Christopher Ashley

Christopher Ashley (born July 6, 1964) is an American stage director. Since 2007, he has been the artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse.[1]

Career

Ashley graduated from Yale University in 1986, with a Bachelor of Art in Theatre.[2][3] In 1987, he completed The Drama League program for directors.[4]

He directed many Off-Broadway stage productions, including at Manhattan Theatre Club. He directed Jeffrey by Paul Rudnick Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1993,[5] for which he received the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Director. He also directed the film version, which was released in 1995.[6]

He directed the Sondheim Kennedy Center Celebration productions of Sweeney Todd and Merrily We Roll Along in 2002.[7]

In 2007, he was appointed artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse, California.[3] He directed the musical version of the 1980 cult film Xanadu on Broadway, receiving a Drama Desk Award nomination for direction.

Ashley directed the musical Memphis, which opened on Broadway in October 2009, receiving the Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Director[8] and Tony Award nomination, Best Direction of a Musical.[9][2]

He directed the new musical Come from Away, which premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in June 2015,[10] and opened on Broadway in February 2017 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, receiving a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical.[11][12][13] He was originally set to direct a film adaptation of the musical, which was canceled on February 2, 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, he directed a live stage film recording of the show at the Schoenfeld Theatre in front of an invited audience including survivors and first responders from the 9/11 attacks, which was released on Apple TV+ on September 10, 2021, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the attacks.[14][15][16][17]

He directed the musical version of Freaky Friday, which premiered at the Signature Theatre, Arlington, Virginia in October 2016.[18]

The 2021 film musical Diana, directed by Ashley, was released on Netflix on October 1, 2021.[19]

In September 2024, Ashley was hired by the Roundabout Theatre Company as its artistic director. He will begin his tenure in July 2026. [20][21]

Personal life

Ashley is openly gay.[22]

Work

Broadway
Off-Broadway (select)
Regional

References

  1. ^ "Christopher Ashley Named Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse" broadway.com, April 10, 2007
  2. ^ a b [1] American Repertory Theater, accessed January 29, 2022
  3. ^ a b Boehm, Mike. "La Jolla Playhouse names artistic director" Los Angeles Times, April 11, 2007
  4. ^ [2]Drama League, accessed January 29, 2022
  5. ^ Holden, Stephen. "Review/Theater; Laughs That Mask the Fears of Gay Manhattan" The New York Times, January 21, 1993
  6. ^ James, Caryn. "Film Review; Comic Side of Sex in Age of AIDS" The New York Times, August 4, 1995
  7. ^ "The Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration" sondheimguide.com, retrieved May 18, 2010
  8. ^ Gans, Andrew."Memphis, La Cage, Zeta-Jones, Finneran and More Are Outer Critics Circle Award Winners" Archived July 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, May 17, 2010
  9. ^ "Nominations, 2009-10" tonyawards.com, retrieved May 18, 2010
  10. ^ McNulty, Charles. "Generosity overcomes terrorism in unpretentious 'Come From Away'" Los Angeles Times, June 15, 2015
  11. ^ " Come from Away Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed October 9, 2016
  12. ^ Viagas, Robert. 9/11 Musical 'Come From Away' Books a Broadway Theatre" Playbill, September 15, 2016
  13. ^ a b "Tony Awards 2017: Complete Winners List" Variety, June 11, 2017, retrieved June 15, 2017
  14. ^ Lefkowitz, Andy (November 17, 2017). "Come From Away Tony Winner Christopher Ashley to Direct Musical's Film Adaptation". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  15. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 2, 2021). "eOne To Make Feature Production Of Tony-Winning Broadway Musical 'Come From Away'".
  16. ^ Vincentelli, Elisabeth (September 10, 2021). "'Come From Away' Review: Looking for Light in Somber Times". The New York Times.
  17. ^ "How Christopher Ashley Got COME FROM AWAY Camera-Ready". Broadway World (with video). September 5, 2021.
  18. ^ Rothstein, Mervyn. "What To Expect from 'Freaky Friday 'the Musical" Playbill, October 4, 2016
  19. ^ McPhee, Ryan (August 12, 2020). "Broadway's Diana Musical to Be Filmed for Netflix Release". Playbill. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  20. ^ Evans, Greg (September 25, 2024). "Tony-Winning Director Christopher Ashley Named Artistic Director Of Roundabout Theatre Company, Latest Shake-Up In NYC's Nonprofit World". Deadline. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  21. ^ Huston, Caitlin (September 25, 2024). "Christopher Ashley Named Artistic Director of Roundabout Theatre Company". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  22. ^ Folliard, Patrick (March 15, 2010). "Exploring diva worship and gay relationships". Washington Blade. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  23. ^ "List of 2001 Tony Award Winners" The New York Times, May 15, 2001
  24. ^ " 'Blown Sideways Through Life' Film Overview" tcm.com, accessed October 9, 2016
  25. ^ " 'Jeffrey' Film, 1995" tcm.com, accessed October 9, 2016
  26. ^ Sommer, Elyse. "A CurtainUp Review 'Valhalla'" CurtainUp, February 4, 2004
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