Myrona DeLaney

Myrona DeLaney is head of music theatre at UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts. A classically trained pianist, she began her studies at Ohio University on a piano scholarship before earning a B.F.A. in vocal performance. She later completed her doctoral degree in education and leadership in 2009, with research on university actor training, creativity, and emotional intelligence in learning.

Her professional career began in Chicago, where she performed at Candlelight Dinner Theatre and in original musicals that shaped her commitment to developing new work. She went on to perform in summer stock at Enchanted Hills Playhouse in Indiana, Off-Broadway in New York, and in regional theatres and theme parks across the country, including Opryland in Nashville and Disney World in Orlando. She also traveled internationally as a lead singer, cabaret performer, and company manager for Royal Viking Cruise Lines.

At UC Irvine, DeLaney has directed productions including Falsettos, Little Women, Seussical, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Urinetown, and Legally Blonde. Additional directing credits include The Fantasticks at the New Swan Shakespeare Festival, Hello, Dolly! with Jonelle Allen, and Fiddler on the Roof for Saddleback Civic Light Opera. Most recently, she created and directed concerts for the vocal trio Act Three at Carnegie Hall and Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and served as their vocal coach for a recording at Capitol Records in Los Angeles.

As an educator, director, and performer, she is dedicated to advancing the art of music theatre by challenging students and collaborators to explore, experiment, and grow as artists.

(Myrona is pronounced like Madonna with an R or Piranha with an M)