Rob Ashford

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2013)
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.

Contents

Biography[edit]

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

Career[edit]

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

Ashford began working as a choreographer when Rob Marshall sent Ashford to re-stage Kiss of the Spider Woman in Buenos Aires. He next served as Associate Choreographer to Kathleen Marshall on the 1999 revival of Kiss Me, Kate.

Ashford’s Broadway choreography credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002), for which he won the 2002 Tony Award for Best Choreography, The Wedding Singer (2006), Curtains (2007), Cry-Baby (2008), Promises, Promises starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth (2010), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Laroquette (Subsequently starring Darren Criss, Nick Jonas, and Beau Bridges) (2011), and Evita starring Ricky Martin (2012). Directing credits include Promises, Promises and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011 Tony Nomination for Best Direction of a Musical). For City Center’s Encores!, Ashford has choreographed: Tenderloin (2000), Bloomer Girl (2001), A Connecticut Yankee (2001), and Pardon My English (2004).[3] Other New York Credits include The Boys from Syracuse at The Roundabout Theatre.

In London, Ashford's Directing credits include: Parade (Olivier Nominations for Direction and Choreography), A Streetcar Named Desire starring Rachel Weisz (Olivier nomination, Best Revival), Anna Christie starring Jude Law and Ruth Wilson (Olivier Award, Best Revival). His Choreography credits include Evita (Olivier Nomination), Guys and Dolls starring Ewan McGregor and Jane Krakowski (Olivier nomination), and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Olivier nomination). National Theatre Choreography credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Once In A Lifetime. Ashford also choreographed a new production of Candide at the English National Opera (with subsequent productions at La Scala, Milan and La Chatelet Theatre, Paris).

Film credits include staging the musical numbers for the Bobby Darin biopic Beyond the Sea starring Kevin Spacey. For television, Ashford has choreographed tributes to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Barbra Streisand, Jerry Hermann, and Barbara Cook for The Kennedy Center Honors. He collaborated with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann on a production number featuring Hugh Jackman and Beyoncé Knowles for The 81st Annual Academy Awards[4](Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography).

Ashford is currently represented on The West End as the co-director of Shrek The Musical. He choreographed a musical version of the film Finding Neverland[5] which premièred in autumn 2012 at Curve, Leicester. Future productions include a musical version of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland for Disney, Carmen at Houston Grand Opera and Barber of Seville at Chicago Lyric Opera.

Ashford is on the executive committee for The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, Board of Trustees for The Joyce Theatre, Artists' Committee for the Kennedy Center Honors, and an Associate Director at The Old Vic.

Choreography credits[edit]

Broadway
London

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ Jones, Kenneth.PLAYBILL ON-LINE'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER with Rob Ashford July 23, 2002
  3. ^ Listing, Encores! nycitycenter.org
  4. ^ Gans, Andrew. "Ashford to Help Luhrmann Stage Oscar Number for Host Jackman" playbill.com, February 2, 2009
  5. ^ Jones, Kenneth."Borle, O'Hara, Kudisch, Peil, Moran, Davi Appeared in Finding Neverland Reading" playbill.com, June 8 2009
  6. ^ Benedict, David.ReviewVariety, June 26, 2008

External links[edit]
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rob_Ashford&oldid=550555617"