Elena Ferrante-Martin

My career as a professional actress, singer, and dancer in theaters around the world provided the foundation for my love of directing, producing, and teaching in the Performing Arts. I've been fortunate to learn from some of the most inspiring talents in the industry, and over the past 22 years in education, I’ve shared that knowledge with more than 5,000 students dedicated to becoming musical theatre “triple threats,” actors, stage managers, and technical designers.

Currently, I serve as Administrator of a dynamic team of performing arts professionals while actively teaching seven courses. At Bishop Gorman High School (BGHS), I was given the vision and executive-level support to build a thriving Performing Arts Program from the ground up. Over the years, I’ve developed comprehensive new curricula in musical theatre performance, direction, and choreography, revitalized the acting and technical theatre programs, and established eight distinct vocal ensembles.

I have produced, directed, vocal-directed, and musically staged all mainstage plays, musicals, original dance narratives, touring mini-musicals, summer theatre camps, and hundreds of musical revues, acting showcases, and one-act plays—creating extensive extracurricular and outreach opportunities for thousands of students.

By blending my real-world experience as a working performer with ongoing academic studies in educational practices, I have helped students reach remarkable heights. Their success is reflected in 15 consecutive years of National and State-level championships in Musical Theatre, Acting, and Technical Theatre.

I am honored to be a two-time recipient of Nevada’s Theatre Educator of the Year Award, a three-time recipient of the Outstanding Director Award at the Nevada High School Musical Theatre Awards, and the inaugural recipient of Bishop Gorman’s Father Querbes Award for excellence in teaching.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Speech from Northwestern University, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from Regis University, and am a proud member of the Actors’ Equity Association.

My greatest professional achievement remains the heartfelt messages from students who thank me for “changing their lives,” “teaching life lessons,” and “believing in me” during such a formative time in their personal and artistic development.