Dan P. Hays is an educator, actor, director, music director, choreographer
and highly sought-after clinician. He is currently serving as the Director of Theatre
at Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska. Dan also serves as the director of the
Nebraska All State Musical. He served as an Associate Director for The Young
Americans and now serves as an Associate Director for Heart Global. He taught
Vocal Music at Blair High School and Elkhorn High School in Nebraska.
Before his career in education, Dan spent many years in the professional
world of performing as an actor/dancer/director/singer/choreographer. Dan was
seen on stage at the Upstairs Dinner Theatre, the Omaha Community Playhouse, and
for years was on the performing staff of The Emmy Gifford Children’s Theatre. He
worked professionally all over the country: Mule Barn Theatre in Tarkio Missouri; in
the Barbershop Quartet in a national tour of The Music Man; Geech in the World
Premiere of Geech – The Moosical! at the Quality Hill in KC.
Dan has received many awards including: Distinguished Alumni Award from
University of Nebraska Kearney, Show Choir Camps of America Teacher of the Year,
NCDA Outstanding Young Director of the Year, Nebraska Music Educator of the Year,
Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Education and the Sertoma Club Man of the
Year Award. He has served as NMEA’s Chair of Choral Affairs; as a member of the
Commission for Nebraska State Standards; as a reviewer of the National Standards
of the Arts; and on the Boards of NCDA and the ACDA Regional Convention.