After working in theater on the East Coast for several decades, Kevin Hill M’23 had one regret—he hadn’t obtained a college degree. A break in production during the pandemic provided Hill the opportunity to choose an academic path, and ultimately, led him to the University of Southern Indiana.
“I had lost touch with my identity, my voice, my confidence and my ability to communicate effectively,” Hill said. “I felt like a pot on the verge of boiling over. I needed to take action.”
Hill first pursued an undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and then began searching for accelerated Master of Business Administration degree programs he could earn online. He discovered USI, which offered a flexible schedule where Hill could learn at his convenience. Having a mother-in-law who lived in Evansville sealed his decision.
Acting, singing and dancing came easy to Hill at an early age—theater was where he felt a sense of belonging. He’s performed and collaborated with some of the biggest names in the business, including Carol Channing, Josh Groban, Kathleen Turner and Jonathan Groff. Eventually, his career path led to more behind-the-scenes roles such as choreographer and director. For the past several years, he’s served in those aspects as the Producing Artistic Director at the North Shore Music Theatre in the Boston area and Theatre By the Sea in Rhode Island. This spring, he was nominated for his second prestigious Elliot Norton Award for “Outstanding Director, Large” for TITANIC The Musical.
Receiving his MBA gave Hill the confidence to further his career through starting his own production company, Chappell Hill Productions. Alongside his partner, Matthew, they are co-producing a new musical called “Wanted – The Legend of the Sisters Clarke” that will debut on Broadway in 2026.