Carnegie Mellon University founder Andrew Carnegie said: "My heart is in the work."

No statement better captures the passion and drive of our people to make a real difference. 

At Carnegie Mellon, we're not afraid of the work.

Our educational environment creates problem solvers, drivers of innovation and pioneers in technology and the arts.  

Employers in every field say our graduates are ready to hit the ground running the day they graduate. 

So, join us. Whether you're looking for a career or an education. Or both.

Carnegie Mellon University

New Row

Contact expert @[Full Name](fullname), @[Job Title](job_title) at @[Organization](organization) for media, speaking, professional opportunities and more.

@[Full Name](fullname) at @[Organization](organization) | Contact Form

Expert Inquiry

Open Sans

In a former life, Edinger made their Broadway debut as an actor in the 2004 Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Pacific Overtures (dir. Amon Miyamoto) and the Broadway benefit concert production of Children and Art: A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim on the Eve of his 75th Birthday (Richard Maltby, Jr., director).

Actor

He serves on the Board of Directors of The National Alliance for Musical Theatre and Theatre Gap Initiative.

Board Service

Edinger serves as the Area Chair for the Acting/ Musical Theater program & Associate Professor of Musical Theater at Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama. Former faculty and guest positions include: Shenandoah Conservatory, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, The County College of Morris, The College of Saint Elizabeth, ArtsBridge, The Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute.

Appointments

As Area Chair of Acting & Music Theatre, Rick supervises all artistic, administrative, and day-to-day support operations for our program that serves 96 students with 20 faculty and various administrative support staff. As Associate Professor of Music Theatre, Rick is the vocal coach for the entire senior class of Music Theatre students. He teaches courses in Music Theater Auditioning and Cabaret, and is the music director of our annual New York & Los Angeles Showcases, and often music director of our annual spring main stage musical production. Rick also serves as a School of Drama representative on the College of Fine Arts Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.
Edinger currently serves as Music Supervisor/ Vocal Arranger/ Conductor/ Keys 1 for The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical by Joe Iconis (Christopher Ashley, director), which had its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in Summer/ Fall 2023. The production will continue development in its East Coast premiere at Signature Theatre Arlington in Spring 2025. Edinger will reprise his role as Music Supervisor/ Conductor of Trading Places by Thomas Patrick Lennon, Alan Zachary, and Michael Weiner (Kenny Leon, director; Fatima Robinson, choreographer) in a Pre-Broadway Workshop in Fall 2024. Additionally, he will serve as Music Director of The Brass Teapot by Chaz Cardigan, Erik Kaiko, Tim Macy, and Ramaa Mosley (Catie Davis, director) at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Festival of New Musicals at New World Stages in Fall 2024. Edinger trained at Manhattan School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Brooklyn College, and Hunter College.

Media Inquiry