Brown, Daniele, Hunter, Knechtges, Prince & More Set for New York Theatre Barn's 'GOTTA DANCE' Choreography Panel, 5/3

On May 3, 2015 at 2pm, New York Theatre Barn (Theatre Barn) presents its exclusive Spring Benefit - a one-time only presentation of Gotta Dance: A Choreography Conversation at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street.

Dori Berinstein (Gotta Dance, Carol Channing: Larger Than Life) serves as Honorary Chair, and the event features a panel of 6 Broadway choreographers: Camille A. Brown (A Streetcar Named Desire, The Fortress of Solitude), Graciela Daniele (The Visit, Once On This Island), Joann M. Hunter (School of Rock), Dan Knechtges (Spelling Bee, Lysistrata Jones), Josh Prince (Beautiful, Shrek), and panel moderator Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime). Together, they have choreographed, danced, produced, and created experiences in more than 50 works that have brought Broadway and Hollywood audiences to their feet.

The event includes a short performance followed by an in-depth conversation about theatrical choreography and its impact on theatre, film and society. Each of these masters in their field will discuss how dance and movement can often speak louder than words, touch the heart, the soul, and tell stories in extraordinary ways. The conversation will be a deep inside introspective about dance and choreography as a powerful form of communication. Additionally, the panel will also begin a dialogue about integrating dance into new work development.

The first two Spring Benefits featured Barry Manilow in 2013 (with guest Bruce Sussman), and last year's conversation with Rupert Holmes with host Michael Riedel. This year's Benefit expands beyond writers highlighting another aspect of the company - The Choreography Lab. The lab, curated by choreographer Avital Asuleen, is a bi-monthly platform for theatrical choreographers to both create new work and to begin the conversation of integrating choreography into early new work development.

Theatre Barn is the only 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre company whose sole mission is "giving theatre a chance" by developing and producing new musicals that tell untold stories. Tickets can be purchased through OvationTix: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9999162. All proceeds benefit Theatre Barn's programs including The Choreography Lab. A portion of the ticket is tax-deductible. Symphony Space is located at 5375 Broadway, NYC.

Biographies of the Featured Artists:

Dori Berinstein is the producer of the upcoming Broadway musical Gotta Dance (directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell) based on the documentary film of the same name. Berinstein also directs feature film documentaries that celebrate theatre. Her latest is "Carol Channing: Larger Than Life." Broadway producing credits include Legally Blonde, Enchanted April, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Crucible, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Fool Moon and Golden Child. Her 2007 film, "Show Business: The Road to Broadway," documented the path of four musicals in 2004: Wicked, Avenue Q, Taboo, and Caroline, or Change.

Marcia Milgrom Dodge is an American director, choreographer and writer for the stage. Dodge directed and choreographed her first Broadway production, a revival of Ragtime in 2009, in which she received a Tony Award Nomination for Best Director of a Musical. Her Kennedy Center production of Ragtime received four 2010 Helen Hayes Awards including one for her for Best Director, Resident Musical. She also directed and choreographed the new production of Seussical for Theatreworks USA, which was presented at the Lucille Lortel Theatre off-Broadway and had a subsequent national tour.

Camille A. Brown is a prolific choreographer who has achieved multiple accolades and awards for her daring works. Ms. Brown is a Bessie Award Winner for her work, Mr. TOL E. RAncE, two-time Princess Grace Award recipient (Choreography & Works in Progress Residency), a 2015 TED Fellow, a two-time recipient of NEFA's National Dance Project: Production Grant, recipient of the 2014 Joyce Award with DANCECleveland, a Jerome Foundation 50th Anniversary Grant, and a 2014 New York City Center Choreography Fellow. She was also the 2013 recipient of The International Association of Blacks in Dance Founders Award, the Mariam McGlone Emerging Choreographer Award (Wesleyan University), and the 2012 City College of New York Women & Culture Award. Commissions include: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Philadanco, among others. Theater credits include: Choreographer of A Streetcar Named Desire (Broadway 2012), The Fortress of Solitude (The Public Theater), Stagger Lee (DTC), William Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale (Regional), Jonathan Larson's tick, tick...BOOM! (City Center Encores! Off-Center), and Marcus Gardley's THE BOX: A Black Comedy (Regional).

Graciela Daniele is a performer, director, and choreographer. As a performer, Daniele made her Broadway debut in What Makes Sammy Run in 1964. Daniele has worked with Woody Allen on three films, Mighty Aphrodite, Everyone Says I Love You, and Bullets Over Broadway. She has directed and/or choreographed several musicals of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, including Once on This Island, Ragtime, The Glorious Ones, and Dessa Rose. She has directed and/or choreographed several musicals of Michael John LaChiusa Off-Broadway, most recently Bernarda Alba and Little Fish. In addition to her work in New York City, where she has choreographed for Ballet Hispanico and served as a director-in-residence at Lincoln Center, Daniele has directed and/or choreographed theatrical, opera, and dance productions throughout the United States. In 2005, Daniele was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

Joann M. Hunter is a choreographer whose credits include Harmony by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman at the Ahmanson Theatre, the world premiere of Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes' The Nutty Professor (directed by Jerry Lewis), the Broadway production On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (directed by Michael Mayer), She Loves Me (directed by Scott Ellis, Roundabout Gala), Broadway Bounds (directed by David Cromer, Dedalus Lounge (directed by Chris Henry), The Twelve (directed by Richard Seyd, workshop), the national tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (directed by Ray Roderick), and Curtains (directed by Mark Hoebee, Papermill/TUTS). She has directed Debra Monk in her one woman show in February of 2014 with special guests Ron Rifkin, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, Charlotte D'Amboise, Jimmy Newman, Brandon Victor Dixen and David Hyde Pierce. Associate Broadway Choreography credits include Spring Awakening, Curtains, The Wedding Singer, and All Shook Up. As a performer JoAnn has 12 Broadway shows to her credit: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Thou Shalt Not, Kiss Me Kate, Chicago, Steel Pier, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Damn Yankees, How to Succeed..., Guys And Dolls, Miss Saigon, Shogun the Musical, and Jerome Robbins Broadway. JoAnn is currently working on developing an original dance play about pro football athlete's loss of physical identity, and will be choreographing the new Broadway musical School of Rock.

Dan Knechtges is a Tony Nominated choreographer and director working in theater, opera, concert dance, television, film and music videos. Dan has directed and choreographed for numerous theatres across the country and internationally on shows ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan to Rodgers and Hammerstein to Brecht. Dan's Broadway credits include Lysistrata Jones (Direction & Choreography), Xanadu (directed by Chris Ashley, Tony nomination, Drama Desk nomination), Sondheim on Sondheim (directed by James Lapine), 110 in The Shade (starring Audra McDonald) and The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee (directed by James Lapine.) Dan had the blessedly rare occurrence to have three shows running simultaneously on the Great White Way in 2007. Dan also choreographed the Off-Broadway incarnation of The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee at Second Stage, which earned him a Lucille Lortel Award nomination. Off-Broadway credits include Merrily We Roll Along for Encores! at City Center (directed by James Lapine), Vanities at Second Stage and directing and choreographing Lysistrata Jones for the Transport Group.

Josh Prince is an actor, director and choreographer. As an actor, Josh appeared on Broadway in Little Me, starring Martin Short and Faith Prince, as well as Saturday Night Fever, where he understudied the role of "Bobby C". In 2006, Josh decided to turn his attention toward Direction and Choreography and presented his work at a prestigious industry showcase, Dance Break. Three weeks later, Josh was asked to join the creative team of the Tony nominated Shrek, The Musical, which opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theater in 2009 and went on to tour the US and play in London's West End at the Theater Royal Drury Lane. For his choreography in Shrek, The Musical he received an Outer Critics Circle Nomination. Josh most recently finished choreographing the new hit Broadway show, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, which was nominated for a Tony in 2013. For his work on Beautiful, he was nominated for the Fred and Adele Astaire Award. Beautiful recently opened in London's West End and will launch a US tour early that same fall. Josh is also the Founder and Artistic Director of The Broadway Dance Lab, the first non-profit organization in NYC specifically dedicated to giving musical theater choreographers the resources they need to practice their craft and test their ideas away from the pressures associated with production.

About New York Theatre Barn - New York Theatre Barn (Theatre Barn) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit theatre company founded in 2007 and dedicated to developing and producing new musicals that tell untold stories while innovating and practicing artistic process. Past projects include Michele Brourman/Sheilah Rae/Thomas Edward West's all-female musical I Married Wyatt Earp co-produced Off-Broadway @ 59E59 Theaters with Prospect Theater Company, the multi-composer musical Hot Mess in Manhattan, Marisa Michelson & Joshua H. Cohen's Tamar of the River Oratorio with Choral Chameleon, Supersoldier by HAIR co-creator Jim Rado, and numerous readings and workshops including Adam Gwon's Ordinary Days and Brian Feinstein/Robin Moyer Chung's Big Fat Cat starring Bruce Vilanch. The core of Theatre Barn's new work development process is a monthly New Works Series for emerging writers and new musicals, now in its 8th year at the Daryl Roth Theatre. In Development: Theatre Barn's first original commission Small Town Story (by Sammy Buck and Brandon James Gwinn). and The Boy Who Danced On Air (by Tim Rosser and Charlie Sohne). Theatre Barn is a proud member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and the Alliance of Resident Theatres / New York. www.nytheatrebarn.org