Richard Carsey (Board Member)

Richard Carsey is a conductor, arranger, pianist, and actor. He is Music Director and Conductor for DISNEY ON CLASSIC, a multi-media concert that tour of Japan, featuring The Orchestra Japan and eight American singers. He is currently a conductor for the longest-running musical in history, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on Broadway. Other Broadway productions include CAROUSEL with Jessie Mueller, Joshua Henry and Renée Fleming; and THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES, featuring Ben Stiller, Edie Falco and Jennifer Jason Leigh. National tours include Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of PHANTOM in 2013-2015, the Broadway revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES with George Hamilton, and the musical LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE with Melissa Gilbert. He served as Musical Director for Joshua Schmidt’s musical A MINISTER’S WIFE at Lincoln Center Theater.

Internationally, he has performed as pianist and conductor in such exotic locales as Lima, Athens, Barcelona, Islamabad, and Kuwait. Richard enjoyed a long association with the Skylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee, WI as Principal Conductor, and for nine seasons was Artistic Director. Highlights include the world premiere and PBS television broadcast of Richard Wargo’s opera BALLYMORE; a PBS broadcast of THE MIKADO; and the world premiere of the opera THE RIVALS by Kirke Mechem.

He has been guest conductor with the symphony orchestras of Kansas City, Indianapolis, Hartford, Sacramento, Panama City, and St. Louis, among others. As an actor he has appeared in over 350 performances of the play 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS at regional theaters including Dallas Theater Center, Actor’s Theater of Louisville, The Globe (Saskatchewan), Laguna Beach Playhouse, and Hartford Stage (Connecticut Critic’s Circle Award). Other acting highlights include THE BOYS IN THE BAND (Harold); TWELFTH NIGHT (Malvolio); SOUVENIR (Cosme) and OLD WICKED SONGS (Mashkin). He is a frequent conductor for Windborne Music, which presents classic rock and roll with symphony orchestras. He most recently conducted a 75-piece live orchestra with the 1991 animated film BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at the 11,000-seat Yokohama Arena.