My Story

Harry Culpepper, Jr. is a proud CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and American Sign Language is his first language. He attended the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, SC and he graduated from Shenandoah University with a BFA in Music Theatre and from Winthrop University with his Masters of Arts in Arts Administration. He spent more than a year with Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, performing on the main stage, touring with its Youth Theatre, teaching playwriting, serving as a resident teaching artist in the public schools, and directing/producing two original cabarets. 

He began teaching by starting the drama program at the SC School for the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg, SC and was invited to the L.A.’s Mark Taper Forum’s Broadway Reunion Gala for Broadway’s first “deaf” musical BIG RIVER.  He then spent time as the Education Specialist at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts in Greenville, SC.  He served as Theatre Teacher for 6 years at the Hilton Head Island School for the Creative Arts, which earned the 2009-10 John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts National Schools of Distinction in Arts Education Award.  He then went on to re-establish the theatre program at Hilton Head Island High School and begin their International Baccalaureate Theatre Program.  

He is currently the Theatre Teacher at Woodmont High School in the Greenville County School district.  He is also the Co-Lead Theatre Teacher for Greenville County Schools and helps plans professional development for theatre educators and as well as organizing and hosting the Greenville County Theatre Festival. In his time at Woodmont, the Wildcat Players have won two State One Act Championships, multiple state level awards and in 2018-19 was named of the top 4 High School Theatre Programs in the nation by the Educational Theatre Association. 

Harry has appeared on stages across the southeast including Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre, Playhouse on the Square, Huntington Outdoor Theatre, The Warehouse Theatre, SC Children's Theatre, Spartanburg Repertory Company, Spartanburg Little Theatre, Main Street Youth Theatre and SC Repertory Company.  He has directed productions for the Spartanburg Youth Theatre, Spartanburg Repertory Company, Greer Children's Theatre, Main Street Youth Theatre, and the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina. 

He has served as the Vice-President, President and Past President of the SC Theatre Association,  South Carolina Representative for SETC and on the board of Palmetto State Arts Education (formerly SC Alliance for Arts in Education).  He currently serves on the board of the South Eastern Theatre Conference as Secondary Division Chair and as South Carolina State Chapter Director for the Educational Theatre Association / International Thespians Society.