Jeff Calhoun (choreographer)
Encyclopedia
Jeff Calhoun is an American
director, choreographer, producer
and dancer.
As a student at Richland High School, now Pine-Richland High School
(Gibsonia, PA; North of Pittsburgh), Calhoun was interested in both athletics and performance, playing football and studying tap dance
. He danced in the ensemble at The Kenley Players in Ohio in the late 1970s where he met Tommy Tune
. Tune later hired Calhoun to perform in the First National Tour of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Calhoun made his Broadway
debut in the stage adaptation of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982). He also starred opposite Twiggy
in My One and Only (1983). Calhoun’s collaboration with Tommy Tune resulted in the 1991 Tony Award for Best Choreography for The Will Rogers Follies. His Broadway directing debut was Tommy Tune Tonight! (1992).
Calhoun began his association with Deaf West Theatre
in 2000 when he directed and choreographed a world premiere adaptation of Oliver!. Calhoun continued his work with Deaf West Theater with Big River the following season. Big River subsequently played Roundabout Theatre Company
’s America Airlines Theatre in 2003 on Broadway and garnered the 2004 Tony Award
for Excellence in Theater. Calhoun also directed the world premiere of the first original American Sign Language
musical, Sleeping Beauty Wakes, at the Kirk Douglas Theater in 2007. In 2009, he directed and choreographed the Deaf West Theatre & Center Theater Group production of Pippin at the Mark Taper Forum, which included new and revised material from composer Stephen Schwartz
.
Calhoun directed both the world premiere and international productions of Disney’s High School Musical
: On Stage and Disney’s High School Musical 2: On Stage. He also provided choreography for Xena: Warrior Princess
(The Bitter Suite), Downtown, Happy Together and Weekend Warriors.
Calhoun's additional Broadway credits include the first Broadway revival of Grease (1994), Annie Get Your Gun (1999), Bells Are Ringing (2001), Brooklyn The Musical (2004), and Grey Gardens (2006). Off-Broadway
he appeared in One More Song/One More Dance (1983) with Ann Reinking
, choreographed Bouncers (1987) and Comic Potential (2000), and directed Holy Cross Sucks! (2005). His regional theater credits include the First National Tour of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas presented by Theater of the Stars (2008), Shenandoah at the Ford’s Theater (2006) and Himself and Nora, a musical based on James Joyce and Nora Barnacle, which he choreographed and co-directed (with Joseph Hardy) for the Old Globe Theatre
in 2005.
Calhoun is an Associate Artist at Ford’s Theater, Washington, DC where he directed both the 2008 Presidential Gala presentation of Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War, and a new production of that same work as part of the Ford’s Theater 2009 reopening season.
Calhoun is currently collaborating with composer Frank Wildhorn
, lyricist Don Black and librettist Ivan Menchell on a new musical entitled Bonnie & Clyde which had its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse
in November 2009 and is next scheduled for the Asolo Repertory Theatre
in Sarasota, Florida
, in November 2010. Calhoun will direct and choreograph the upcoming national tour of 9 to 5: The Musical
, which is set to begin performances September, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
director, choreographer, producer
Theatrical producer
A theatrical producer is the person ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of mounting a theatre production. The independent producer will usually be the originator and finder of the script and starts the whole process...
and dancer.
As a student at Richland High School, now Pine-Richland High School
Pine-Richland High School
Pine-Richland High School is a high school located in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. It is the only high school in the Pine-Richland School District and is located in Pine Township, Pennsylvania.-History:...
(Gibsonia, PA; North of Pittsburgh), Calhoun was interested in both athletics and performance, playing football and studying tap dance
Tap dance
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sound of one's tap shoes hitting the floor as a percussive instrument. As such, it is also commonly considered to be a form of music. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses more on the...
. He danced in the ensemble at The Kenley Players in Ohio in the late 1970s where he met Tommy Tune
Tommy Tune
Thomas James "Tommy" Tune is an American actor, dancer, singer, theatre director, producer, and choreographer. Over the course of his career, he has won nine Tony Awards and the National Medal of Arts.-Early years:...
. Tune later hired Calhoun to perform in the First National Tour of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Calhoun made his Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut in the stage adaptation of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1982). He also starred opposite Twiggy
Twiggy
Lesley Lawson née Hornby known as Twiggy is an English model, actress, and singer. In the early-1960s she became a prominent British teenage model of swinging sixties London with others such as Penelope Tree....
in My One and Only (1983). Calhoun’s collaboration with Tommy Tune resulted in the 1991 Tony Award for Best Choreography for The Will Rogers Follies. His Broadway directing debut was Tommy Tune Tonight! (1992).
Calhoun began his association with Deaf West Theatre
Deaf West Theatre
Deaf West Theatre Company is a North Hollywood, California-based cultural institution serving as a model for deaf theatre worldwide. Founded in 1991, by Ed Waterstreet, it is noted for being the first professional resident Sign Language Theatre in the western half of the United States...
in 2000 when he directed and choreographed a world premiere adaptation of Oliver!. Calhoun continued his work with Deaf West Theater with Big River the following season. Big River subsequently played Roundabout Theatre Company
Roundabout Theatre Company
The Roundabout Theatre Company is a leading non-profit theatre company based in New York City.-History:The company was founded in 1965 by Gene Feist and Elizabeth Owens and now operates five theatres, all in Manhattan: the American Airlines Theatre ; Studio 54 ; the Stephen Sondheim Theatre The...
’s America Airlines Theatre in 2003 on Broadway and garnered the 2004 Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Excellence in Theater. Calhoun also directed the world premiere of the first original American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
musical, Sleeping Beauty Wakes, at the Kirk Douglas Theater in 2007. In 2009, he directed and choreographed the Deaf West Theatre & Center Theater Group production of Pippin at the Mark Taper Forum, which included new and revised material from composer Stephen Schwartz
Stephen Schwartz (composer)
Stephen Lawrence Schwartz is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell , Pippin and Wicked...
.
Calhoun directed both the world premiere and international productions of Disney’s High School Musical
High School Musical
High School Musical is a 2006 American television film, first in the High School Musical film franchise. Upon its release on January 20, 2006, it became the most successful film that Disney Channel Original Movie ever produced, with a television sequel High School Musical 2 released in 2007 and...
: On Stage and Disney’s High School Musical 2: On Stage. He also provided choreography for Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena: Warrior Princess is an American–New Zealand supernatural fantasy adventure series that aired in syndication from September 4, 1995 until June 18, 2001....
(The Bitter Suite), Downtown, Happy Together and Weekend Warriors.
Calhoun's additional Broadway credits include the first Broadway revival of Grease (1994), Annie Get Your Gun (1999), Bells Are Ringing (2001), Brooklyn The Musical (2004), and Grey Gardens (2006). Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
he appeared in One More Song/One More Dance (1983) with Ann Reinking
Ann Reinking
Ann Reinking is an American actress, dancer, and choreographer. She has worked extensively in musical theatre, both as a dancer and choreographer, as well as appearing in film.-Biography:...
, choreographed Bouncers (1987) and Comic Potential (2000), and directed Holy Cross Sucks! (2005). His regional theater credits include the First National Tour of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas presented by Theater of the Stars (2008), Shenandoah at the Ford’s Theater (2006) and Himself and Nora, a musical based on James Joyce and Nora Barnacle, which he choreographed and co-directed (with Joseph Hardy) for the Old Globe Theatre
Old Globe Theatre
The Old Globe is a professional theatre company located in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It produces about 15 plays and musicals annually in summer and winter seasons...
in 2005.
Calhoun is an Associate Artist at Ford’s Theater, Washington, DC where he directed both the 2008 Presidential Gala presentation of Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War, and a new production of that same work as part of the Ford’s Theater 2009 reopening season.
Calhoun is currently collaborating with composer Frank Wildhorn
Frank Wildhorn
Frank Wildhorn is an American composer known for both his musicals and popular songs. He is most known for his musical Jekyll & Hyde, which ran four years on Broadway, and for writing the #1 International Hit song "Where Do Broken Hearts Go?" for Whitney Houston.-Early years:Wildhorn was born in...
, lyricist Don Black and librettist Ivan Menchell on a new musical entitled Bonnie & Clyde which had its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theatre-in-residence on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. -Background:...
in November 2009 and is next scheduled for the Asolo Repertory Theatre
Asolo Repertory Theatre
The Asolo Repertory Theatre or Asolo Rep is a professional theater in Sarasota, Florida. It is the largest Equity theatre in Florida, and the largest Repertory theatre in the Southeastern United States. Asolo Rep is a resident regional theatre company which also invites in guest artists...
in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
, in November 2010. Calhoun will direct and choreograph the upcoming national tour of 9 to 5: The Musical
9 to 5 (musical)
9 to 5: The Musical is a stage musical with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and a book by Patricia Resnick, based on the 1980 movie Nine to Five...
, which is set to begin performances September, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Awards and nominations
- 2007 Ovation Award for Direction (Sleeping Beauty Wakes, nominee)
- 2007 Ovation Award for World Premiere Musical (Sleeping Beauty Wakes, winner)
- 2006 Helen Hayes AwardHelen Hayes AwardA Helen Hayes Award is a theater award named for the famed actress Helen Hayes to recognize excellence in professional theater in the Washington, D.C. area since 1983. The awards are managed by Linda Levy Grossman. and presented by the Washington Theatre Awards Society.-Awards:The Helen Hayes...
for Outstanding Director (Big River, nominee) - 2004 Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
Tony Honor for Excellence in Theatre (Big River, winner) - 2004 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical (Big River, nominee)
- 2003 Ovation & L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards for Direction and Choreography (Big River, winner)
- 2004 Drama Desk AwardDrama Desk AwardThe Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Outstanding Director of a Musical (Big River, nominee) - 2001 LA Weekly Theater AwardLA Weekly Theater AwardLA Weekly Theater Award is an annual critics' award established in 1979, given by the LA Weekly for outstanding achievements in small theatre productions in Southern California...
for Best Director of a Musical (Big River, winner) - 2001 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle AwardLos Angeles Drama Critics Circle AwardThe Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards is an annual awards program presented by the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle . Established in 1969, the awards recognize excellence in theatre in the Greater Los Angeles Area....
for Best Director (Big River, winner) - 2001 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Choreographer (Big River, winner)
- 2001 BackStage West Garland Award for Best Director (Big River, winner)
- 2000 Ovation Award for Best Director of a Musical (Oliver!, winner)
- 2000 Ovation Award for Best Musical (Intimate Theater) (Oliver!, winner)
- 1994 Tony Award Best Choreography (Grease, nominee)
- 1994 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography (Grease, nominee)