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/
https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelHeavner

Additional Info:

Michael Heavner is a prominent musician, educator, and musical director based in Arkansas. He is well-known for his extensive work in theatrical productions and his long-standing affiliation with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock).

Professional Background
Musician & Musical Director: Heavner has served as the musical director, pianist, or keyboardist for over 30 musicals and productions. His work includes national tours of shows like Always Patsy Cline, Idols of the King, and Blues in the Night. He has been a frequent collaborator at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre and Murry's Dinner Playhouse.

Educator: He joined the faculty at UA Little Rock in 2006, serving as an instructor across the Department of Music and the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. His teaching focus includes recording arts technology, digital audio, MIDI, and piano. Most recently, he is noted as a music teacher in the White Hall School District (as of 2025), where he mentors the next generation of musicians.

Technologist: He is an expert in music technology and sound design, producing custom musical orchestrations and sound designs for theater and radio, both nationally and internationally.

Education & Achievements
Academic Degrees: He holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, both from UA Little Rock.

Awards: He was an official nominee for the Arkansas Country Music Awards in 2024, 2025, and 2026 for "Specialty/Utility Musician of the Year."

University of Arkansas at Little Rock 2028 Academic Excellence Award.

Music for Martha: As part of his master’s work, he created Music for Martha, an educational resource website dedicated to the music of Martha Graham’s dance techniques.
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, much of the credit goes to the band led by Michael Heavner, who never missed a step. It accommodated the players wonderfully and should have been brought out to the center stage to receive a well-deserved ovation. “Blues in the Night”

Lifestyles Stringer
Theatre critic, Tom Kennedy

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

Arkansas Democrat Gazette
ERIC E. HARRISON

Special mention is 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 show's 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, Vocal Accompaniment, Musical Theatre, Musical Direction, Ballet Accompaniment

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