Biography
Vanessa Ballam is an equity actress who has been performing professionally and teaching theatre around the country for the past twenty years. Vanessa received her MFA in acting from Indiana University and her B.A. and B.F.A. from Utah State University.
Vanessa has performed with such companies as Theatre Under the Stars, PCPA Theatrefest, The Utah Shakespeare Festival, Pennsylvania Shakespeare, Anchorage Opera, The Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Music Theatre West, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre and the Lyric Repertory. Vanessa worked as a Resident Actor at the Pacific Conservatory Theatre in Santa Maria, CA. In this role she oversaw the first year acting program including initiating a new curriculum. She has also served as a visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre at Utah State University for the 2010-2011 academic year. For thirteen years, Vanessa served as the Head of the Acting program in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Idaho State University.
Currently, Vanessa is the Head of Musical Theatre & an Assistant Professor at Utah State University. She is also the Associate Artistic Director and the Education Director for Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, overseeing all things educational. In addition to overseeing the Opera By Children outreach program and the Festival Academy (adult education), as the Education Director Vanessa oversaw the inception of a Performing Arts Conservatory for youth as well as a statewide High School Musical Theatre Competition. Vanessa is also currently a co-chair for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Region VII .Vanessa endeavors to continue the tradition of Arts Education in the lives of youth around the country. Some of her favorite roles include; Eliza in My Fair Lady, Fantine in Les Misérables, Lilli in Kiss Me Kate, Peg in Peg O’ My Heart, Desdemona in Othello, Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical the Musical, Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Amalia in She Loves Me.
A former Miss Utah, Vanessa received the Bert Parks talent award while at the Miss America Pageant. Vanessa is married to fellow actor Stefan Espinosa and together they have two precocious children.
Vanessa Ballam is an equity actress who has been performing professionally and teaching theatre around the country for the past twenty years. Vanessa received her MFA in acting from Indiana University and her B.A. and B.F.A. from Utah State University.
Vanessa has performed with such companies as Theatre Under the Stars, PCPA Theatrefest, The Utah Shakespeare Festival, Pennsylvania Shakespeare, Anchorage Opera, The Oregon Cabaret Theatre, Music Theatre West, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre and the Lyric Repertory. Vanessa worked as a Resident Actor at the Pacific Conservatory Theatre in Santa Maria, CA. In this role she oversaw the first year acting program including initiating a new curriculum. She has also served as a visiting Assistant Professor of Theatre at Utah State University for the 2010-2011 academic year. For thirteen years, Vanessa served as the Head of the Acting program in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Idaho State University.
Currently, Vanessa is the Head of Musical Theatre & an Assistant Professor at Utah State University. She is also the Associate Artistic Director and the Education Director for Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theatre, overseeing all things educational. In addition to overseeing the Opera By Children outreach program and the Festival Academy (adult education), as the Education Director Vanessa oversaw the inception of a Performing Arts Conservatory for youth as well as a statewide High School Musical Theatre Competition. Vanessa is also currently a co-chair for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) Region VII .Vanessa endeavors to continue the tradition of Arts Education in the lives of youth around the country. Some of her favorite roles include; Eliza in My Fair Lady, Fantine in Les Misérables, Lilli in Kiss Me Kate, Peg in Peg O’ My Heart, Desdemona in Othello, Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical the Musical, Gwendolen in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Amalia in She Loves Me.
A former Miss Utah, Vanessa received the Bert Parks talent award while at the Miss America Pageant. Vanessa is married to fellow actor Stefan Espinosa and together they have two precocious children.
