Michael Heavner

Location:

Little Rock, AR
United States 72206

Contact:

Michael Heavner
WEBSITE: www.michaelheavner.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-heavner-b635b15/
https://musicformartha.com/

Additional Info:

Michael Heavner is a highly versatile freelance musician and educator with a comprehensive background in music education and performance. Michael’s academic experience includes serving as a full-time instructor at the University of Arkansas Department of Music and the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance, as an artist in Residence at the University of Central Arkansas, College of Fine Arts and Communication, and as a Guest Musical Director at Hendrix College in Conway, AR.

He holds a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Graduate School and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Notably, Michael also attained a Ph.D. in Honky Tonk Piano Performance from the esteemed Jimmy Doyle’s Country Club. Actively engaged in recording arts technology, he produces custom-recorded musical orchestrations and sound designs for theatre, radio, and artists nationally and internationally.

His career has encompassed national tours, where he performed as a musical director/keyboardist in equity tours of Blues in the Night, Idols of the King, and Always Patsy Cline across the United States. Michael has garnered further experience as a musical director/pianist for numerous equity and non-equity productions nationwide.

His repertoire includes performances with recording artists such as Grammy winner Larry Gatlin, Charley Pride, Earl Thomas Conley, Lawrence Hamilton, David Ball, Dale Hawkins, Narvel Felts, Mike Huckabee, The Platters, The Coasters, and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Percy Sledge. Furthermore, Michael’s prowess as a pianist is highlighted on two live CDs — “Back By Popular Demand” and “Standing Room Only” — by The Diamonds, a renowned “doo-wop” group that has been inducted into the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame.

Michael Heavner was an official 2024 and 2025 nominee in the Arkansas Country Music Awards for Specialty/Utility Musician of the Year.

SELECT MUSICAL REVIEWS

BROADWAY WORLD-Feature: MICHAEL HEAVNER helps bring shows to life through music

Heavner’s piano playing is most impressive. “Always Patsy Cline”

Arkansas Times
The well-rehearsed band, featured clearly outstanding piano work in the authentic style by Mike Heavner. His convincing, bluesy interpretation provided the perfect accompaniment for Welch’s vocals. “Always Patsy Cline”

Roswell Daily Record
Although all the characters had amazing voices, a lot of credit has to be given to the band led by Michael Heavner, never missed a step. It accommodated the players wonderfully, and in my opinion, should have been brought out to center stage to receive a strongly deserved ovation. “Blues in the Night”

Lifestyles Stringer
Theatre critic, Tom Kennedy

The Secret Garden at the Argenta Community Theater magical … Michael Heavner’s orchestrations serve the show well.

Arkansas Democrat Gazette
ERIC E. HARRISON

Special mention is in order for the musicians behind the scenes, musical director Charles Creath, a Motown Records artist and producer, shares the keyboard duties with Michael Heavner, and both do excellent work. “DreamGirls”

Arkansas Times
Tim Jones

Finally, a hearty salute to the band and musical director/conductor, Michael Heavner on keyboards, their energy and first-rate musicianship enhance the trio of performers and provide some of the shows finest moments. These guys are smoking. “Idols of the King”

Galvaiston, TX
Theatre critic, Thomas B Harrison

SHOWS, ORCHESTRATIONS, AND SOUND DESIGNS

Note: Orchestration production is the creation and production of orchestrations used for live musical performances and rehearsals. For each show (production), every part of the orchestration is skillfully performed and recorded. Each song can then be customized to the director, choreographer, and performers’ desired tempo and keys, including any cuts or edits. Ultimately, the orchestrations/music produced are cued (played back) for performances using computer software such as Qlab Show Cue System.

Pianist for the musical Honky Tonk Angels

Orchestration production for the musical ROCKY HORROR SHOW

Orchestration production for the musical, DREAMGIRLS

Guest Artist/Musical Director, University of Central Arkansas for their production of the musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Orchestration production for the musical, WIZARD OF OZ

Sound Designer A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (Equity Production)

Sound Designer PRIMATING (Equity Production)

Musical Director and Orchestration production for the musical, BILLY ELLIOT

Orchestration production for the musical, ANNIE

Orchestration production for the musical, MARRY POPPINS

Orchestration production for the musical, DISNEY’S NEWSIES

Orchestration production for the musical, ELF

Orchestration production for the musical, GREASE

Orchestration production for the musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Orchestration production for the musical, MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET

Musical director and orchestration production for the musical, THE ALL NIGHT STRUT!

Orchestration production for the musical, SWEET CHARITY

Orchestration production for the musical, THE SECRET GARDEN

Orchestration production for the musical, BRIGADOON

Orchestration production for the musical, HAIRSPRAY

Musical Director and orchestration production for the musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Orchestration production for the musical, OKLAHOMA

Musical Director for the musical, SOUTH PACIFIC

Orchestration production at North Texas Central College for the musical, LEGALLY BLONDE (selections)

Artist in Residence, University of Central Arkansas, Musical Director/Guitarist /Pianist for their production of the musical SPRING AWAKENING

Guest Musical Director, Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

Musical Director and Orchestration production for the musical, THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Musical Director and Orchestration production for the musical, ONCE UPON A MATTRESS

Orchestration production for the musical, THE MUSIC MAN

Musical Director/Pianist for the musical, ALWAYS PATSY CLINE

Guest Musical Director/Pianist, Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas for the musical, VIOLET THE MUSICAL

Orchestration production for the musical, ANNIE

Musical Director/Keyboardist for the musical, ALWAYS PATSY CLINE (Equity Production)

Orchestration production for the musical, MY FAIR LADY

Keyboardist for the musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Musical Director and Orchestration production for the musical, GUYS AND DOLLS: A musical fable of Broadway

Musical Director/Keyboardist for the musical, THE FULL MONTY (Equity Production)

Orchestration production for the musical, LOST ON ROUTE 66 Christmas Show

Featured pianist on two live CDs by THE DIAMONDS’ STANDING ROOM ONLY! AND BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND.

Musical Director for the musical, LOST IN THE FIFTIES, Omaha, Nebraska.

Musical Arranger and Orchestration production for the musical, LOST ON ROUTE 66

Keyboardist for the musical, CHILDREN OF EDEN (Equity Production)

Pianist for the musical, MY FAIR LADY, two piano arrangements (Equity Production)

Keyboardist for the musical, DREAMGIRLS (Equity Production)

Keyboardist for the musical, CINDERELLA (Equity Production)

Musical Director/Keyboardist for the musical, THE SPITFIRE GRILL (Equity Production)

Keyboardist for the musical, GYPSY (Equity Production)

Musical Arranger and Orchestration production for the musical, TWIST THE NIGHT AWAY

Musical Director/Pianist for the musical, ANNIE (Equity Production)

Musical Director/Pianist for the musical, LOST IN THE FIFTIES, in Savannah, Georgia

Keyboardist for the musical, CABARET (Equity Production)

Musical Director/Conductor for THE SOUND OF MUSIC (Equity Production)

Resident Musical Director/Pianist for LOST IN THE FIFTIES, in Mackinaw City, Michigan

Keyboardist for the musical, JOSEPH & AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (Equity Production)

Resident Musical Director/Pianist for LOST IN THE FIFTIES, in Mackinaw City, Michigan

Musical Director/Pianist for the national tour of the Tony Award-nominated musical, BLUES IN THE NIGHT (Equity Production)

Musical Director/Keyboardist for the musical, GODSPELL (Equity Production)

Musical Director/Keyboardist for the premiere national tour of IDOLS OF THE KING (Equity Production)

Musical Director/Pianist for the production of ALWAYS PATSY CLINE at the Robinson Auditorium (Equity Production)

Musical Director/Pianist for the production of ALWAYS PATSY CLINE in Jackson, Mississippi (Equity Production)

Conductor/Keyboardist for the musical, BEEHIVE in Jackson, Mississippi (Equity Production),

Musical Director/Pianist for the national tour of ALWAYS PATSY CLINE (Equity Production)

Instruments

Piano, Electronic Keyboard

Specialisms

Contemporary Music, Improvisation, Musical Theatre, Musical Direction, Ballet Accompaniment

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