Biography

Carey Kugler is a freelance stage director and Theatre Arts teacher based in Charlotte, NC. His repertoire includes Opera, Musical Theater and Play productions. Carey began his formal training with John R. McCrae at Converse College and the Brevard Music Center. After receiving his BA in Vocal Performance at Appalachian State University he continued his studies at Florida State University where he received his Masters in Opera Production under Robert J. Murray. Carey followed his graduate studies with a position at The Academy of Vocal Arts where for ten seasons he served as Associate Stage Director. He worked closely with former Metropolitan Opera stage director Dino Yannopoulos, who became his most influential mentor. While in Philadelphia, Carey directed the regional premieres of Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera, Pasatieri's Seagull and Thea Musgrave's A Christmas Carol. He directed the first production of Porgy and Bess at The Academy of Music by Opera North, a Philadelphia opera company dedicated to artists of color, to enthusiastic critical acclaim.

Mr. Kugler made his European debut January 2000 at the Stadtstheater Chemnitz with a new production of Kiss Me Kate which ran in repertoire for three seasons. Having made his debut in November 2001 with the Teatro de la Opera in San Juan with Otello, Carey returned to direct Die Zauberflöte with an internationally renowned cast in the 2002 season.

Carey is well known for his guest directing and teaching at universities and colleges across the country. His professional credits include work with the Lyric Opera Theater of Jacksonville, Opera North, Opera of Northern Virginia, Virginia Opera (where he also assisted Gian Carlo Menotti), Opera Carolina, and Opera Delaware. He also has produced several semi staged works for the North Carolina, Canton, Evansville Symphony, Winston-Salem and Portland, Maine orchestras. As an advocate of contemporary works, especially American Opera, Carey has sought to broaden the traditional opera audience. Equally at home with the classical repertoire, he stresses the dramatic context of opera while being respectful of its conventions. As a strong proponent of the singer/actor concept, his direction emphasizes characterization and motivated movement that is integrated with the music. As a voice major, Carey studied with Frances Shafter, Jane Rolandi and Eugene Talley-Schmidt. He performed over thirty professional roles in opera and musical theater. His experience as a performer has guided his work in understanding the needs and concerns of young artists as they pursue the goal of becoming Singing/Actors.

In his fifteen years of teaching at Hopewell High School Mr. Kugler's students  reached the State NCTC One-Act Festival with twelve plays in a thirteen year span, an accomplishment unmatched by any other school in North Carolina. In addition to their success in contest, the Headliners have premiered important theatrical works in the Charlotte region including, Cat's Paw, Living Out and were the first to produce Jamie Pachino's Waving Goodbye and Jon Jory's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Recent premieres include Almost, Maine  andLove/Sick by John Cariani and Midsummer/Jersey by Ken Ludwig - all North Carolina premieres. Many of his students, actors and technicians, have gone on to find success at the college and professional level.
 

 When he retired in 2016 he had produced over 100 productions for the Hopewell Headliners. Carey has attended workshops by the Royal Shakespeare Company and has directed for 10 consecutive seasons at the CPCC Summer Theatre. Carey is a four time MTA nominee for Best Direction of a Drama, Comedy and Musical. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife, Pam and their sons, Christopher and Matthew.