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Susan P. Stroman (born October 17, 1954) is an American theatre director, choreographer, and performer. Her notable theater productions include Oklahoma!, The Music Man, Crazy for You, Contact, The Producers, The Frogs, The Scottsboro Boys, Bullets Over Broadway, , and New York, New York.
She is a five-time Tony Award winner, four for Best Choreography and one as Best Director of a Musical for The Producers. In addition, she is a recipient of two Laurence Olivier Awards, five Drama Desk Awards, eight Outer Critics Circle Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, and the George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the American Theater. "George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the American Theater" sdcfoundation.org, accessed January 31, 2020 She is a 2014 inductee in the American Theater Hall of Fame in New York City. "Theater Hall of Fame members" theaterhalloffame.org, accessed January 31, 2020Gans, Andrew, "Theater Hall of Fame Ceremony, Honoring Susan Stroman, F. Murray Abraham, Philip J. Smith and More, Presented Tonight" Playbill, May 4, 2015
After graduating in 1976, she moved to New York City. Her first professional appearance was in Hit the Deck at the Goodspeed Opera House in 1977. Later that year she was cast in the role of Hunyak Chicago ibdb.com in the National tour of Chicago, which marked her first time working with composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb.
Her first Broadway credit was as an ensemble member in the 1979 musical Whoopee!. In 1980 she was assistant director, assistant choreographer, and dance captain for the Broadway show Musical Chairs. Wanting to direct and choreograph instead of perform, Stroman concentrated on creating for the theater. Susan Stroman Biography tributemovies.com, retrieved January 5, 2010 She worked in small venues as a director and choreographer in various industrial shows, club acts and commercials.
Her relationship with Kander and Ebb led to co-creating, along with Scott Ellis and David Thompson, the 1991 hit Off-Broadway musical And the World Goes 'Round. In 1992 she went on to choreograph Liza Stepping Out at Radio City Music Hall Liza Stepping Out at Radio City Music Hall imdb starring Liza Minnelli,King, Susan. "Liza in the Big House : Minnelli's Show From Radio City Shrinks in Size But Not Emotion" Los Angeles Times, December 6, 1992 receiving an Emmy nomination for her work. Later that year she earned her third Broadway credit for her collaboration with director, and then-future husband, Mike Ockrent on Crazy for You. The show won the Tony Award for Best Musical and she won her first Tony Award for Best Choreography.
In 1994, Stroman won her second Tony Award when she collaborated with Prince on a revival of Show Boat, where she used some of her most innovative ideas. She added several dance montages to the show, complete with a revolving door, to help guide the audience through the generations that are covered in the show. Stroman heavily researched the period in which the show takes place and learned that are credited for inventing the Charleston. She used that information in designing the montages, as the popular dance is introduced by and eventually appropriated from the black characters. In 1994, Stroman collaborated again with her husband Mike Ockrent on the holiday spectacular A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden, which ran for 10 years, and the Broadway musical Big, The Musical (1996). She returned to her collaboration with Kander and Ebb, Ellis and Thompson on the Broadway musical Steel Pier (1997). In 1999, her choreography of Oklahoma!, directed by Trevor Nunn at the Royal National Theater, won Stroman her second Olivier Award for her outstanding choreography. Stroman's husband Mike Ockrent died from leukemia on December 2, 1999.
She immersed herself in her work and directed and choreographed her first Broadway show as director, the 2000 revival of The Music Man. At the same time, Stroman was approached by Lincoln Center Theater's artistic director André Bishop, who offered assistance with developing the project of her choice. She and John Weidman, who had written the book for Big, began working on what would become the three-part "dance play" Contact, which she choreographed as well as directed. The show opened at Lincoln Center's Mitzi Newhouse Theater in the fall of 1999, and later transferred to the larger Vivian Beaumont Theater, where it was reclassified as a musical. It won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Musical. Stroman won her third Tony Award for best choreography. Contact won a 2003 Emmy Award for Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program when a live broadcast of the show appeared as an episode of PBS's Live from Lincoln Center. For Lincoln Center Theater, Stroman went on to direct and choreograph Thou Shalt Not (2001) with music by Harry Connick Jr. and The Frogs (2004) with book by Nathan Lane.
In 2007, she again collaborated with Brooks, as director and choreographer of the musical Young Frankenstein. In the fall of 2017, she and Brooks opened a newly revised version of the show at the Garrick Theatre in London's West End after a successful tryout at the Theatre Royal in Newcastle.
She directed and choreographed the musical Happiness, which has a book by John Weidman, music by Scott Frankel and lyrics by Michael Korie. The musical opened in February 2009 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center.Hetrick, Adam. "Arcelus, Foster, Gleason and More Find Happiness at Lincoln Center Starting Feb. 27", Playbill, February 27, 2009
The musical The Scottsboro Boys opened at the Vineyard Theatre in February 2010. The music is by Kander and Ebb and the book is by David Thompson; Stroman both directed and choreographed.Hernandez, Ernio. "Stroman Brings New Musical The Scottsboro Boys to Off-Broadway" Playbill.com, February 12, 2010 The show later transferred to Broadway where it ran for 49 performances at the Lyceum Theatre and received 12 Tony Award Nominations. Regional theaters such as the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, San Diego's Old Globe, American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, and the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles have all mounted successful productions of the show. In 2013, Stroman directed the UK premiere of the show at the Young Vic in London. After its successful run there, the show transferred to the West End where it was honored with the 2014 Evening Standard's Ned Sherrin Award.
She co-directed with Hal Prince the new musical Paradise Found, which premiered at the Menier Chocolate Factory (London) on May 19, 2010. The cast included Mandy Patinkin, Judy Kaye and Shuler Hensley.Jones, Kenneth. "Prince and Stroman Unveil New Musical Paradise Found in London May 19" playbill.com, May 19, 2010
Stroman directed and choreographed the new musical, Big Fish with songs by Andrew Lippa and book by John August. The show, based on the and Big Fish of the same name, opened at the Oriental Theater in Chicago in April and May 2013 and then ran on Broadway in September 2013 to December 2013.Gioia, Michael. " Big Fish, With Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin, Ends Chicago Run May 5; Broadway Is Next" , Playbill.com, May 2013Hetrick, Adam and Gioia, Michael. " Big Fish, Starring Norbert Leo Butz, Ends Broadway Run Dec. 29", Playbill.com, December 29, 2013
In 2014 she directed and choreographed a production of The Merry Widow for the Metropolitan Opera, starring Renee Fleming in the title role.
Stroman worked with Woody Allen on a musical adaptation of his film Bullets Over Broadway, titled Bullets Over Broadway the Musical, which opened on Broadway in April 2014. "Susan Stroman Will Direct 'Bullets Over Broadway' Musical" The New York Times, 2012
She directed and choreographed the new musical Little Dancer, which ran at the Kennedy Center, Eisenhower Theater from October 25, 2014, to November 30. The book and lyrics are by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty.Gans, Andrew. Casting Announced for New Musical Little Dancer; Susan Stroman Directs at Kennedy Center", Playbill, August 26, 2014 In the spring of 2019 she directed and choreographed Marie, Dancing Still for Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. A newly reworked and retitled production of Little Dancer, the show starred Tiler Peck reprising her title role alongside Terrence Mann and Louise Pitre.
Stroman collaborated with Prince once again as co-director of a new musical entitled Prince of Broadway, a retrospective of the career and life of Hal Prince. The show has orchestrations and new material written by Jason Robert Brown. The revue premiered in Tokyo at the Tokyu Theatre Orb in October 2015 and then ran in Osaka in November through December 2015, and featured Tony Yazbeck, Ramin Karimloo, Shuler Hensley and Nancy Opel.Gerard, Jeremy. "Pacific Overture: Hal Prince Sets Fall Japan Dates, NY Stars For Broadway Retrospective", deadline, June 17, 2015Loo, Bonny. "BWW Review: 'Prince Of Broadway' Conquers Audiences in Tokyo and Beyond" broadwayworld.com, October 30, 2015 It premiered on Broadway on August 24, 2017, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre as a co-production of the Manhattan Theatre Club and Gorgeous Entertainment. The book is by David Thompson.Clement, Olivia. " Prince of Broadway Will Open on Broadway This Summer" Playbill, December 7, 2016
In 2016 she returned to the Vineyard Theatre to direct the play Dot, Dot vineyard.org written by Colman Domingo. The following year she directed and choreographed her fourth collaboration with the Vineyard Theatre, The Beast in the Jungle, The Beast in the Jungle vineyard.org winning the 2018 Joe Callaway Award for excellence in choreography. The music was composed by John Kander and the book written by David Thompson.
In April 2022, Stroman directed the Broadway theatre play , by Selina Fillinger, at the Shubert Theatre.
Stroman directed and choreographed the Chichester Festival Theatre revival of Crazy for You, which transferred to the West End's Gillian Lynne Theatre in 2023.
Her next projects include the Broadway musical adaptation of the television series Smash and the play Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron. Smash will arrive on Broadwayaccessed 06/30/2024 Left on Tenth Broadway Official Siteaccessed 06/30/2024
Stroman had previously worked with New York City Ballet in 1999, when she created Blossom Got Kissed, featuring the music of Duke Ellington, to celebrate the company's 50th Anniversary season. She later revisited the piece, choreographing three additional short dances to be performed alongside the original. This new expanded ballet entitled For the Love of Duke premiered in May 2011.
In 1997 she created But Not for Me for the Martha Graham Company, using the music of George Gershwin.
The world premiere of Take Five…More Or Less with The Pacific Northwest Ballet opened in 2008. Stroman combined jazz music by Dave Brubeck and classical pointe work. The ballet is now in their repertoire. Press Release "Pacific Northwest Ballet", February 6, 2009
She has also made multiple appearances as herself on the Food Network's Barefoot Contessa program, as she is a close friend of its host, Ina Garten.
| 1991 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Choreography | And the World Goes 'Round | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Choreography | |||
| 1992 | Tony Award | Best Choreography | Crazy For You | |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Choreography | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Choreography | |||
| 1993 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Theatre Choreographer | ||
| Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Individual Achievement in Choreography | Liza Minnelli Live from Radio City Music Hall | ||
| 1995 | Tony Award | Best Choreography | Show Boat | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Choreography | |||
| A Christmas Carol | ||||
| 1996 | Tony Award | Best Choreography | Big | |
| 1997 | Tony Award | Best Choreography | Steel Pier | |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Choreography | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Choreography | |||
| 1999 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best Theatre Choreographer | Oklahoma! | |
| 2000 | Tony Award | Best Direction of a Musical | Contact | |
| The Music Man | ||||
| Best Choreography | ||||
| Contact | ||||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | |||
| The Music Man | ||||
| Outstanding Choreography | ||||
| Contact | ||||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | |||
| The Music Man | ||||
| Outstanding Choreography | ||||
| Contact | ||||
| American Choreography Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film | Center Stage | ||
| 2001 | Tony Award | Best Direction of a Musical | The Producers | |
| Best Choreography | ||||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | |||
| Outstanding Choreography | ||||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | |||
| Outstanding Choreography | ||||
| 2002 | Tony Award | Best Choreography | Oklahoma! | |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Choreography | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Choreography | |||
| 2008 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Choreography | Young Frankenstein | |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | |||
| Outstanding Choreographer | ||||
| 2009 | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | >Happiness'' | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | ||||
| 2010 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | The Scottsboro Boys | |
| Outstanding Choreography | ||||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | |||
| Outstanding Choreographer | ||||
| 2011 | Tony Award | Best Direction of a Musical | ||
| Best Choreography | ||||
| Astaire Award | Outstanding Choreographer in a Broadway Show | |||
| Drama League Award | Julia Hansen Award for Excellence in Directing | |||
| 2014 | Tony Award | Best Choreography | Bullets Over Broadway | |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Director of a Musical | |||
| Outstanding Choreography | ||||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Choreographer | |||
| Astaire Award | Outstanding Choreographer in a Broadway Show | |||
| Big Fish | ||||
Stroman received the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre for 2018, presented by the York Theatre Company.Gans, Andrew. "Susan Stroman Honored at Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala, Hosted by Matthew Broderick" Playbill, November 12, 2018 Other notable awards include Glamour Magazine's Woman of the Year Award (2001), The George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement in the American Theater (2002), and the Sackler Center First Award (2012) honoring extraordinary women who are first in their field.
She is a 2002 New York Public Library "Library Lion" inductee for Outstanding Achievement in Art, Culture, Letters and Scholarship and a 2014 inductee into New York City's Theater Hall of Fame.
In 2005 Stroman received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the University of Delaware.
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