Lisa A. Mayer is a Broadway performer turned educator whose career spans musical theatre, ballet, commercial dance and arts leadership. She performed in Broadway productions of "Carousel," "CATS," "Beauty and the Beast" and more, and appeared on the Tony Awards and in concert at Carnegie Hall. For over 15 years, she taught in the musical theatre department at the University of Michigan, where she specialized in ballet and musical theatre styles.
Mayer brings a student-centered teaching philosophy shaped by her professional performance experience and leadership in arts education. She served as Artistic and School Director of the Toledo Ballet and is the founder of The College Audition Advantage (TCAA). Her directing and choreography credits include "The Nutcracker," "Swan Lake," and numerous classical and contemporary works.
Known for cultivating inclusive, supporting classrooms, Mayer empowers students to develop strong technical foundations, authentic artistry and the tools to thrive in competitive performance careers. She is a recipient of the Toscanini Scholarship from the prestigious Interlochen Academy of the Arts.
Career Highlights
- Performed opposite Patrick Wilson, Rebecca Luker and Danny Burstein in Barry Manilow's "Harmony" at the La Jolla Playhouse.
- Appeared at Carnegie Hall in the Leading Ladies of Broadway with Julie Andrews, Liza Minelli and many others.
- Director and co-choreographer of the longest-running Nutcracker in the U.S.
- Guest teacher and adjudicator for The Broadway Collective, Interlochen Arts Academy, Showstopper and more
- Founder of The College Audition Advantage (TCAA), a coaching service for aspiring musical theatre students