Rob Ashford

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For the law professor, see Robert Ashford.
Ashford at the 2012 Drama League Benefit Gala

Rob Ashford (born November 19, 1959) is an American choreographer and director. He is an eight-time Tony Award nominee (winning one), five-time Olivier Award nominee, Emmy Award winner, Drama Desk winner, and Outer Critics Circle Award winner.

Biography

Born in Orlando, Florida and raised in Beckley, West Virginia, Ashford attended Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, in the pre-law program, graduating in 1982. He became interested in theatre with his work in the theatre department, and went on to study dance at Pittsburgh’s Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts, graduating in 1983.[1] He performed in the Pittsburgh theatre scene while in college, appearing with such companies as Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera.[2] After graduation, Ashford moved to New York City where he shared an apartment with friend and fellow choreographer Kathleen Marshall.[3]

Career

As a dancer, Ashford made his Broadway debut in the 1987 Lincoln Center revival of Anything Goes starring Patti LuPone.[4] Productions of The Most Happy Fella (1992), Crazy for You, My Favorite Year (1992) (also Dance Captain), Victor/Victoria (also Dance Captain) and Parade (1998) (also Dance Captain and Assistant Choreographer) followed.[5]

Ashford began working as a choreographer when Rob Marshall sent Ashford to re-stage Kiss of the Spider Woman in Buenos Aires.[6] He next served as Associate Choreographer to Kathleen Marshall on the Broadway revival of Ring Round the Moon in 1999[7] and the 1999 Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate.[5]

Ashford won the 2002 Tony Award for Best Choreography for the Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002).[8] Additional Broadway choreography credits include the Roundabout Theatre production of The Boys from Syracuse at the American Airlines Theatre in 2002,[9] The Wedding Singer (2006),[10] Curtains (2007), [11] Cry-Baby (2008)[12] and Evita starring Ricky Martin (2012).[13]

He directed and choregraphed Promises, Promises starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth in 2010[14] and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Laroquette in 2011,[15] receiving a 2011 Tony Nomination for Best Direction of a Musical for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.[16]

For the New York City Center Encores! staged concert series, Ashford has choreographed:[17] Tenderloin (2000), Bloomer Girl (2001),[18] A Connecticut Yankee (2001),[19] and Pardon My English (2004).[20]

London

In London, Ashford's directing credits include: Parade at the Donmar Warehouse (2007)[4](2008 Olivier Nominations for Best Director and Best Theatre Choreographer)[21] and A Streetcar Named Desire in 2009 at the Donmar Warehouse starring Rachel Weisz (Olivier nomination, Best Revival for 2010).[22] He directed a revival of Anna Christie, starring Jude Law at the Donmar Warehouse in 2011.[23] This production won the Olivier Award, Best Revival for 2012.[24] Ashford co-directed, with Jason Moore, the West End production of Shrek The Musical, which ran from 2011 to 2013 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.[25]

His choreography credits include Evita (2007 Olivier Nomination, Best Theatre Choreographer),[26] Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre starring Ewan McGregor and Jane Krakowski (2006 Olivier nomination for Best Theatre Choreographer),[27] and Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Shaftesbury Theatre (2004 Olivier nomination for Best Theatre Choreographer).[28] He choreographed a musical version of the film Finding Neverland[29] which premièred in autumn 2012 at Curve, Leicester.

Royal National Theatre choreography credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (2004)[30] and Once in a Lifetime in 2005.[31]

Film and television

Film credits include staging the musical numbers for the Bobby Darin biopic Beyond the Sea starring Kevin Spacey.[32] For television, Ashford has choreographed tributes to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Barbra Streisand, Jerry Hermann, and Barbara Cook for The Kennedy Center Honors. He was the choreographer for the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007 and 2009, and also a co-producer for 2011, 2012 and 2014.[33] He collaborated with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann on a production number featuring Hugh Jackman and Beyoncé Knowles for The 81st Annual Academy Awards,[34] and won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography.[35] In December 2013, Ashford was stage director and choreographer of NBC's live televsion presentation, The Sound of Music Live!.[36]

Other

Ashford choreographed a new production of Candide at the English National Opera (with subsequent productions at La Scala, Milan and La Chatelet Theatre, Paris). He directed The Barber of Seville for the Chicago Lyric Opera, which began performances on February 1, 2014.[37]

Future plans include a musical version of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland for Disney[38] and, as director and choreographer, Carmen at Houston Grand Opera in April and May 2014.[39]

Ashford is on the executive committee of The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers,[40] Board of Trustees of The Joyce Theater,[41] Artists' Committee for the Kennedy Center Honors, and has been an Associate Director at The Old Vic since 2012.[42]

Credits (select)

Broadway
  • Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002) (Tony Award)
  • The Wedding Singer (2006) (Tony Award nomination, Drama Desk Award nomination)
  • Curtains (2007) (Tony Award nomination)
  • Cry-Baby (2008) (Tony Award nomination, Drama Desk Award winner (Outstanding Choreography),[43] Fred Astaire Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award)
  • Promises, Promises (2010) (Tony Award nomination for Choreography, Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination for Outstanding Choreographer)[44]
  • How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Tony Award nomination, Drama Desk Award nominations (Outstanding Director of a Musical and Outstanding Choreography),[45] Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, Fred Astaire Award nomination) (2011)
  • Evita (2012) (Tony Award nomination, Drama Desk Award nomination, Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, Fred Astaire Award nomination[46]
  • Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (2013)[47]
London

References

  1. ↑ "Tony Award-Winning Choreographer to Deliver Point Park University’s 50th Commencement Address" pointpark.edu, March 31, 2010
  2. ↑ Conner, Lynne (2007). Pittsburgh In Stages: Two Hundred Years of Theater. University of Pittsburgh Press. pp. 204. ISBN 978-0-8229-4330-3. Retrieved 2011-06-06
  3. ↑ Jones, Kenneth.PLAYBILL ON-LINE'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER with Rob Ashford July 23, 2002
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wolf, Matt. "Rob Ashford's journey: From dance steps to leader of the band" The New York Times, August 28, 2007
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Rob Ashford" playbillvault.com, accessed February 4, 2014
  6. ↑ Cramer, Lyn.Interview, Rob Ashford "Creating Musical Theatre: Conversations with Broadway Directors and Choreographers", (books.google.com), 2013, ISBN 1408184591, pp. 4 and 7
  7. ↑ "'Ring Round the Moon' Credits" playbillvault.com, accessed February 4, 2014
  8. ↑ Simonson, Robert. "2002 Tony Award: Choreography, Rob Ashford, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'" playbill.com, June 2, 2002
  9. ↑ Simonson, Robert. "Dromio, Dromio: Roundabout Opens Revised 'Boys from Syracuse' Aug. 18" playbill.com, August 18, 2002
  10. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "The Wedding Is Off: New Musical 'Wedding Singer' to Close in December" playbill.com, October 25, 2006
  11. ↑ Hernandez, Ernio. "Curtains Up: Kander and Ebb Musical to Play Broadway with Pierce and Monk" playbill.com, November 2, 2006
  12. ↑ Murray, Matthew. "Theatre Review, 'Cry-Baby'" talkinbroadway.com, April 24, 2008
  13. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Goodnight and Thank You": Broadway Revival of 'Evita' Ends Run Jan. 26" playbill.com, January 26, 2013
  14. ↑ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. 'Promises, Promises'" The New York Times, April 26, 2010
  15. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "Been A Long Day: 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' Closes On Broadway May 20" playbill.com, May 20, 2012
  16. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "Just the List: 2011 Tony Award Nominees" playbill.com, May 3, 2011
  17. ↑ "Listing, Encores!" nycitycenter.org
  18. ↑ Finkle, David. "Reviews. 'Bloomer Girl' " theatermania.com, Mar 23, 2001
  19. ↑ Portantiere, Michael. "Reviews. 'A Connecticut Yankee'" theatermania.com, February 12, 2001
  20. ↑ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review; It's Springtime for Dresden In a Bubbly Era of Inhibition" The New York Times (webcache.googleusercontent.com), March 27, 2004
  21. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2008" olivierawards.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  22. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2010" olivierawards.com, accessed February 4, 2014
  23. ↑ Shenton, Mark. Jude Law Stars in Rob Ashford's Anna Christie at Donmar Warehouse, Opening Aug. 9" playbill.com, August 9, 2011
  24. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2012" olivierawards.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  25. ↑ " 'Charlie and The Chocolate Factory' to replace 'Shrek' at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane" westendtheatre.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  26. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2007" olivierawards.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  27. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2006" olivierawards.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  28. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2004" olivierawards.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  29. ↑ Jones, Kenneth."Borle, O'Hara, Kudisch, Peil, Moran, Davi Appeared in 'Finding Neverland' Reading" playbill.com, June 8, 2009
  30. ↑ Inverne, James. "National Theatre's 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' Opens July 9" playbill.com
  31. ↑ " National Theatre Archive. 'Once in a Lifetime' 2005 Listing" catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk, accessed February 4, 2014
  32. ↑ " 'Beyond the Sea' Credits" The New York Times, accessed February 3, 2014
  33. ↑ "Rob Ashford Television" nytimes.com, accessed February 4, 2014
  34. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Ashford to Help Luhrmann Stage Oscar Number for Host Jackman" playbill.com, February 2, 2009
  35. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. Theatre "Veterans Collect Top Prizes at 2009 Emmy Awards" playbill.com, September 20, 2009
  36. ↑ "The Sound of Music Live!" The New York Times, accessed February 3, 2014
  37. ↑ Purcell, Carey. "Rob Ashford-Helmed 'The Barber of Seville', Starring Nathan Gunn, Begins Feb. 1 at Lyric Opera of Chicago" playbill.com, February 1, 2014
  38. ↑ Hetrick, Adam."Tony Winner Rob Ashford to Stage Disney's Alice in Wonderland Musical" playbill.com, March 16, 2012
  39. ↑ "Houston Grand Opera launches 2014 with exceptional line-up" operamusicbroadcast.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  40. ↑ "Executive Board" sdcweb.org, accessed February 4, 2014
  41. ↑ "Board of Trustees" joyce.org, accessed February 4, 2014
  42. ↑ Shenton, Mark. "Sheridan Smith to Star in 'Hedda Gabler' at London's Old Vic; Rob Ashford Joins Theatre as Associate Director" playbill.com, June 12, 2012
  43. ↑ Gans, Andrew. Drama Desk Winners Receive Trophies July 22" playbill.com, July 22, 2008
  44. ↑ " 'Promises, Promises' Credits and Awards" playbillvault.com, accessed Fecruary 4, 2014
  45. ↑ Jones, Kenneth. "Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz" playbill.com, May 23, 2011
  46. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, Honoring Liza Minnelli, Presented June 4" playbill.com, June 4, 2012
  47. ↑ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,' at Richard Rodgers Theater" The New York Times, January 17, 2013
  48. ↑ Benedict, David.ReviewVariety, June 26, 2008
  49. ↑ Jones, Kenneth and Shenton, Mark. "Ashford-Directed Streetcar With Rachel Weisz Opens at Donmar" playbill.com, July 28, 2009

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