pedagogy, with a minor in music theory.

Spencer is currently the tenor on voice faculty at UConn where he serves as the opera director, instructor of vocal literature and vocal pedagogy, and maintains a fantastic studio of voice students.  In spring of 2027 he will also collaborate with the theater department to direct Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s production of Urinetown.  Spencer serves as artistic director for the Connecticut Gilbert and Sullivan Society, where recent stage directing credits include Iolanthe, The Yeoman of the Guard, H.M.S. Pinafore, and Ruddigore.  Dr. Reese has been a teaching artist for Goodspeed musicals since 2019: first teaching for Goodspeed Kid’s Academy, and later teaching for the Arts Education Collaboration for all mainstage season productions.  He continues to maintain a studio of private voice students throughout New England.

Spencer has spent thirteen summers as a resident artist with the Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, Ohio where he serves as the company’s choreographer as well as a stage director and performer (take note: many hats!).  He recently opened his seventy-fifth production with OLO.  Recent directing credits include The Red Mill, The Cousin from Batavia, The Gondoliers, H.M.S Pinafmore, and Cinderella.  Favorite choreographic endeavors at OLO include Carousel, Damn Yankees, Anything Goes, Babes in Arms, and The Pajama Game among more than 60 other titles choreographed for the company.  While he teaches all styles of dance he specializes in ballroom, musical theatre jazz, and tap, and continues to compete as a pro-am ballroom dancer.

Dr. Reese has been hailed as “the consummate song and dance man”, combining his love for dance with his classical vocal training and his aforementioned dapper tendencies.  While his solo repertoire spans everything from Mozart to Hamilton, the core of his career has followed in the footsteps of Gene Kelly and Mickey Rooney.  Favorite performing roles include J Pierrepont Finch (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Cornelius Hackl (Hello, Dolly!), Don Lockwood (Singin’ in the Rain), Georg Nowack (She Loves Me), Jack (Into the Woods), and Danny Churchill (Girl Crazy).  And then there’s the Bills: Billy Lawlor (42^nd Street), Bill Snibson (Me and My Girl), Billy Early (No, No, Nanette), and Billy Crocker (Anything Goes).  Know anyone looking for a tap-dancing, high-note-singing, partner-lifting dandy named Billy?  Turns out that has become Spencer’s home base!

Spencer’s work as a director and choreographer has taken him all over his beloved home state as well as around the country.  Recent and upcoming collaborations include work with OLO, Madison Lyric Stage, Springfield Chamber Players, Connecticut Lyric Opera, UConn Opera, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, and Opera Louisane.  A proud teacher, his students have also recently performed with Valley Light Opera, Opera Theater of Connecticut, Salt Marsh Opera, Theatreworks Hartford, Paramount Aurora, and NY City Center Encores!

When not directing, teaching, or performing, you can usually find Spencer working on numerous charity art commissions, going on a nature adventure, or strolling through a Disney park.