Overview

Amy Baker Schwiethale is a Professor and the Program Coordinator of Musical Theatre & the Associate Director of the School of Performing Arts. She has been honored by the National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Washington, D.C. for her Direction and Choreography of SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ. Other Choreography Credits include: Disney’s MY SON PINICCHIO, HONK!, GYPSY & CAMELOT with Music Theatre Wichita. The New York Jazz Choreography Project & Traditions in Tap at the Alvin Ailey Studios NYC, and in numerous capacities at Prairie Repertory Theatre and WSU as a Director/Choreographer. Her Performing Highlights include the First National Broadway Tour of 42nd STREET, RADIO CITY CHRISMAS SPECTACULAR, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN-Westchester Broadway Theatre, 5 summers in the Music Theatre Wichita Company and playing "Anytime Annie" in 42ND STREET.

Information

Academic Interests and Expertise

Education:
MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University
BFA in Musical Theatre from Wichita State University

Academic Experience & Expertise:
Jazz & Broadway Styles, Tap Dance, Choreography & Direction, Performing Arts Seminar, Capstone Project, and mentoring teaching assistants. 

Areas of Teaching Interest
  • Tap Dance
  • Musical Theatre Dance
  • Musical Theatre Audition Class
  • Directing the Musical
  • Musical Theatre Laboratory
  • Musical Theatre Scene Study
  • Capstone Project
  • Performing Arts Seminar
  • Professional Practices in Performing Arts
Professional Experience

Amy presents Master Classes across globe and is a proud member of the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Board, where she is the Coordinator of the Musical Theatre Dance Intensive. Amy is fiercely committed to the preservation of Original Broadway Choreography and preparing WSU Performing Arts students to make a living doing what they love.

Professional Choreography Credits include:  Disney’s MY SON PINICCHIO, HONK! (Mary Jane Teall Award), GYPSY (Mary Jane Teall Award), and CAMELOT with MTWichita.  Amy’s choreography has been showcased in NYC at the New York Jazz Choreography Project (Alvin Ailey Studios) and Traditions in Tap, with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Prairie Reparatory Theatre in South Dakota, the Newton Mid-Kansas Symphony Orchestra, Opera Kansas, across Northern Italy, and in numerous capacities at WSU as a Director/Choreographer.  

Professional Performing Highlights include: Phyllis Dale on the First National Broadway Tour of 42nd STREET, the RADIO CITY CHRISMAS SPECTACULAR, receiving her Actor’s Equity card while doing SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN at the Westchester Broadway Theatre, and performing in the resident MTWichita company for five summers and most recently playing the role of "Anytime Annie" in their production of 42ND STREET. 

 

Awards and Honors

National Awards
• National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Distinguished  
Direction of a Musical Award, Washington, D.C.- Smokey Joe’s Café. (2015)
• National Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Distinguished  
Choreography Award, Washington, D.C.- Smokey Joe’s Café. (2015)

Regional Honors & Awards
• Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region V   
Certificate of Merit for Direction of A Chorus Line. (2024)

• Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region V   
Certificate of Merit for Choreography of Pippin. (2024)

• Broadway World Awards, Sioux Falls- Best Musical: Smokey Joe’s Café. (2016)

• Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region V   
Certificate of Merit for Choreography: Wichita State University- Guys and Dolls (2014)

• Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region V   
Certificate of Merit Choreography: Wichita State University-How to Succeed…Trying. (2010)

• Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region V-    
Certificate of Merit for Choreography: Wichita State University- Waltzing in Heaven. (2008)