Saltman Knowles

William Knowles is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and lives in College Park, Maryland. He received a BA from Howard University (emphasis Jazz Studies) and an MFA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. During the past 25 years. Knowles has amassed credits as a composer, arranger, musical director and pianist for many shows at regional theaters around the country, including Dallas Theater Center, Philadelphia Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Northlight (Chicago), CenterStage (Baltimore), Indiana Repertory Theatre, and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, where he has performed in eight different productions. Other notable productions include Tambourines to Glory, directed by Kenny Leon at the True Colors Theatre Company, and the 2001 regional theater tour of Dinah Was. Knowles has collaborated with playwright, lyricist and director Thomas W. Jones II on a number of projects. Their original works include: Slam, Pearl Bailey… By Request, Cool Papa’s Party, Fool In Love, Ladies Swing The Blues, Billie’s Song, Blackberry Daze and Shake Loose. The Knowles/Jones collaboration has yielded a Helen Hayes Award for musical direction for Knowles (MetroStage, 2010), and Helen Hayes musical direction nominations for Gee’s Bend (MetroStage, 2014) and for Slam (Studio Theatre, 2000).