Ken Roberson (choreographer)

Born Kenneth L. Roberson
1956
Thomson, Georgia
Occupation Choreographer and dancer
Known for Avenue Q

Ken Roberson (born 1956 in Thomson, Georgia) is an American choreographer and dancer best known for his work on Avenue Q.

Early life and career

Roberson was born in Thomson, Georgia. He was an undergraduate at the University of Georgia when he saw a local dance troupe performing and resolved to become a dancer.[1] In 1979, he graduated with a degree in journalism and got a job at the Athens Banner-Herald. He later quit his job for a chance to audition at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[1][2] He attended the school for two years before joining dance-pop group Fantasy. He studied tap dancing under Henry LeTang who told him about the upcoming Paris premiere of Black and Blue. He went on to make his Broadway debut in the musical's American version in 1989.[1] He danced in the 1990 revival of Oh, Kay! and in Jelly's Last Jam, a musical about the life of Jelly Roll Morton. In 1998 he did the musical staging for John Leguizamo's one-man play Freak. This led to a job choreographing the 2000 US tour of The Civil War. He choreographed the Off-Broadway and Broadway versions of Avenue Q. It went on to win three Tony Awards and became one of the longest running Broadway shows of all time.[3] In 2009 he choreographed Colman Domingo's one-man show A Boy and His Soul.[4]

Work

Dancer

Choreographer

Film and television

Awards

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jacobson, Erica. "How a Broadway Choreographer Danced His Way to Success". Washington Square News. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Roberson Left Journalism For Broadway". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. March 8, 2002. p. T5.
  3. ↑ Brown, Jennifer (June 1, 2012). "Long Runs on Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  4. ↑ Hernandez, Ernio (September 24, 2009). "Domingo Reveals A Boy and His Soul; Solo Show Opens Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved June 13, 2012.

External links