Rate My Professor Casey Sams

Casey Sams is a Professor of Theatre and Associate Department Head in the Department of Theatre at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Specializing in movement, she teaches movement, acting, period dance, and musical theatre to both undergraduate and graduate students. Her official designation includes Professor – Graduate Movement, Musical Theatre, Acting, reflecting her focused expertise in these performance areas. As a key faculty member, she contributes significantly to the department's curriculum and training programs.

Throughout her tenure at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Casey Sams has held prominent leadership roles, including Interim Department Head, Head of Undergraduate Studies, and Director of Undergraduate Studies for Theatre. She serves as a resident artist at the Clarence Brown Theatre, where she directs and choreographs productions. Notable directorial projects include Sense and Sensibility in 2025, Failure: A Love Story, The Moors in the Lab Theatre in 2023, She Kills Monsters in the Carousel Theatre in 2022, and Exit, Pursued by a Bear in the Lab Theatre in 2019. She has also provided choreography for A Christmas Carol in 2025. Sams has engaged in broader educational efforts, such as leading the Mindfulness and Meditation course for University Honors students and participating in faculty showcases and alumni mentoring. Her guidance has supported successful alumni, including Tony Award winner Ashlee, whom she commended for her creative spirit. Through her teaching, leadership, and artistic direction, Sams plays a vital role in shaping the next generation of theatre professionals at UTK.