Book Release: Dramatism and Musical Theater
Praise from experts:
“Dramatism and Musical Theater: Experiments in Rhetorical Performance is an innovative, insightful, and informed approach to the practice of performance.” -Jeff Green, Professor and Department Chair, Theatre, Communication, and Media Arts, Georgia Southern University.
“Kimberly Eckel Beasley and James P. Beasley deliver rivetingly insightful approaches to Burkean Dramatism as a heuristic for creating and sustaining effective rhetorical performances. When seen as acts through the pentad, we are better able to explore motivation and situatedness from within scenes of our performances…” - Dr. Bonnie Lenore Kyburz, Independent Scholar and author of Cruel Auteurism: Affective Digital Meditations Toward Film-Compositions.
Dramatism and Musical Theater: Experiments in Rhetorical Performance is an innovative workbook for both students and teachers in advanced communication performance. Meeting at the nexus of English composition, advanced rhetoric, theater, music, and drama, this book utilizes Kenneth Burke's method of dramatism to discover the motives inherent in performance practices, whether they be in the classroom or on the stage. In this book Kimberly Eckel Beasley and James P. Beasley take the five corners of the dramatistic pentad (act, scene, agent, agency, and purpose) and demonstrate their utilization in performance analysis. The authors then correlate those performance practices with the production of five contemporary musicals: Little Women, Aida, Street Scene, Into the Woods, and Children of Eden in order to emphasize the use of the dramatistic pentad in character, scene, and staging direction. By doing so, the book highlights dramatism as a performance practice necessary for effective participation in artistic communities.
Recording Projects
Her Debussy is intoxicating while her performances of the Tchaikovsky and Strauss are searing and dramatic.
William Thomas Walker reviews Fashion Sense: Songs in Recital for cvnc.org
“Beasley's selections reflect considerable intelligence and taste. Her mastery of four languages and vocal technique are consistently evident. Her care for words is reflected in her application of her palette of tone color and carefully shaded dynamics.”
— William Thomas Walker reviews Fashion Sense: Songs in Recital for cvnc.org
Floriography: A collaborative project with Edie Moore-Hubert, Anne McKennon, Patrick Meighan, Seth Parker Woods, and Composer Daniel Fulmer.
Complete Teaching and Performance Resume
Education
Northwestern University – Post Graduate Certificate of Performance in Voice, 2004
Valparaiso University – Master of Music in Church Music, 2000
University of Colorado – Bachelor of Music Theater, cum laude, 1995
Teachers: Sunny Joy Langton (NU), Robert Harrison (CU), Jean Greer
Coaches: Sherrill Milnes (NU), Richard Boldrey (NU), Ken Smith (NU), Alan Darling (NU), Mutsumi Moteki (CU)
Directors: Scott Parry (JSO), Kevin Roberts (JSO), Michael LaTour (Chicago), Rudy Hogenmiller (Chicago), John Rizzo (Chicago), Gary Briggle (Valpo), Martin Isepp (CU), Dennis Jackson (CU)
Conductors: Fabio Mechetti (JSO), Michael Butterman (JSO), Sir Andrew Davis (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Bruno Bartoletti (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Christoph von Dohnányi (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Stephen Alltop (NU), Donald Palumbo (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Keith Brion, Kirk Muspratt (Northwest Indiana Symphony), Helmut Rilling
Coursework: German Lied, Italian Vocal Literature, Songs of Goethe, Recitative, Opera Repertoire, Oratorio, Chanson, 20th century theory, 16th century counterpoint, church music, bibliography, American music history, Diction, Acting I and II, dance, music history, music theory (6 years), recitative, opera theater, lyric theater stagecraft, German language study
Teaching
Jacksonville University: 2008-2025
Chair, Department of Music, Spring 2019-2025
Director of Vocal Studies: 2018-2019
Professor of Voice, 2009-2025
Music Performance Outreach Ensemble director: Service Learning Grant Recipient
Opera Production Director and Music Director
Musical Theatre Production Director and Music Director
Studio Voice Lessons for Voice Majors, Classical and Musical Theatre
Opera and Musical Theatre workshop
Vocal Pedagogy
Diction I and II
Opera History
Song Analysis
Adjunct Professor of Voice: 2008-2009
Studio Voice Lessons for Voice Majors, Classical and Musical Theatre
University of North Florida: 2008-2009, Adjunct Professor of Voice
Glenbrook North High School: 2007-2008, Voice instructor
Midwest Young Artists, Chicago, IL: 2003-2007, Opera/musical theatre coach and accompanist
Northwestern University: 2003-2007
Graduate teaching instructor: Sophomore Practicum
Opera workshop, graduate and undergraduate coach and accompanist
Opera Repertoire coach
Repetiteur for Northwestern Opera Theater Productions
Voice and Opera Academy, Lake Forest, IL: 2005-2006, Teacher and coach
University of Chicago: 2004, Instructor, Graham Center for General Studies
History of the Lyric Opera of Chicago
Valparaiso University: 1998-2005, Adjunct Instructor of Music
Opera workshop, Chamber Music Coach
Private Voice, Private Piano
Vocal Instructional Methods, Conductor
Piano Proficiency, Remedial/Advanced Theory, Staff Accompanist
High school private studio through Partners for Music
Advanced theory: Lutheran Summer Music Camp
Conductor: Porter County Children’s Choir, 1999-2002
Grants and Awards
2024-2024 Provost Fellowship
Excellence in Stage Direction for Nine, the Musical at Jacksonville University, Kennedy Center for American College Theater Festival Region IV, Spring 2023
2022-2023 Provost Fellowship
Excellence in Stage Direction for Into the Woods at Jacksonville University,
Kennedy Center for American College Theater Festival Region IV, Spring 2019
Grant Recipient, Kurt Weill Foundation Production grant
for the Jacksonville University production of Street Scene, April 2013
Grant Recipient, Service Learning Performance Ensemble, Jacksonville University, 2010
Professor of the Year, Jacksonville University, 2020
Excellent in University Service awardee, Jacksonville University, 2020
Excellence in University Service nominee, Jacksonville University, 2020
Excellence in University Service nominee, Jacksonville University, 2019
Excellence in Teaching nominee, Jacksonville University, 2013-2014
Excellence in Service nominee, Jacksonville University, 2012-2013
Excellence in Service nominee, Jacksonville University, 2011-2012
Excellence in Teaching nominee, Jacksonville University, 2010-2011
Excellence in Teaching nominee, Jacksonville University, 2009-2010
Directing
Well-Behaved Women, Spring 2025
Tomorrow, a new musical by A.J. Freeman, Fall 2024
Vanities, the Musical, Fall 2023
Nine, the Musical, Spring 2023
A…My Name Will Always be Alice, Fall 2021
February 9, 2019: Director, Into the Woods scenes at the Kennedy Center for American College Theater Awards Gala
February 15-17, 2019: Director, One Act Opera: The Life of Delius in Songs and Scenes, Jacksonville University
Into the Woods Fall 2018 Jacksonville University Mainstage
Aida, the Musical Spring 2018 Jacksonville University Mainstage
There’s a Moon Out Tonight: Doo-Wop Songs from 1954-1963
Spring 2017 Jacksonville University Workshop
Trouble with Trebles in Trousers
Spring 2016 Fine Arts Center, Greenville, SC
Children of Eden Spring 2016 Jacksonville University Mainstage
Opera Goes Pop! Spring 2015 Jacksonville University Mainstage
A Grand Night for Singing Fall 2013 Jacksonville University Mainstage
Street Scene Spring 2013 Jacksonville University Mainstage
Little Women Fall 2011 Jacksonville University Mainstage
A…My Name is Alice Fall 2010 Jacksonville University Workshop
American Opera Scenes Spring 2010 Jacksonville University Workshop
Gianni Schicchi Fall 2009 Jacksonville University Mainstage
Music Directing
Spring Awakening Spring 2017 Alpha Psi Omega, JU and Flagler
Light in the Piazza Winter 2016 TheatreJax
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Fall 2014 Jacksonville University Mainstage
Les Misérables Summer 2014 TheatreJax
Hot Mikado Summer 2012 TheatreJax
The Last Five Years Spring 2006 OneTheatre Company, Chicago
A…My Name is Alice Fall 2000 Valparaiso University
Repetiteur
Thoroughly Modern Millie Spring 2008 Glenbrook North H.S. Illinois
Barber of Seville January 2006 DuPage Opera Theatre
Gianni Schicchi Fall 2005 Northwestern University
Suor Angelica Fall 2005 Northwestern University
Magic Flute Winter 2004 Northwestern University
Hello Dolly Summer 2002 Memorial Theater Company
Ballad of Baby Doe Winter 2001 Valparaiso University
Children of Eden Winter 2000 Valparaiso University
Into the Woods Summer 1999 Memorial Theater Company
Suor Angelica Winter 1999 Valparaiso University
Gianni Schicchi Winter 1999 Valparaiso University
West Side Story Summer 2001 Memorial Theater Company
Fiddler on the Roof Summer 2000 Memorial Theater Company
Performing
Recent Performances
Faculty Showcase, Fall 2024
Messiah soprano soloist, St. Augustine Chorus, Moran Theater, Times Union Center, November 16, 2024
Letters from Composers: Spanish and American Art Song with Dr. Brian Luckett, guitar, February 13, 2025
Orchestra Goes Broadway! Soprano Soloist with the Jacksonville University Orchestra, March 8, 2025.Voice Faculty Recital, Spring 2024
Faculty Showcase, Fall 2023
Messiah soprano soloist, St. Augustine Community Choir, Moran Theater, Times Union Center, November 17-18, 2023
Second Lady, The Magic Flute, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, April 28 and 30, 2023
First Coast Wind Symphony and JUWE, The Music of Lewis Buckley, Lewis Buckley conducting, Fall 2022
Concert and Recital
Soloist Daughters of Mother Earth Jacksonville University, 2020
Soloist Sousa Festival Valparaiso University, 2019
Soloist Women’s History Month Concert Jacksonville University, 2019
Recital Women composers and poets Jacksonville University, 2019
Soloist First Coast Wind Symphony Jacksonville University, 2019
Soloist Handel’s Messiah Hunger Fight Arlington, Redemption Church, 2018
Recital Brittnee Siemon, Grace Lee Jacksonville University, 2018
Recital Todd Wedge, Guest artist Jacksonville University, 2018
Recital Francesca Zarad Jacksonville University, 2018
Soloist Voyages (world premiere) Daniel Fulmer, guest composer, 2017
Soloist Canticum Canticorum Daniel Fulmer, guest composer, 2016
Recital Fashion Sense ADA event Christ Church Episcopal, Greenville, SC, 2016
Recital Fashion Sense ADA event Montview Blvd Church, Denver, CO, 2016
Soloist United States Navy Band Jacksonville Memorial Day Concert, 2015
Soloist Sousa Festival Valparaiso Community Concert Band 2001-present
Soloist Holiday Pops Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, 2014
Recital Songs of War EMMA, Flagler College, 2014
Recital Music at Main Jacksonville, 2014
Soloist Faure’s Requiem Jacksonville University, 2013
Soloist Soprano Arias First Coast Wind Ensemble, 2013
Soloist Mozart Concert Aria Jacksonville University Orchestra, 2013
Recital Alumni Recital Valparaiso University, 2012
Soloist Beethoven Choral Fantasy Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, 2012
Soloist Messiah Ernst Mueller Concert Series, 2012
Soloist Bach Cantata #140 EMMA, Flagler College, 2012
Recital Bach Cantatas Jacksonville University, 2012
Soloist New Year’s Eve Gala Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, 2011
Soloist Peer Gynt Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, 2011
Recital Guest artist Northern Illinois University, 2011
Soloist New Year’s Eve Gala Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, 2010
Recital Eileen Farrell Tribute Friday Musicale, 2010
Recital Music at Main Jacksonville, 2010
Recital VOX3 Holy Trinity, Chicago, IL, 2009
Soloist Chamber Music Society Jacksonville, FL 2009-present
Soloist Bach Cantata #79 Holy Trinity, Chicago, IL, 2007
Soloist VOX3: Reformation Holy Trinity, Chicago, IL, 2007
Soloist VOX3: Buxtehude Memorial Holy Trinity, Chicago, IL, 2007
Soloist VOX3: Sheherazade Broadway United Methodist, 2007
Soloist VOX3 Fourth Presbyterian, Chicago, IL, 2007
Soloist Bach Cantata Recital Fourth Presbyterian, Chicago, IL, 2006
Soloist Rutter's Magnificat Community Christian, Chicago, IL, 2005
Soloist Holiday Concert Northwest Indiana Symphony 2005
Soloist Mahler’s 2nd Symphony Elmhurst Symphony 2005
Soloist Monteverdi Vespers Northwestern Early Music Ensemble 2004
Recital Certificate: Opera arias Northwestern University, 2004
Recital Certificate: Bach Cantatas Northwestern University, 2004
Soloist Benefit Cancer League of Denver, 2003
Recital Art Song Memorial Opera House, Valparaiso, IN, 2002
Soloist Maria Theresa Mass South Suburban College 2001
Recital Graduate Valparaiso University, 2000
Soloist Messiah First United Methodist 2000
Recital Senior University of Colorado, 1995
Recital Junior University of Colorado, 1995
Opera, Musical Theater, and Theater
Actor Vagina Monologues Jacksonville University, 2019
Lady Marigold Sandys Merry Mount JU New Music Festival, 2014
Barbarina Le Nozze di Figaro Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, 2014
Serpina La Serva Padrona Friday Musicale, 2010
Butterfly Madama Butterfly Northwest Festival Orchestra 2008
Micäela Carmen Italian Opera Company 2006
Rosina (cover) Barber of Seville DuPage Opera Theater 2006
Josephine (cover) H.M.S. Pinafore Light Opera Works 2005
Dorine (cover) Tartuffe Operamoda, Chicago 2004
Librarian Green Eggs and Ham Southwest Michigan Symphony 2001
Cinderella Into the Woods Memorial Theater Company 1999
Angelica Suor Angelica Valparaiso University 1999
Spirit Magic Flute University of Colorado 1995
Mother The Consul(scenes) University of Colorado 1995
Mother/grandmother Little Red Riding Hood University of Colorado 1995
Dinah Trouble in Tahiti University of Colorado 1995
Chorus Tosca Bob Jones University 1994
Priestess Samson and Delilah Bob Jones University 1993
Professional Chorus
Grant Park Symphony Chorus: member, 2004 and 2005 seasons
Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus: supplementary member, 2002-2008
Turandot 2006-2007 Season Lyric Opera of Chicago
Fidelio 2004-2005 Season Lyric Opera of Chicago
H.M.S. Pinafore 2004 Season Light Opera Works
Cavalleria Rusticana 2002-2003 Season Lyric Opera of Chicago
Resident Singing Artist
Italian Opera Company, Chicago, IL, www.italianoperachicago.com
Vox3, Chicago Vocal Collective, Chicago, IL, www.vox3.org
Recordings
Fashion Sense: Songs in Recital from Dolphinium records featuring music by Tchaikovsky, Wolf-Ferrari, Strauss, and Debussy performed by Kimberly Beasley, soprano, and Scott Watkins, pianist.
Spirit of the March King, featured live recordings of Kimberly Beasley in concert with the Valparaiso University Concert Band. Valpo ArtsMedia, June 2006. Keith Brion and Col. L. Bryan Shelburne, conductors.
Lady's Night. Soundtrack soloist in a documentary by Yuting Hsueh for Columbia College, November 2007.
Intellectual Activity
Publications
Dramatism and Musical Theatre: Experiments in Rhetorical Performance. Peter Lang Publishing. Spring 2021 publication.
Floriography: New Compositions by Florida Composers. Dolphinium Records. Current project. 2021 release.
“Dramatism, Musical Theatre Interpretation, and Popular Artistic Production” KB Studies: the Journal of the Kenneth Burke Society, June 2016.
Fashion Sense: Songs in Recital. Dolphinium records, December 2015. Review at www.cvnc.org (http://www.cvnc.org/article.cfm?articleId=8047)
“An Exploration of Pedagogical Ancestry” Classical Singer, June 2014.
Certificate Recital: a recital of arias featuring works from Semele, Semiramide, Manon, Fidelio, La Fille du Regiment, and Tartuffe, 2004
Certificate Recital: a recital of Bach cantatas and arias for soprano including Cantata #84, #52, arias from the St. Matthew Passion, and duets from Cantata #147, #140, and the Christmas Oratorio, 2004
Master’s Thesis: Music across the curriculum as uncharted territory in the land of higher education. The paper attempts to merge the fields of music and literature by suggesting teaching African-American spirituals alongside Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Initially the paper discusses the history of the spirituals from storytelling in West Africa to the black church in America. Finally, application is made to Douglass’ Narrative with specific teaching suggestions for incorporating music into the liberal arts classroom. A case study concludes the research, which includes a daily teaching guide for the Narrative, instructor survey, and discography.
Conferences and Masterclasses
“Street Scene, an American Opera, as high art/low art: tenement life, musical languages, and other blurred boundaries.” Paper presentation, South Atlantic Modern Language Association (SAMLA) Regional Conference: October 2017, Atlanta, GA.
An Analysis of Unifying Pitch Sets in George Crumb’s Ancient Voices of Children, JU New Music Symposium presentation, Spring 2014
“Women in Academia” guest presenter at the Graduate Lecture Series at the University of North Florida, Spring 2014.
Masterclass presenter and workshop leader, The Fine Arts Center of Greenville, SC. February 2014, Greenville, SC.
Masterclass presenter and workshop leader, Valparaiso University, September 2013, Valparaiso, IN.
“Interdisciplinary Pedagogy in Literature: Finding the music in Little Women, The Musical” Paper presentation, South Atlantic Modern Language Association (SAMLA) Regional Conference: November 2012, Durham, NC.
Masterclass presenter, Northern Illinois University. February 2011, DeKalb, IL.
“Music Performance Outreach Ensemble: Singers, Service Learning, and Educational Transformation.” Poster presentation at the National Association of the Teachers of Singing (NATS) National Conference: July 2012, Orlando, Florida.
Sponsored attendee, “Guys and Gals of Broadway” NATS regional conference, July 2011, University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
Sponsored attendee, “The National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy: the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy” July 2001, Oak Brook, IL.
Sponsored attendee, “The Wilbur James Gould Voice Research Center Workshop,” July 2007, Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Denver, CO
Memberships
AAUP
AAUW
YWTF
Pi Kappa Lambda (since 2000)
SAI (since 2000)
AGMA (since 2002)
NATS National Member (since 2000)
NATS North Florida Chapter Member (2008-2016)
MTNA (2000-2005)
University Service
Quality Enhancement Plan Assessment and Steering Director, Fall 2024-2025
Women and Gender Studies Committee, Fall 2023-2025
Student Life, Chair, Fall 2023-2025
Interprofessional Education Committee, 2022-2025
Grievance Review Committee, Summer/Fall 2023
Co-Chair, Bylaw Alignment Committee, 2021-2023
Participant, Data and Analytics Credential Series, 2022
Chair, Department of Music, April 2020-2025
Interim Chair, Division of Music, March 2019-April 2020
Chair, Faculty Affairs Committee, 2018-2021
Director of Vocal Studies, 2018-2019
CFA Voice Search Committee Chair, 2018 (Alessi)
JU Faculty Recognition Committee, 2018
Chair, CFA Honored Alumni Committee, 2018
Alpha Psi Omega, Faculty Adviser, 2017-2019
JU Faculty Affairs Committee member, 2017-present
CFA Voice Search Committee Chair, 2017 (Waugh)
CFA Dance Search Committee, 2017 (Lin)
College University Representative and Faculty Adviser
American Association of University Women, 2016-present
Gender Studies Minor Committee, 2015-present
Medical Humanities Committee, 2015-present
Experiential Learning Assessment Committee, 2014-present
CFA Dean Search Committee, Fall 2014 (Rinne)
Core Curriculum Committee, Jacksonville University, 2013-2015
Service Learning Committee, Jacksonville University, 2012-2014
Brest Museum Gallery Committee, Jacksonville University, 2012-present
Chair, Voice Search Committee, Jacksonville University, 2012-13 (Ivey)
Academic Review Committee, Jacksonville University, 2011-present
Academic Standards Committee, Jacksonville University, 2011-2013
Choral Search Committee, Jacksonville University, 2010 (T. Snyder)
Dance Search Committee, Jacksonville University, 2010
Professional Service
National Association of Teachers of Singing, Member, Vocal Literature Review Advisory Committee, 2022-present
President, American Association of University Professors, JU Chapter (2016-2019)
Director, Younger Women’s Task Force, 2016-2019
President, North Florida Regional Chapter, National Association of the Teachers of Singing (2012-2016)
Secretary, North Florida Regional Chapter, National Association of the Teachers of Singing (2010-2012)
Finance Manager, VOX3:A Chicago Vocal Collective (2005-2008)
Reviewer, Oxford University Press, The Owner’s Manual for the Voice, by Dr. Rachael Gates (2012)