08/07/2026
Meet Our Fearless Director – Lee Farrar Bailey
Every child deserves someone who believes in them before they believe in themselves.
That's the heart behind Lookout Performing Arts Company.
When Lee and I moved to Lookout Mountain, it wasn't just for a change of scenery. It was with a dream—to build a thriving performing arts community where children and adults alike could discover confidence, creativity, and belonging through music and theater. In many ways, it's also the continuation of a dream started by his late father, world-renowned dramatic tenor Dennis Bailey, who devoted his life to sharing the gift of music.
Lee has spent his entire life immersed in opera, musical theater, and ministry. He made his stage debut with the Seattle Opera at just 7 years old, and by 18 was performing with the New Orleans Opera. His career has taken him to stages across the country, including performances with professional opera companies, musical theater productions, symphony orchestras, and even Carnegie Hall. He has portrayed leading roles in productions such as La Bohème, Oklahoma!, Into the Woods, Camelot, Oliver!, Grease, Man of La Mancha, and many more.
He later trained with Metropolitan Opera principal coach Joshua Greene as a Wagnerian Heldentenor, continuing the musical legacy of his father. Beyond the stage, Lee is a published composer, singer-songwriter with five studio albums, and spent more than 17 years serving as a Minister of Music and Worship Leader.
But if you ask me, his greatest role isn't one he's ever performed on stage.
It's being the teacher who kneels beside a nervous eight-year-old before their first solo.
It's seeing potential where others see fear.
It's expecting excellence while making every child feel seen, valued, and capable.
This past week, nearly 70 young performers took the stage after just a few days together. They left with new skills, new friendships, and a confidence that will stay with many of them for years to come. That's the kind of impact Lee hopes to make—not just producing great performances, but helping shape young lives.
The children of our mountain community are incredibly fortunate to learn from someone whose professional career could have kept him on stages around the country, but who instead chose to invest his gifts right here at home.
We're just getting started, and I can't wait to see where this dream takes us.
❤️ Thank you, Lee, for believing that every child deserves a chance to shine.
(As someone who has had the privilege of walking beside Lee for many years—and yes, as his very proud wife—I can tell you that what you see on stage is exactly who he is off stage. The talent is remarkable, but his greatest gift has always been believing in people.)
🎥 credit: Kelly Daspit
