Rachel Nicole Hoey holds a B.A. and M.A. in Theatre performance from San Diego State University (2010, 2012), where she continued on, as a lecturer, teaching: Creative Drama and Theatre for Young Audiences (2013-2016). Her thesis evolved into two plays featured in the San Diego International Fringe Festival (2014 & 2015). Rachel earned her MFA in Directing from Indiana University (2020), where she had the opportunity to teach undergraduates in multiple sections of Acting I & Acting II as well as co-teach Great Performances in Film (an examination on the body of work of Emma Thompson and Viola Davis). Rachel directed on the main stage: Quiara Alegria Hudes’ Water by the Spoonful and Caryl Churchill’s Vinegar Tom during her last two years of graduate school.

Rachel also trained at Second City West Hollywood, Steppenwolf West, and British American Drama Academy “A Midsummer in Oxford.” Uta Hagen's object work, the Meisner technique, Linklater Voice, and Anne Bogart's Viewpoints inform her work as a practitioner and educator. Rachel recently participated in the Uta Hagen Teacher Training Lab at HB Studios in New York City.

Rachel possesses over a decade of experience teaching theatre to K-12. She has been a teaching artist and professional development leader for La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Playwrights Project, Art for Learning SD, Childsplay Tempe, and Scottsdale Arts. She specializes in arts integration, devised theatre, playwriting, and improvisational acting for youth. Rachel’s research focuses on craft, creation, and the practical application of teaching pedagogy and storytelling. She subscribes to the practices of Augusto Boal, Michael Rohd, Jonathan Neeland, and Viola Spolin in my technique when structuring theatre exercises designed for the classroom and rehearsal space. Seasonally, she collaborates with Family Biz Kids to create a STEAM-based curriculum, conservation opportunities, and leadership experiences for affiliated middle school and high school-aged students. Rachel thrives in connecting with and impacting youth and aspiring educators.

Rachel directed The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical and Seussical Jr. at Stages Bloomington while serving as the company’s interim Education Coordinator and Curriculum Specialist from 2020-2022. Rachel spent the summer of 2021 in Boston, directing Puffs! at Greater Boston Stage Company. During the 2021-22 academic year, Rachel collaborated on an inclusion and social justice grant at Indiana University and taught Directing I, Acting I & Acting II as an adjunct professor. 

Rachel arrived at Allegheny College in the Fall of 2022 as a Visiting Professor of Theatre. She has since directed a staged reading series composed of a few Climate Change Theatre Action and James and the Giant Peach. Fullfully realized productions include: Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal, Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice. Rachel has served as Intimacy Choreographer for Head Over Heels the Musical, directed by Mark Cosdon. She continues to use intimacy and consent training within the classroom as well as sharing workshops with local theaters such as The Academy and Meadville Community Theatre. Professor Hoey has been promoted to a tenure-track position overseeing Acting and Directing, and currently teaches Acting I, Acting II, Acting III, Directing I, Theatre for Young Audiences and Text & Performance.