Susan+Stroman

**Susan Stroman** (born 17 October 1954) is an American theatre director, choreographer , film director , and performer.  Career Stroman's first big break as a choreographer came when director Scott Ellis hired her for his off-broadway revival of //Flora the Red Menace// (music by John Kander and [|Fred Ebb]) at the [|Vineyard Theatre] in [|Greenwich Village] in 1987. Her work there was seen by [|Hal Prince], who hired her to work on the dance sequences for his [|New York City Opera] production of //[|Don Giovanni]//. Her relationship with Kander and Ebb led to co-creating, with Ellis and David Thompson, the hit off broadway musical //[|And the World Goes 'Round]// in 1991. She went on to choreograph //Liza Stepping Out at Radio City Music Hall// in 1992 where she was nominated for an Emmy award. She earned her third Broadway credit for her collaboration with director, and then-future husband, [|Mike Ockrent] on //[|Crazy for You]// in 1992. The show won the [|Tony Award for Best Musical] and she won her first Tony Award for Best Choreography. In 1994, Stroman won her second Tony Award when she collaborated with Prince on a revival of //[|Show Boat]//, where she unleashed some of her most innovative ideas. She added several dance montages to the show, complete with a revolving door, to help guide the audience through the generations that are covered in the show. Stroman heavily researched the period in which the show takes place and learned [|African-Americans] are credited for inventing the [|Charleston]. She used that information in designing the montages, as the popular dance is introduced by and eventually appropriated from the black characters. In 1994, Stroman collaborated again with her husband, Mike Ockrent on the Holiday Spectacular //A Christmas Carol// at Madison Square Garden, which ran for 10 years, and the Broadway show //[|Big, The Musical]// (1996). She returned to her collaboration with Kander and Ebb, Ellis and Thompson on the Broadway show //[|Steel Pier]// (1997). In 1999, her choreography of //[|Oklahoma!]//, directed by Trevor Nunn at The Royal National Theater, won Stroman her second [|Olivier Award] for her outstanding choreography. Her husband Mike Ockrent lost his battle with leukemia on December 2, 1999. She immersed herself in her work and directed and choreographed her first Broadway show as director, the 2000 revival of //The Music Man//. At the same time, Stroman was approached by [|Lincoln Center] Theater's artistic director Andre Bishop, who offered her assistance in developing the project of her choice. She and [|John Weidman], who had written the book for //Big//, began working on what would become the three-part "dance play" //[|Contact]//, which she choreographed as well as directed. The show opened at Lincoln Center's Mitzi Newhouse Theater in the fall of 1999, and later transferred to the larger [|Vivian Beaumont Theater], where it was reclassified as a musical. It won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Musical. Stroman won her third Tony Award for best choreography. //Contact// went on to win the 2003 Emmy Award. For Lincoln Center Theater, Stroman went on to direct and choreograph //[|Thou Shalt Not]// (2001) with music by [|Harry Connick Jr.] and //[|The Frogs]// (2004) with book by [|Nathan Lane]. Stroman received the American Choreography Award for her work in Columbia Pictures Feature film //[|Center Stage]// (2002). In 2001, Stroman directed and choreographed [|Mel Brooks]' musical //[|The Producers]//. Stroman's late husband, Ockrent, had initially been named to direct. It was a commercial success and won a record twelve [|Tony Awards]. Stroman won her fourth and fifth Tony Award for Direction and choreography. She was the first woman to ever win in these two categories at the same time. In 2005, she made her directorial debut as a feature filmmaker with a film adaptation of the show. The movie was nominated for four Golden Globe Awards. In 2007, she collaborated with Brooks again, as director and choreographer of the musical //[|Young Frankenstein]//. She is both director and choreographer of the musical //Happiness//, which has a book by John Weidman. The musical opened in 2009 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at [|Lincoln Center]. The musical //[|The Scottsboro Boys]// opened at the [|Vineyard Theatre] in February 2010. The music is by [|Kander and Ebb] and the book is by [|David Thompson]; Stroman both directed and choreographed.[|[4]] She is co-directing a new musical //Paradise Found// with Hal Prince, which premiered at the [|Menier Chocolate Factory] on May 19, 2010. The plan is to open on Broadway. The cast stars [|Mandy Patinkin], [|Judy Kaye] and [|Shuler Hensley].[|[5]]
 * Productions: **

1992 // Crazy for You //(choreographer) (Broadway) 1993 // Show Boat // (choreographer) (Broadway) 1994 // Picnic // (choreographer of Musical Interludes) (Broadway) 1994 // A Christmas Carol // (choreographer) (Madison Square Garden) 1996 // Big // (choreographer) (Broadway) 1997 // Steel Pier // (choreographer) (Broadway) 1998 // Oklahoma! // (choreographer) ( West End ) 2000 // The Music Man // (director/choreographer) (Broadway) 2000 // Contact // (director/choreographer) (Broadway) 2001 // Thou Shalt Not // (director/choreographer/creator) (Broadway) 2001 // The Producers // (director/choreographer) (Broadway) 2002 //Oklahoma!// (Choreographer) (Broadway) 2004 // The Frogs // (director/choreographer) (Broadway) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">2004 // Double Feature : The Blue Necklace // and // Makin' Whoopee // for New York City Ballet <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">2007 // Young Frankenstein //(director/choreographer) (Broadway <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in;">2010 " The Scottsboro Boys " (director/choreographer) (Off-Broadway, Vineyard Theatre ) <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">2010 //Paradise Found// ( Menier Chocolate Factory, co-director with Hal Prince )

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2010 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Susan Stroman [nominee] //( for "The Scottsboro Boys" )//
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Awards: **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2010 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Susan Stroman [nominee] //( for "The Scottsboro Boys" )//

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2008 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Young Frankenstein [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2002 Tony Award® Best Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Oklahoma! [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2002 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Oklahoma! [winner]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2001 Tony Award® Best Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> The Producers [winner]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2001 Tony Award® Best Direction of a Musical <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> The Producers [winner]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2001 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> The Producers [winner]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2001 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> The Producers [winner]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2000 Tony Award® Best Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Contact [winner]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2000 Tony Award® Best Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> The Music Man [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2000 Tony Award® Best Direction of a Musical <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Contact [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2000 Tony Award® Best Direction of a Musical <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> The Music Man [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2000 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Contact [winner]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2000 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> The Music Man [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2000 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Contact [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">2000 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> The Music Man [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1997 Tony Award® Best Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Steel Pier [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1997 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Steel Pier [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1997 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Big [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1996 Tony Award® Best Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Big [nominee]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1992 Tony Award® Best Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Crazy for You [winner]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1992 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Crazy For You [winner]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">1991 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> Susan Stroman [nominee] //( for "And the World Goes Round" )// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">//[]// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">//[]// <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">//﻿//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">[] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">[] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">//﻿//
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">External Links: **