Casey Nicholaw
{{Short description|American theatre professional}}
File:Casey Nicholaw, May 2018.jpg
Casey Nicholaw (born October 6, 1962) is an American theatre director, choreographer, and performer. He has been nominated for several Tony Awards for his work directing and choreographing The Drowsy Chaperone (2006), The Book of Mormon (2011), Aladdin (2014), Something Rotten! (2015), Mean Girls (2018), The Prom (2019), and Some Like It Hot (2023) and for choreographing Monty Python's Spamalot (2005), winning for his co-direction of The Book of Mormon with Trey Parker and his choreography of Some Like It Hot. He also was nominated for the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Direction and Choreography for The Drowsy Chaperone (2006) and Something Rotten! (2015) and for Outstanding Choreography for Spamalot (2005).{{Cite web|title=Casey Nicholaw|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/casey-nicholaw-71261#tabs-Awards|url-status=live|access-date=October 18, 2015|website=IBDB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711035903/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/casey-nicholaw-71261 |archive-date=2017-07-11 }}
Early life
The son of Andy and Kay Nicholaw and the oldest of three children, Nicholaw grew up in San Diego, California, and performed in community theatre there as a teenager.{{Cite web|last=Drake|first=David|date=May 23, 2005|title=Casey Nicholaw|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/6502/casey-nicholaw/|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=Broadway.com}} He graduated from Clairemont High School in 1980 and attended the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a nephew of the late George Nicholaw, who was the long time general manager of radio station KNX (AM) in Los Angeles, California.
Career
=Performer=
As a performer, Nicholaw played Junior and other roles in Crazy for You (1992–94); played Wall Street Wolf and other roles in The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public (1994); played Gregor, Juke, and other roles in Victor/Victoria (1995–97); played Corky, Luke, and other roles in Steel Pier (1997); understudied and performed as Neville in The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999); played Frank Manero in Saturday Night Fever (1999–2000); understudied the role of Horton and other roles in Seussical (2000–01); and played Dexter, among other roles, in Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002–04).{{Cite web|title=Casey Nicholaw Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Casey-Nicholaw/|url-status=live|access-date=December 29, 2016|website=BroadwayWorld|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429181822/http://broadwayworld.com:80/people/Casey-Nicholaw/ |archive-date=2012-04-29 }} He can be heard on the cast album of most of these musicals.
His other performance credits include Billion Dollar Baby (Off-Off-Broadway), for a Musicals in Mufti concert (1998) and Bells Are Ringing at the Goodspeed Opera House (1990).
In March 2023, he performed the role of Spats Colombo in Some Like It Hot for a weekend on Broadway.[https://playbill.com/article/some-like-it-hot-director-casey-nicholaw-will-join-march-23-performance-as-last-minute-understudy Some Like It Hot Director Casey Nicholaw Will Join March 23 Performance as Last-Minute Understudy]
=Director and choreographer=
On Broadway, Nicholaw has directed and choreographed The Drowsy Chaperone (2006), choreographed Spamalot (2005) and directed To Be or Not to Be, which opened October 2, 2008, for the Manhattan Theatre Club.{{Cite web|last1=Gans|first1=Andrew|last2=Jones|first2=Kenneth|date=October 20, 2008|title=To Be or Not To Be to Close Nov. 16|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/to-be-or-not-to-be-to-close-nov-16-com-154415|url-status=live|access-date=December 29, 2016|website=Playbill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230090205/http://www.playbill.com/article/to-be-or-not-to-be-to-close-nov-16-com-154415 |archive-date=2016-12-30 }} He has been nominated for both Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards for his Broadway work.[http://www.ibdb.com/Person/View/71261#tabs-Awards "List of award nominations for Casey Nicholaw"] ibdb.com, accessed October 18, 2015
Nicholaw's other choreography credits include Follies for New York City Center's Encores! (Off-Broadway, 2007; he also directed this production); Spamalot's West End production and U.S. national tour (2006); The Drowsy Chaperone in Los Angeles (2005; as director and choreographer); South Pacific at Carnegie Hall (2005); Lucky Duck (Old Globe Theatre, 2004) and Can-Can for Encores! (Off-Broadway, 2004). He also choreographed Bye Bye Birdie (2002) for Encores!; Sinatra: His Voice, His World, His Way at Radio City Music Hall; and Candide for the New York Philharmonic's series of Broadway concerts.{{Cite web|title=Casey Nicholaw|url=http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/whoswho/biography/12308|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609214816/http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/whoswho/biography/12308|archive-date=June 9, 2008|website=Playbill}}
In January 2009, Nicholaw was both director and choreographer of the Los Angeles debut of Minsky's, a musical based on the 1968 film The Night They Raided Minsky's, at the Ahmanson Theatre.{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|date=February 6, 2009|title=Minsky's, Burlesque-Set Musical by Strouse, Birkenhead and Martin, Opens in L.A.|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/minskys-burlesque-set-musical-by-strouse-birkenhead-and-martin-opens-in-la-com-157727|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=Playbill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211053248/http://www.playbill.com/article/minskys-burlesque-set-musical-by-strouse-birkenhead-and-martin-opens-in-la-com-157727 |archive-date=2017-12-11 }}{{Cite web|title=Minsky's|url=http://centertheatregroup.org/tickets/productiondetail.aspx?id=5690|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212192236/http://centertheatregroup.org/tickets/productiondetail.aspx?id=5690|archive-date=February 12, 2009|website=Center Theatre Group}}
Nicholaw directed and choreographed a new musical, Robin and the 7 Hoods, based on the 1960s Rat Pack film. The musical features songs by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen with a book by Rupert Holmes (replacing Peter Ackerman). The show played at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, from July 30, 2010, through August, with a cast that featured Will Chase and Amy Spanger.{{Cite web|title=Robin and the 7 Hoods|url=http://www.theoldglobe.org/tickets/production.aspx?PID=7817|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619222747/http://www.theoldglobe.org/tickets/production.aspx?PID=7817|archive-date=June 19, 2010|website=The Old Globe}}{{Cite web|last=Stevens|first=Rob|date=August 2, 2010|title=Robin and the 7 Hoods|url=https://www.theatermania.com/san-diego-theater/reviews/robin-and-the-7-hoods_28909.html|url-status=live|website=TheaterMania|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507085600/https://www.theatermania.com/san-diego-theater/reviews/robin-and-the-7-hoods_28909.html |archive-date=2018-05-07 }}
He is the director and choreographer for the musical Elf: the Musical, which officially opened on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on November 10, 2010, and closed on January 2, 2011.{{Cite web|last=Gans|first=Andrew|date=June 11, 2010|title=Nicholaw to Direct Elf—The Musical on Broadway at the Hirschfeld|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/nicholaw-to-direct-elfthe-musical-on-broadway-at-the-hirschfeld-com-169187|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=Playbill}}{{Cite web|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=November 2, 2010|title=Elf: The Musical Unwraps Broadway Christmas Bow Nov. 2 at the Hirschfeld|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/elf-the-musical-unwraps-broadway-christmas-bow-nov-2-at-the-hirschfeld-com-173104|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=Playbill}} He directed and choreographed the stage musical Aladdin which premiered at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington, from July 7–31, 2011. The musical uses songs from the 1992 film Aladdin, with a new book by Chad Beguelin and new lyrics by Beguelin and Alan Menken. The show premiered on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20, 2014.{{Cite web|last=Gioia|first=Michael|date=September 16, 2013|title=Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed Will Co-Star in Disney's Aladdin; Complete Cast Announced|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/adam-jacobs-and-courtney-reed-will-co-star-in-disneys-aladdin-complete-cast-announced-com-209568|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=Playbill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614093125/https://www.playbill.com/article/adam-jacobs-and-courtney-reed-will-co-star-in-disneys-aladdin-complete-cast-announced-com-209568 |archive-date=2021-06-14 }}{{Cite news|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=March 21, 2014|title=Sly Alchemy From That Lamp|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/21/theater/aladdin-tweaks-the-disney-formula-with-breezy-insouciance.html|issn=0362-4331}}
In 2012, it was announced Nicholaw would direct Animal House: The Musical, which was to have featured an original score by multi-platinum selling band Barenaked Ladies (“One Week,” “Pinch Me”); it was then announced the music would be composed by David Yazbek. Michael Mitnick was to write the libretto for the stage production.{{Cite web|date=March 5, 2012|title=Casey Nicholaw to Helm New ANIMAL HOUSE Musical; Barenaked Ladies to Write Score!|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Casey-Nicholaw-to-Helm-New-ANIMAL-HOUSE-Musical-20120305|url-status=live|website=BroadwayWorld|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309034126/http://broadwayworld.com:80/article/Casey-Nicholaw-to-Helm-New-ANIMAL-HOUSE-Musical-20120305 |archive-date=2012-03-09 }}{{Cite web|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=July 12, 2013|title=David Yazbek Replaces Barenaked Ladies as Songwriter of Animal House Musical|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/david-yazbek-replaces-barenaked-ladies-as-songwriter-of-animal-house-musical-com-207516|url-status=live|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=Playbill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310020223/http://www.playbill.com:80/article/david-yazbek-replaces-barenaked-ladies-as-songwriter-of-animal-house-musical-com-207516 |archive-date=2017-03-10 }}
Nicholaw directed and choreographed the new musical Something Rotten!, which opened in previews on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on March 23, 2015, with an official opening on April 22.{{Cite web|last=Hetrick|first=Adam|date=March 23, 2015|title=Something Rotten! Puts a Shakespearean Twist On Broadway Musical Comedy, Starting Tonight|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/something-rotten-puts-a-shakespearean-twist-on-broadway-musical-comedy-starting-tonight-com-344742|url-status=live|website=Playbill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306032044/http://www.playbill.com/article/something-rotten-puts-a-shakespearean-twist-on-broadway-musical-comedy-starting-tonight-com-344742 |archive-date=2016-03-06 }}
He directed and choreographed the West End production of the musical Dreamgirls, which opened officially on December 14, 2016, at the Savoy Theatre.{{Cite news|last=Cavendish|first=Dominic|date=December 14, 2016|title=Dreamgirls, Savoy, review: 'a show with tremendous gusto of soul and gaiety of spirit'|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/theatre/what-to-see/dreamgirls-savoy-review-show-tremendous-gusto-soul-gaiety-spirit/|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite web|last=Morgan|first=Fergus|date=December 16, 2016|title=Dreamgirls at the Savoy Theatre – review round-up|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2016/dreamgirls-in-the-west-end-review-round-up/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217134210/https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2016/dreamgirls-in-the-west-end-review-round-up/|archive-date=December 17, 2016}}
Nicholaw directed and choreographed The Prom on Broadway, which opened November 15, 2018, at the Longacre Theatre; the musical received a New York Times Critic's Pick.{{Cite news|last=Green|first=Jesse|date=November 15, 2018|title='The Prom' Review: Bringing Jazz Hands to the Heartland|language=en|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/15/theater/the-prom-review.html|access-date=2019-03-21}}
In 2021, it was announced that Nicolaw would make his film directing debut by helming the film adaptation of Spamalot for Paramount Pictures, with Eric Idle penning the script and Dan Jinks producing.{{Cite web|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike|last2=Kroll|first2=Justin|date=January 6, 2021|title=Paramount Acquires Monty Python Musical 'Spamalot'; Casey Nicholaw Directing Eric Idle Script|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/spamalot-paramount-pictures-movie-musical-eric-idle-casey-nicholaw-monty-python-and-the-holy-grail-1234665944/|url-status=live|website=Deadline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106200814/https://deadline.com/2021/01/spamalot-paramount-pictures-movie-musical-eric-idle-casey-nicholaw-monty-python-and-the-holy-grail-1234665944/ |archive-date=2021-01-06 }} Two years later, Idle said that the film would not be happening.{{Cite tweet|author=Eric Idle|author link=Eric Idle|user=EricIdle|number=1630577631233212416|title=One of the best things about the Pythons killing the movie is that Spamalot the stage Show is coming back big time. I love it! See todays news! @TRWShows}}
Awards and nominations
Notes
{{Reflist}}
External links
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{{DramaDesk Choreography}}
{{DramaDesk MusicalDirection 2001–2025}}
{{HelpmannAward MusicalDirection}}
{{OlivierAward Choreographer 2001–2025}}
{{TonyAward Choreography}}
{{TonyAward MusicalDirection 2001-2025}}
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Category:American choreographers
Category:American theatre directors
Category:American musical theatre directors
Category:Laurence Olivier Award winners