Christopher Ashley

Ashley graduated from Yale University in 1984, where he studied Math and English.[2][3] In 1997, he completed The Drama League program for directors.[4] He was appointed artistic director of the La Jolla Playhouse, California, in 2007.[3]

Ashley directed the musical Memphis, which opened on Broadway in October 2009, receiving the Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Director[5]and Tony Award nomination, Best Direction of a Musical.[6][2] He previously directed the musical Xanadu (2007) on Broadway, receiving a Drama Desk Award nomination, for direction, as well as several other plays and musicals.

He has directed many stage works Off-Broadway, including at the Manhattan Theatre Club. He directed Jeffrey by Paul Rudnick Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1993,[7] for which he received the Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Director. He also directed the film version, which was released in 1995.[8]

He directed the Sondheim Kennedy Center Celebration productions of Sweeney Todd and Merrily We Roll Along in 2002.[9]

He directed the new musical Come from Away, which premiered at the 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 is set to direct the film adaptation.[14]

He directed the new musical stage version of Freaky Friday, which premiered at the Signature Theatre, Arlington, Virginia in October 2016.[15]

Broadway

• Escape to Margaritaville (2018)
• Come from Away (2017) Tony Award, Best Direction of a Musical[16]
• Leap of Faith (2012)
• Memphis (2009)
• Xanadu (2007)
• The 24 Hour Plays (2005) (Special Benefit): That Other Person"
• All Shook Up (2005)
• The Smell of the Kill (2002)
• The Rocky Horror Show (2000) (Revival) Tony Award nomination, Direction of a Musical[17]
• Voices in the Dark (1999)
• Jackie (1997) (Production consultant)

Off-Broadway (select)

• Blown Sideways Through Life written by Claudia Shear (1993 and 1994), also TV film (1995)[18][19]
• Jeffrey (1992 and 1993), also the film (1995)[19][20]
• Fires in the Mirror: Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Other Identities, written by Anna Deavere Smith (1992) Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Director
• Communicating Doors, written by Alan Ayckbourn (1998)
• Valhalla (2004), written by Paul Rudnick;[21] Lucille Lortel Award nomination, Outstanding Director

Regional

• Escape to Margaritaville, La Jolla Playhouse (2017)
• Freaky Friday, Signature Theatre (2016)
• Come from Away, La Jolla Playhouse (2015)

• Christopher Ashley at the Internet Broadway Database
• Internet Off-Broadway Database
• Christopher Ashley on IMDb