Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance

Singer, Composer, lyricist and librettist, Ilene Reid is one of the Grammy-nominated songwriters of Throw That Girl Around from the Broadway musical Swing! Her musical Bingo (The Winning Musical) had a successful Off-Broadway run and continues to have numerous productions nationally and internationally. It was honored with the 2007 Bay Area Critics Association Award for Best Musical. Her critically acclaimed musical, Vices: A Love Story, was produced at the Caldwell Theatre where it was nominated for eight 2010 Carbonell Awards including Best New Work and Best Musical. Vices: A Love Story, the musical that Variety called “a minor miracle…a sensual celebration,” is in development for a New York run. She and her partner, Michael Heitzman, were selected to participate in a two-year residency with Indiana University Premier Musicals where they created their original musical, Solana. It was chosen to be part of the new works series at Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Utah. Most recently Director/Choreographer Josh Rhodes has joined the creative team to continue the development and plans for Solana's first regional production are underway. She is currently writing the musical adaptation to the Patrick Dennis novel, Genius.

The Heitzman/Reid You Tube series “Going Up” was launched in January 2013 and features Broadway colleagues performing her material.

Ilene is a proud member of The Dramatists Guild (2008-2009 Fellow), BMI and the Writer’s Guild of America, East and in 2016 she received an Indiana University Distinguished Alumni Award.

As a private vocal coach in NYC, her roster of students includes Broadway and national tour actors, singer/songwriters and recording artists.

Ilene was the resident vocal coach for all the “Billys” on the Billy Elliot Tour. Previously she served on the faculty at the Hackley School in Tarrytown, NY.

Also a professional jazz singer, she continues to perform in the tri-state area.