Rob Ashford

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

Rob Ashford (born November 19, 1959) is an American director and choreographer. He is a Tony Award, Olivier Award, Emmy Award, Drama Desk Award, 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 (1992), My Favorite Year (1992) (also Dance Captain), Victor/Victoria (1995) (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] the 1999 Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate,[5] and Seussical in 2000.[8]

Ashford won the 2002 Tony Award for Best Choreography for the Broadway musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002).[9] Additional Broadway choreography credits include the Roundabout Theatre production of The Boys from Syracuse at the American Airlines Theatre in 2002,[10] The Wedding Singer (2006) (Tony Nomination),[11] Curtains (2007) (Tony Nomination), [12] Cry-Baby (2008) (Tony Nomination)[13] and Evita starring Ricky Martin (2012) (Tony Nomination).[14]

He directed and choreographed Promises, Promises starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth in 2010 (Tony Nomination for Best Choreography)[15] and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Laroquette in 2011,[16] receiving Tony Nominations for Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography of a Musical.[17] He also directed Scarlett Johansson in the 2012 revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" on Broadway.[18]

For the New York City Center Encores! staged concert series, Ashford has choreographed:[19] Tenderloin (2000), Bloomer Girl (2001),[20] A Connecticut Yankee (2001),[21] and Pardon My English (2004).[22]

He directed and choreographed a 2010 pre-Broadway production of Leap of Faith at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles.[23]

In April 2015, Ashford directed and choreographed an acclaimed production of Carousel for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, starring Laura Osnes and Steven Pasquale.[24]

Off-Broadway credits include Pardon My English (2004), The Thing About Men (2003), Bloomer Girl (2001), A Connecticut Yankee (2001), and Time and Again (2001).[25]

London

In London, Ashford's directing credits include: Parade at the Donmar Warehouse (2007)[4](Olivier Nominations for Best Director and Best Theatre Choreographer)[26] and A Streetcar Named Desire in 2009 at the Donmar Warehouse starring Rachel Weisz (Olivier nomination, Best Revival).[27] He directed a revival of Anna Christie, starring Jude Law and Ruth Wilson at the Donmar Warehouse in 2011.[28] This production won the Olivier Award for Best Revival.[29] 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.[30] For the Manchester International Festival, Ashford directed Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston in Macbeth in 2013.[31] The production transferred to the Park Ave Armory in New York City for a limited run in June 2014.[32]

His choreography credits include Evita (2007 Olivier Nomination, Best Theatre Choreographer),[33] Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre starring Ewan McGregor and Jane Krakowski (2006 Olivier nomination for Best Theatre Choreographer),[34] and Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Shaftesbury Theatre (2004 Olivier nomination for Best Theatre Choreographer).[35] He directed and choreographed a musical version of the film Finding Neverland[36] 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)[37] and Once in a Lifetime in 2005.[38]

He directed and choreographed the new Gershwin musical A Damsel In Distress for Chichester Festival Theatre in 2015.[39] In 2016, He co-directed The Winter's Tale with Kenneth Branagh in a production that starred Branagh and Judi Dench.[40]

Film and television

Film credits include staging the musical numbers for the Bobby Darin biopic Beyond the Sea starring Kevin Spacey,[41] Seth MacFarlane's A Million Ways to Die in the West,[42] the Disney film Cinderella directed by Kenneth Branagh,[43] and Ted 2.[44] and the opening credit sequence to Ted 2. [45]

For television, Ashford has choreographed tributes to Andrew Lloyd Webber, Barbra Streisand, Jerry Hermann, Meryl Streep, Barbara Cook, Shirley MacLaine, and Tom Hanks 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.[46] He collaborated with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann on a production number featuring Hugh Jackman and Beyoncé Knowles for The 81st Annual Academy Awards,[47] and won the 2009 Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography.[48] He also served as choreographer for the 85th Annual Academy Awards (2013), 86th Annual Academy Awards (2014), and the 87th Annual Academy Awards (2015). [49][50] In December 2013, Ashford was stage director and choreographer of NBC's live television presentation, The Sound of Music Live!, and received a DGA Award Nomination, [51] and an Emmy Award nomination.[52] Ashford then did the same for NBC's Peter Pan Live! in 2014, for which he received another DGA Award Nomination.[53]

Other

Ashford choreographed a new production of Candide at the Theatre du Chatelet (with subsequent productions at La Scala, Milan and The English National Opera). He directed The Barber of Seville for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, which began performances on February 1, 2014.[54] He directed and choreographed Carmen at the Houston Grand Opera in April and May 2014.[55]

Ashford is on the executive committee of The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers,[56] Board of Trustees of The Joyce Theater,[57] Artists' Committee for the Kennedy Center Honors, and has been an Associate Director at The Old Vic since 2012.[58]

Upcoming Projects

He is directing The Entertainer with Kenneth Branagh for London's West End.[59]

Credits (select)

Broadway
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" playbill.com, July 23, 2002
  4. 1 2 Wolf, Matt. "Rob Ashford's journey: From dance steps to leader of the band" The New York Times, August 28, 2007
  5. 1 2 "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. ↑ "Rob Ashford Broadway Credits" Internet Broadway Database
  9. ↑ Simonson, Robert. "2002 Tony Award: Choreography, Rob Ashford, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'" playbill.com, June 2, 2002
  10. ↑ Simonson, Robert. "Dromio, Dromio: Roundabout Opens Revised 'Boys from Syracuse' Aug. 18" playbill.com, August 18, 2002
  11. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "The Wedding Is Off: New Musical 'Wedding Singer' to Close in December" playbill.com, October 25, 2006
  12. ↑ Hernandez, Ernio. "Curtains Up: Kander and Ebb Musical to Play Broadway with Pierce and Monk" playbill.com, November 2, 2006
  13. ↑ Murray, Matthew. "Theatre Review, 'Cry-Baby'" talkinbroadway.com, April 24, 2008
  14. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Goodnight and Thank You": Broadway Revival of 'Evita' Ends Run Jan. 26" playbill.com, January 26, 2013
  15. ↑ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. 'Promises, Promises'" The New York Times, April 26, 2010
  16. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "Been A Long Day: 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' Closes On Broadway May 20" playbill.com, May 20, 2012
  17. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "Just the List: 2011 Tony Award Nominees" playbill.com, May 3, 2011
  18. ↑ " Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway" ibdb.com, accessed February 11, 2014
  19. ↑ "Listing, Encores!" nycitycenter.org
  20. ↑ Finkle, David. "Reviews. 'Bloomer Girl' " theatermania.com, Mar 23, 2001
  21. ↑ Portantiere, Michael. "Reviews. 'A Connecticut Yankee'" theatermania.com, February 12, 2001
  22. ↑ 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
  23. ↑ "Reviews. 'Leap of Faith' " Variety, 2010
  24. ↑ "Laura Osnes and Steven Pasquale Take a Ride on a Carousel in Chicago Starting Tonight playbill.com, 2015
  25. ↑ "Rob Ashford Credits" broadwayworld.com
  26. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2008" olivierawards.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  27. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2010" olivierawards.com, accessed February 4, 2014
  28. ↑ Shenton, Mark. "Jude Law Stars in Rob Ashford's 'Anna Christie' at Donmar Warehouse, Opening Aug. 9" playbill.com, August 9, 2011
  29. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2012" olivierawards.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  30. ↑ " 'Charlie and The Chocolate Factory' to replace 'Shrek' at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane" westendtheatre.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  31. ↑ "Kenneth Branagh and Alex Kingston MACBETH Directed by Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh". mif.co.uk. Manchester International Festival. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  32. ↑ Purcell, Carey (June 14, 2014). "Immersive production of Macbeth, With Kenneth Branagh, closes at Park Avenue Armory June 22". Playbill. Philip S. Birsh. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2007" olivierawards.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  34. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2006" olivierawards.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  35. ↑ "Olivier Winners 2004" olivierawards.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  36. ↑ Jones, Kenneth."Borle, O'Hara, Kudisch, Peil, Moran, Davi Appeared in 'Finding Neverland' Reading" playbill.com, June 8, 2009
  37. ↑ Inverne, James. "National Theatre's 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' Opens July 9" playbill.com
  38. ↑ " National Theatre Archive. 'Once in a Lifetime' 2005 Listing" catalogue.nationaltheatre.org.uk, accessed February 4, 2014
  39. ↑ Shenton, Mark. " 'Damsel in Distress' Opens Tonight with Summer Strallen, Richard Fleeshman" playbill.com, June 10, 2015
  40. ↑
  41. ↑ " 'Beyond the Sea' Credits" The New York Times, accessed February 3, 2014
  42. ↑
  43. ↑ "Academy Announces Oscar Production Team" deadline.com, January 15, 2014
  44. ↑
  45. ↑
  46. ↑ "Rob Ashford Television" nytimes.com, accessed February 4, 2014
  47. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Ashford to Help Luhrmann Stage Oscar Number for Host Jackman" playbill.com, February 2, 2009
  48. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. Theatre "Veterans Collect Top Prizes at 2009 Emmy Awards" playbill.com, September 20, 2009
  49. ↑ Champion, Lindsay. broadway.com, November 8, 2012
  50. ↑ Silverman, Gail. oscars.org
  51. ↑ "The Sound of Music Live!" The New York Times, accessed February 3, 2014
  52. ↑
  53. ↑
  54. ↑ 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
  55. ↑ "Houston Grand Opera launches 2014 with exceptional line-up" operamusicbroadcast.com, accessed February 3, 2014
  56. ↑ "Executive Board" sdcweb.org, accessed February 4, 2014
  57. ↑ "Board of Trustees" joyce.org, accessed February 4, 2014
  58. ↑ 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
  59. ↑
  60. ↑ Gans, Andrew. Drama Desk Winners Receive Trophies July 22" playbill.com, July 22, 2008
  61. ↑ " 'Promises, Promises' Credits and Awards" playbillvault.com, accessed February 4, 2014
  62. ↑ Jones, Kenneth. "Drama Desk Awards Go to Book of Mormon, Normal Heart, War Horse, Sutton Foster, Norbert Leo Butz" playbill.com, May 23, 2011
  63. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, Honoring Liza Minnelli, Presented June 4" playbill.com, June 4, 2012
  64. ↑ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,' at Richard Rodgers Theater" The New York Times, January 17, 2013
  65. ↑ Benedict, David.ReviewVariety, June 26, 2008
  66. ↑ Jones, Kenneth and Shenton, Mark. "Ashford-Directed Streetcar With Rachel Weisz Opens at Donmar" playbill.com, July 28, 2009
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