
CCM alum and Broadway choreographer Connor Gallagher receives Young Alumni Award
The New York-based theatre artist enjoys a multi-faceted career in theatre, film and music
UC College-Conservatory of Music alumnus Connor Gallagher (BFA Musical Theatre, '06) is an award-winning theatre artist who most recently choreographed Broadway's Beetlejuice. Cincinnati audiences may also recognize his work as director and choreographer of CCM's production of The Secret Garden, presented during the 2019-20 season.
Gallagher is a recipient of the 2021 CCM Young Alumni Award, which recognizes professional achievement and engagement with the college by graduates or former students under the age of 40. Fellow 2021 Young Alumni Award recipients include Tamara Wilson (BM Voice, '04), Brian Lazarte (BFA E-Media, '06) and Christopher Allen (MM Orchestral Conducting, '11). The awards will be presented as part of CCM's Virtual Graduation Convocation Ceremony, which streams on Saturday, May 1, 2021.
Connor Gallagher. Photo/Provided
New York-based theatre artist Connor Gallagher enjoys a multi-faceted career as a creator of theatre, film, music videos and live event shows. He most recently created choreography for the world-wide Broadway phenomenon Beetlejuice, directed by Alex Timbers. Prior to Beetlejuice, Gallagher collaborated with Timbers on the first-ever New York revival of The Robber Bridegroom at the Roundabout Theatre Company, winning him the 2016 Astaire Award for dance in theatre, and a nomination for the Joseph Calloway Award, the only award given by peer directors and choreographers for their work.
Gallagher works extensively with The Walt Disney Company, most recently directing and choreographing a new adaptation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, based on the 2017 film. The production won the international Brass Ring Award and is currently running onboard the Disney Dream, playing to over 1 million audience members annually. Gallagher also collaborated with Alan Menken and Gordon Greenberg on the world-premiere stage adaptation of the Disney film Tangled.
Gallagher choreographed the hit-musical adaptation of Elf, which has had over a dozen touring companies since 2012, with sit-down runs at Madison Square Garden and The Kennedy Center. Other favorite projects include Found (Philadelphia Theatre Company); Camelot (Westport); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Ogunquit Playhouse); The Twelve (Denver Center); ...Spelling Bee (Bucks County Playhouse); The Fabulous Lipitones (Goodspeed); Vanity Fair (Shakespeare DC and San Fransisco ACT); Dancing at Lughnasa (Two River); and over a dozen shows for Theatreworks USA, including a brand-new adaptation of The Magic School Bus, currently touring the US.
On camera, Gallagher has choreographed music videos for artists VINCINT, Stefan Benz, and 2020 best-new-artist Grammy nominees Tank and the Bangas, in addition to spots for Glidden Paint, Luxxotica Eyewear, Hanky Panky underwear, and VOTE, featuring Bob the Drag Queen and Peppermint.
As an event choreographer, his work has been seen world-wide, from The Writers Guild Awards in New York City starring Kristen Schall, to the HIFA Festival in Zimbabwe, an international celebration of music, dance, and theatre happening annually in Harare, the nation's capital.
As an associate, Gallagher assisted directors Tim Sheader and Liam Steel on Into the Woods at the Public Theatre, starring Amy Adams, Denis O’Hare, and Donna Murphy. As a performer, Gallagher made his Broadway debut as a performer in Beauty and the Beast shortly after graduating from the CCM in 2006. He returned to CCM to direct and choreograph The Secret Garden in 2020. Currently, Gallagher is developing two new immersive theatre pieces, as well as a new piece with The Walt Disney Company, and several foreign language productions of Beetlejuice.
Featured image at the top: CCM's production of The Secret Garden. Photo by Mark Lyons Photography.
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