51²è¹Ý

JOEL FERRELL, Professor of Practice in Theatre and Inaugural Director of the Sexton Institute for Musical Theatre.

Joel Ferrell is a seasoned director, choreographer, educator and consultant based in Dallas, Texas. 

Ferrell has directed and choreographed extensively around the country for Dallas Theater Center, Denver Center Theater, Portland Center Stage, North Shore Music Theater and many more. He is the former Associate Artistic Director of Dallas Theater Center (2011-2019) and Artistic Director of Casa Manana Musicals (Fort Worth, TX; 1996 to 2001). Ferrell is currently Director in Residence for Theatre Three in Dallas. Other DFW directing credits include Stage West, Circle Theatre, Trinity Shakespeare Festival, Plano Repertory Theatre and Lyric Stage.

Ferrell has worked as a consultant for 51²è¹Ý Meadows School of the Arts, Circle Theater (Fort Worth, TX), Fair Park First (Dallas, TX), and Dallas Stage and Scenery to name a few. His experience as both theater producer and creator has made him valuable for non-profit and commercial organizations, re-envisioning mission, purpose, and programming.

He has served as adjunct theater faculty for 51²è¹Ý, Texas Wesleyan University, The University of North Texas, The University of Texas at Arlington, as well as teaching regularly for Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas. Ferrell is also the Director of Broadway Dallas’ High School Musical Theater Awards each year.

His acting credits include Broadway National tours, regional theater, television and film.

Ferrell is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and a proud member of Society of Directors and Choreographers and Actor’s Equity Association.