Marshall Hughes
Stage director
Marshall Hughes is nationally recognized for his exceptional work as a director, actor, educator, and performer. A legend in the Boston arts community, Hughes is most known for his work with Opera unMet and Roxbury Repertory Theater, companies he founded that have remained an integral part of the city’s artistic and cultural fabric for decades. Opera unMet has performed fully staged and orchestrated productions at some of Boston’s most well-known venues, including Jordan Hall, the Hatch Shell, First Night, and Symphony Hall, where Hughes produced and directed sold-out performances of Porgy and Bess to critical acclaim with an internationally-renowned cast. At Roxbury Repertory Theater, which Hughes co-founded with Boston theater giant Robbie McCauley, he directed dozens of performances, including the award-winning productions, A Glass Menagerie and A Soldier’s Story. Hughes facilitated important collaborations between RRT and other major Boston arts organizations, including Huntington Theater, the Boston Ballet, and Hibernian Hall, inspiring unity and support across Boston neighborhoods.
“Hughes’ miraculous production… held that audience in thrall for over two hours”
Boston Arts Review
Throughout the course of his long career, Marshall also directed and choreographed shows at the Wheelock Family Theater, Emerson College, Boston Opera Collaborative, and the Albany Egg. In addition to his work as a director and entrepreneur, Hughes was chair of the music department at the Cambridge School of Weston. For fifteen years, Hughes also led the Boston-based community choir and choral exchange program, Sharing a New Song, where he led the choir on several international tours to the former Soviet Union, China, and the Baltics. Hughes has also taught and lectured at New England Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, Simmons College and Emerson College.
A longtime mentor and nurturer of young talent, Hughes has held important positions at MIT, where he helped facilitate the Freshman Alumni Summer Internship Program and advised a music seminar, whose proejcts earned campus-wide attention. In 2019, Hughes was Program Manager of New England Conservatory's BEAM Program (Bridge to Equity and Achievement in Music) whose mission is to prepare young musicians from underrepresented populations for careers in classical music.
“The… PRODUCTION WAS IRRESISTIBLY CHARMING —FUNNY, TOUCHING, AND GENUINELY HUMAN.”
Mount Desert Islander
“I see myself as a connector between what’s happening on stage… and the community.”
Marshall Hughes
“…this Mockingbird lets the story truly sing and finally does Lee’s novel justice...”
Boston Arts Review
Hughes spent two summers at Interlochen Arts Academy with George Shirley while attending Olivet College in Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Humanities and Arts. It was during his student career at Olivet that Hughes made his directorial debut, working with student ensembles and soloists to stage Benjamin Britten’s Noah’s Flood. Hughes holds a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory, where he studied with Ray Duval.
When not performing, directing, or mentoring young artists, Hughes is a full-time caregiver to his sister Consetta Hughes, an unending source of joy for all who know her, and Hughes’s biggest fan.