April 29, 2025 — Dr. Jacob Allen is bringing his talents from one stage to another as he expands his current role as chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance to also serve as interim director of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis, taking over for Albert Nguyen, who has held the position for the last year and will return to his role as director of bands.
With a foot in both the theatrical and musical worlds, Allen is uniquely positioned to foster creative collaboration and champion the artistic excellence the defines both programs.
“There is so much opportunity in our school or music,” said Dr. Debra Burns, dean for the UofM’s College of Communication and Fine Arts (CCFA). “Jacob is talented and accomplished and will elevate what is already one of the top music departments in the country to even greater prominence.”
“It’s an honor to step into this role at such a dynamic moment for the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music,” Allen said. “The students, faculty and staff here are bursting with talent, passion and purpose, and I’m thrilled to support and celebrate that artistry. As I continue my work with Theatre & Dance, I look forward to deepening the creative ties across our campus and championing the School of Music’s impact well beyond it. My goal this year is to offer steady, collaborative leadership while helping lay the foundation for the next bold chapter in the school’s remarkable story.”
As interim director, Allen will oversee the school’s operations, academic programs and artistic endeavors. He will work closely with faculty, staff, students and stakeholders to maintain the school’s high musical excellence standards and advance its mission of fostering creativity, scholarship and cultural engagement through music.
Allen, who obtained his Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance at UofM, brings with him a rich blend of artistic vision, academic leadership and deep commitment to student success. Since joining the college in 2010 as an assistant professor of musical theatre, he worked his way up the CCFA ladder and became the head of musical theatre in 2016. In 2020, he became both a full professor and chair of Theatre and Dance.
As a director and performer, Allen has worked extensively throughout the Midwest and New England, participating in productions like “My Fair Lady,” “Guys and Dolls,” “The King and I,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Les Mamelles de Tiresias,” “El Capitan” and many others.
As a teacher, Allen’s interests revolve around the integration of acting and signing to help young singes overcome challenges in their development as theatrical performers.
Allen was the 2014 recipient of the Thomas W. Briggs Foundation Award for Excellence in Teach, the UofM’s highest honor for excellence in the classroom. He is also currently the Associate Artistic Director of the Ohio Light Opera, a professional company located in Ohio with a 46-year history, and will take over as the Artistic Director next summer.
The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music is the largest professional school in the region, anchored in the culturally diverse and musically rich cosmopolitan city of Memphis. It is committed to excellence in music creation, scholarship and every field of the music industry.
Allen assumes his responsibilities on July 1.
“We extend our deepest thanks to Albert for his dedicated service and look forward to the exciting energy and perspective Jacob will bring in this next chapter of the Scheidt School’s story,” Dr. Burns said. “Please join all of us in CCFA in congratulating Jacob on this well-deserved appointment.”
Media Contact:
Parker King, Assistant Director
University Media and Public Relations
University of Memphis
(O) 901.678.4822
