Jerry Jay Cranford is the associate professor of theatre at Kansas State University. He has performed in Les Miserables (Prouvaire/Enjolras) on Broadway and the national tour, Disneyland’s musical Aladdin (Genie), national tours of Singing in the Rain (Don Lockwood) and Anything Goes (Billy Crocker). As a dancer, he was featured on the European tour of Evita directed by Larry Fuller and was a soloist for the televised Oper Frankfurt International Conference on the Arts. Cranford worked with Dreamworks and Music Theatre International to direct and choreograph the World Premiere of Madagascar: A Musical Adventure for The Coterie. He served as director and choreographer for the Kansas City and Omaha premieres of Newsies the Musical, winning Best Director for both. He has helmed two productions as director/choreographer for Starlight Theatre: the 50th celebration of Godspell and Hairspray starring two-time Tony nominee Brad Oscar. He recently returned to the stage as Barry in The Prom for Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. Cranford is a 33 year member of Actors' Equity Association and a member of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
