BWW Interviews: Emmy-Nominated Choreographer Spencer Liff on Salt Lake City's A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS

Spencer Liff, a rising star in the dance world, happily took time from his demanding schedule to speak with BroadwayWorld about some of his dance experiences, as well as about his choreography for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS, playing at the Jeanne Wagner Theatre this holiday season.

Liff was Emmy-nominated for his choreography on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, and he has also has choreographed for a number of other television shows, such as HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, DANCING WITH THE STARS, PARKS AND RECREATION, and the Primetime Emmys. Among his performing credits are five Broadway shows (9 TO 5, EQUUS, CRY-BABY, THE WEDDING SINGER, BIG THE MUSICAL); TV's SMASH; the Academy Awards, Grammys, and Tonys; and the films HAIRSPRAY, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, and FOOTLOOSE.

Lythgoe Family Productions (AMERICAN IDOL, SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE) is now in it's fourth season of British pantos (having just signed a 10-year deal at Pasadena Playhouse) and is taking its first show on the road starting with A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS in Salt Lake City. The Equity production stars Amy Whitcomb as Snow White and David Osmond as Prince Harry.

"This is such a new, wonderful option for the holidays that's likeable by all ages," Spencer Liff said. "It's nice to have a family-oriented show that is great for the kids. They will hopefully embrace the production as a tradition." He added, "It's a great thing to expose live theatre to people who wouldn't normally go. It's so incredibly heartwarming to see people experience it."

When Liff was first approached to choreograph A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS, he "thought it was a very smart and cool choice to try to familiarize the American audience with the British panto." Because his mother lived in London for six years, he'd had the opportunity to attend pantos as a teenager.

"It's a very unique experience," he said. The interactive nature of the performance style, in which audience members respond vocally to the onstage action, is different from American convention. "When I saw CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG on the West End, I was so taken aback that they booed when the villains came onstage. I thought that was strange, but it's because the audience there was raised on that tradition. It's a jarring experience at first, but it's super fun to boo the Evil Queen."

Liff's favorite dance number in A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS is the Britney Spears hit "Toxic." "It takes place in the Evil Queen's lair with all of her minions," he said. "It's a really fun pop-jazz number."

When asked which dance styles he incorporated into his choreography for the show, Liff said, "A little bit of everything, which is actually true to the panto style. It's mostly jazz, with some technical ballet, hip-hop, and some partnering." He added that they may be adding more ballroom dance to this production than in Los Angeles due to the strength of ballroom dancers in Utah.

For A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS, Liff enjoyed creating "a fusion of whatever the music calls for rather than a typical cohesive musical theatre show, which is very strictly story driven," he said. "There's the ability to put in some flashy dance numbers, like on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, for entertainment's sake."

Despite the fun of this unique project, Liff said he is "very much a storyteller. That's kind of my thing. That's why I really like working with TV shows and actors."

Liff said he's had a lot of great experiences performing, but his favorite was playing Mikey, one of the Corny Collins Show council members, in the musical film HAIRPSRAY. "I filmed that movie for six months, and we got really close," he said. He added, "There's also something incredibly exciting about getting to dance on awards shows like the Oscars and rub shoulders with all of the massive movie stars."

Liff is very happy with the time he's spent choreographing for SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE the past 5 seasons. The most recent season, number 10, is his favorite so far. He especially loved performing with the contestants in the "Come Together" number he choreographed for them. "I was already really enjoying working with the group, and then due to an unfortunate injury, I had the opportunity to dance with them. It's the only thing I've ever danced on the show."

"I got very lucky because I was on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE at 23, so that pretty much skyrocketed me in that world," Liff said. He advised aspiring choreographers to "make the choice to transition, and that often means to say no to dance jobs. I had to stop taking Broadway shows and things that would really take my time. Find an agency that really nurtures your career and where you want to be. You have to find out who you are as a choreographer."

Next up? Liff will be choreographing his first Broadway show in spring 2014--the highly anticipated HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY ITCH starring his friend, Neil Patrick Harris.

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will play from December 13 - 29, 2013 with a charity gala press opening on Friday, December 13, 2013, at 7 pm, benefiting Primary Children's Hospital. The Jeanne Wagner is located at 138 West 300 South, Salt Lake City, Utah. Single show ticket prices for A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS range from $25.00 - $54.00. Golden Tickets are available for an additional $75.00 each and are limited to 10 Golden Tickets per performance. A Golden Ticket allows the ticket holder (children only) a special onstage experience during the production. Tickets are available by calling ArtTix at 801-355-2787, or on all performance dates, the box office is open. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.arttix.org. For additional information visit www.americanpanto.com. Citi cardmembers can purchase Preferred tickets, including 25% off ticket prices and special VIP benefits/access. Purchase Citi Preferred tickets for select shows at www.citiprivatepass.com.

Photo Credit: Spencer Liff

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