Rob Ashford Wins Creative Arts Emmy Award for 'Musicals Are Back' Segment of Academy Awards

With the awards ceremony currently in progress, director/choreographer Rob Ashford has just been announced as the winner of a Creative Arts Emmy Award for 'Outstanding Choreography' for his work on the 'Musicals Are Back' segment of the 81st Annual Academy Awards. 

The 2009 Creative Arts Emmy Awards will award 82 Emmys including those given for Outstanding Guest Actor/Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Guest Actor/Actress in a Drama Series, Outstanding Reality Series and Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. For more information, click here. 

Primetime Emmy Award winner Elaine Stritch will present the prestigious Governors Award to HBO's Sheila Nevins. Nevins is the 15th individual to receive this honor since the award's inception in 1978. For more information on the 2009 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, go to Emmys.com.

Variety gave a roundup recently weekend of the many projects on the currently very hot director, Rob Ashford who's currently working on the upcoming Los Angeles production of Parade, which he will follow with preparations for a Spring debut of the highly anticipated Broadway revival of Promises, Promises. Click here to read the full report. 

Rob Ashford's production of A Streetcar Named Desire is currently running (and selling out) at the UK's Donmar Warehouse. His previous work for the company includes the critically acclaimed Parade which marked his directorial debut. He was the choreographer on Michael Grandage's Guys and Dolls for the Donmar at the Piccadilly Theatre.

His other credits include Candide (ENO, La Scala and La Chatelet Theatre), Princesses; stage musical adaptations of John Waters' Cry-Baby and Marty; Curtains; Michael Grandage's production of Evita (Adelphi Theatre); Thoroughly Modern Millie (both UK and US - Tony Award for Best Choreography) and the films Love Walked In and Beyond the Sea. Ashford serves on the Board of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

"Parade," which features T.R. Knight playing the historical figure Leo Frank and Lara Pulver reprising her role as his wife, Lucille Frank, started rehearsals this week. The Center Theatre Group's presentation of the Donmar Warehouse production begins previews September 24, 2009, and will open at the Mark Taper Forum on October 4. Performances continue through November 15.

The cast also includes, in alphabetical order, Brad Anderson, Michael Berresse (Obie Award-winner for his work as director/choreographer of "[title of show]"), Will Collyer, Charlotte d'Amboise (nominated for a Tony Award for the role of Cassie in the Broadway revival of "A Chorus Line"), Karole Foreman, Davis Gaines, Laura Griffith, P.J. Griffith, Curt Hansen, Deidrie Henry, Christian Hoff (Tony Award-winner for his role in "Jersey Boys"), Sarah Jayne Jensen, Lisa Livesay, Hayley Podschun, David St. Louis, Rose Sezniak, Phoebe Strole, Josh Tower and Robert Yacko.

A shameful event in American history and a poignant love story are at the heart of "Parade," which features a book by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. Co-conceived by Harold Prince, it is directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winning choreographer Rob Ashford, who helmed the Donmar production.

Scenic and costume design are by Christopher Oram, lighting is by Neil Austin and sound is by Jon Weston. The musical director is Tom Murray, casting is by Erika Sellin, CSA, and the production stage manager is David S. Franklin.

Both Uhry and Brown won 1999 Tony Awards, for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score, respectively, when the musical was first produced at the Lincoln Center Theater.

The Donmar Warehouse production received 2008 Olivier Award nominations for Best New Musical, Best Theatre Choreographer and Best Director, among others.

The Taper presentation will be the first time that the Donmar production will be seen in America.

Tickets for "Parade" are available by calling (213) 628-2772 or online at www.CenterTheatreGroup.org. August 21, 2009

Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski