WOB Names Dee Buchanan as New Resident Choreographer

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre's Executive Producer & CEO, Bill Kiska, announced that Dee Buchanan has been named the theatre's new Resident Choreographer.

"We are thrilled to have Dee join us in a more permanent capacity," said Kiska. "We have all loved working with her and her dance studio over the last several years and thought this would be another way of solidifying the wonderful working relationship our two companies share. Dee is a brilliant choreographer and fun to work with. She has done some amazing choreography for us and we're looking forward to many more years of great dancing to come."

In recent seasons, for Way Off Broadway, she has choreographed Singin' in the Rain, Legally Blonde, Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 - The Musical, and The Music Man. She is currently working on Way Off Broadway's upcoming fall production of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun.

Dee Buchanan has owned and operated the Dee Buchanan Studio of Dance for 23 years, and has directed her own dance company since its inception 16 years ago. She is a graduate of Hood College, and is a member of Dance Masters of America and the Cecchetti Council of America. Dee holds her Intermediate Professional Certificate through the CCA, and is a teacher and a coach in the Cecchetti Method. She is certified both regionally and nationally through the Dance Masters of America Teachers Training School to teach tap, ballet and jazz, and regionally in modern and acrobatics. In 2006, Dee was the Dance Masters of America recipient of the Janet Bachna teaching award, a national recognition awarded through the Teachers Training School program. She is also a Nationally Certified Examiner for Dance Masters of America, and a judge at both the regional and national level. Dee is a National Area Vice-President for Dance Masters of America, Past President of Mid-Atlantic Chapter 17 of DMA, a Past National Director of DMA, the DMA Jazz Intensive Director, and the Past Chairperson of the National Petite & Master Title Competition.

In addition to teaching at her studio, Dee directs two worship dance troupes-the liturgical dancers at her home church, Zion Lutheran in Middletown, and the Inter-faith Liturgical dancers, which is comprised of dancers of all ages and faiths at her studio. Additionally, Dee (a Middletown grad herself) works year-round at Middletown High School in a variety of capacities. She directs the dance line of the Marching Knights, she is the coach of the MHS Dance Team, she is the co-advisor of the Nu Delta Alpha Dance Honor Society, and she choreographs the MHS musical each year.

"I am thrilled and honored to be offered the role of resident choreographer at Way Off Broadway," says Buchanan. "Musical theatre dance is my absolute passion, and being able to share my passion with the amazingly talented cast members at this theatre is a dream-come-true. I have owned my own business for 23 years, so I have a deep respect for the Kiska family in their ownership and day-to-day management of WOB. It is an absolute pleasure to become a more permanent part of the Way Off Broadway team!"

Dee will join the theatre's permanent Creative Team beginning with Annie Get Your Gun and work alongside Way Off Broadway's producers, Bill Kiska and Justin M. Kiska, and Creative Director, Jordan B. Stocksdale, to continue to bring first-class live theatre performances to the Mid-Maryland Region.

To learn more about the Dee Buchanan Studio of Dance, visit www.dbdance.com.

For additional information about The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre or any of its productions or events, visit www.wayoffbroadway.com.

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