Adjunct Professor Nikki Snelson directs ‘Footloose‘, at Vanguard University‘s Lyceum Theater in Costa Mesa, CA, from now through March 9, 2025.
Nikki Snelson has had an impressive career spanning over 30 years as an actress, creator, director, choreographer, and educator, with a deep connection to both the Broadway stage and the classroom. She is most recognized for her standout performance as Brooke Wyndham in the original Broadway and MTV cast of ‘Legally Blonde‘, where she also participated in the playful and campy “Search for the New Elle Woods” reality series on MTV. Her Broadway credits are extensive, including the role of Winnie Tate in the Broadway revival of ‘Annie Get Your Gun‘ (starring Bernadette Peters), as well as a performance in ‘Sweet Charity‘ (starring Christina Applegate).
Snelson’s experience extends beyond Broadway; she spent several years on National Tours, where she performed as “Cassie” in ‘A Chorus Line‘ and “Susan” in ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!‘. She also toured with the Broadway National Tours of ‘Beauty and the Beast‘, ‘Show Boat‘, and ‘Hello, Dolly!‘ (with Carol Channing). In addition to her work in musical theater, Snelson originated the role of The Mad Hatter in Frank Wildhorn’s ‘Wonderland‘, played Velma in ‘Chicago‘ at the Maine State Theater, and starred as Sally Bowles in ‘Cabaret‘ at the Napa Valley Opera House.
As her career evolved, Snelson transitions to teaching and guiding the next generation of performers. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor and Guest Director at Vanguard University College of Arts & Sciences in Costa Mesa, CA, where she is deeply involved in the training of students. In our conversations, Snelson shared how this shift from the stage to the classroom has been both rewarding and challenging. She emphasizes the importance of nurturing young talent and preparing them for the demands of the theater industry, while also finding the right balance between her career and personal life.
We spoke with Snelson, where she shares details about the premiere of ‘Footloose‘, which will debut on Thursday, February 20, 2025. In our conversation, we also discussed which shows we would like to see retired from the stage, offering a glimpse into the evolving vision of the program.
To learn more about the Theatre Arts program at Vanguard University, visit: https://www.vanguard.edu/academics/academic-programs/undergrad/theatre-arts.
To purchase tickets for ‘Footloose‘, visit: https://ci.ovationtix.com/.
Vanguard University‘s next musical, ‘Footloose‘ debuts today, Thursday, February 20 and runs through March 9, 2025.
Vanguard University is located at:
55 Fair Dr.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
