Rommy Sandhu
Rommy Sandhu is... (description)
References
External links
| Rommy Sandhu | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| 💼 Occupation |
|
| 📆 Years active | 1989–present |
| 🌐 Website | www |
Rommy Sandhu is an American director, choreographer, actor, and educator based in New York City. He has served as associate director, choreographer, and dance captain to Kathleen Marshall, Susan Stroman, Scott Ellis, and Matthew Bourne.[1] He is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), Actors' Equity Association (AEA), and SAG-AFTRA, and serves on the musical theater faculty at Marymount Manhattan College.
Early life
Sandhu was raised in Northern California. From 1989 to 1990, he served as the first California State Ambassador for Youth Focus, Inc., a scholarship and community service program representing state fairs and festivals. In this capacity, he traveled to events including the California State Fair, the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, and the Tulelake Horseradish Festival to promote California agriculture..[2]
Before moving to New York City, Sandhu trained in various dance styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, adagio, musical comedy, and hip-hop. His instructors included Alice Faye Myers, Doug Caldwell, Finis Jhung, and Chet Walker. He also studied acting under Betty Gardner, Jeff Bengford, Jim Callner, and Jeff Risk, and received vocal training from Fran Minarik, Jim Bedford, and Richard Wall.
Career
Associate director and choreographer
Sandhu's associate credits include:
- The Unsinkable Molly Brown (revival, Transport Group / Abrons Arts Center, New York) – associate director/choreographer to Kathleen Marshall, starring Beth Malone.[3][4] Outer Critics Circle nominated for Best Revival of a Musical (2020).
- Little Shop of Horrors (New York City Center Off Center) – associate director to Dick Scanlan, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Ellen Greene, and Taran Killam.
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Broadway, Minskoff Theatre) – associate choreographer to David Marquez (choreographer), directed by Scott Ellis, starring Linda Purl and John Dossett.[1] Tony Award nominated (2001).
- Bells Are Ringing (City Center Encores!) – associate choreographer to Kathleen Marshall, starring Kelli O'Hara and Will Chase.
- Applause (City Center Encores!) – associate choreographer to Kathleen Marshall, starring Christine Ebersole.
- The Unsinkable Molly Brown (regional) – associate director/choreographer under Kathleen Marshall at The Muny and the Denver Center Theatre Company.
- Diner – The Musical (Delaware Theater Company) – associate director/choreographer, directed by Kathleen Marshall; based on Barry Levinson's Diner, with music by Sheryl Crow.[5][6]
- Cockeyed Optimist (Lyrics and Lyricists, 92nd Street Y, New York) – associate director/choreographer to Dick Scanlan (director) and Richard Stafford (choreographer).
Directing and choreography
Sandhu choreographed the 2012 UnsungMusicalsCo. revival of the revue Make Mine Manhattan at the Connelly Theater, which The New York Times reviewed favorably for its period style.[7] He served as the choreographer for Drury Lane Theatre's production of Fiddler on the Roof.[8] In 2018, His choreography for Singin' in the Rain at The Muny earned a St. Louis Critics' Circle nomination for Outstanding Choreography.[9][10]
Selected New York City directing/choreography credits
| Production | Venue / details |
|---|---|
| Make Mine Manhattan | Connelly Theater (Off-Broadway) |
| How Now, Dow Jones | Minetta Lane / NY Fringe Festival |
| Platinum | Lucille Lortel Theatre |
| Christmas Eve with Christmas Eve | BC/EFA benefit, starring Ann Harada |
| Indictment at Bedford Station | Clurman Theatre (director) |
| Peace, Love and Cupcakes | Off-Broadway, Acorn Theater (NYMF) |
| Gypsy of the Year opening number | New Amsterdam Theatre, BC/EFA |
| Grease 40th anniversary OBC reunion | New Amsterdam Theatre, BC/EFA |
| Easter Bonnet opening number | Minskoff Theatre, BC/EFA |
| She Loves Me | Manhattan School of Music |
| At Home Abroad | Symphony Space (with Noah Racey) |
| Changing the Stats: Asian Americans on Broadway | Symphony Space (producer: Christine Toy Johnson[11]) |
| DanceBreak | Alvin Ailey Dance Center |
| Every Kind of Light: The Love & Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman | Lyrics and Lyricists, 92nd Street Y, New York – choreography (dir. Dick Scanlan; 2026)[12] |
Selected regional directing/choreography credits
| Production | Venue / role |
|---|---|
| Mamma Mia! | New London Barn Playhouse, NH – director/choreographer |
| Ragtime | JC Adams Playhouse – director/choreographer |
| Singin' in the Rain | The Wick Theatre, FL – director/choreographer |
| Mary Poppins | Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre, ID – co-director/choreographer |
| Sister Act | Tuacahn Center for the Performing Arts – co-director/choreographer |
| Fiddler on the Roof | Drury Lane Theatre – director/choreographer |
| Singin' in the Rain | The Muny – choreographer (dir. Marc Bruni) |
| Elf, The Musical | Pioneer Theatre Company – choreographer (dir. Alan Muraoka) |
| How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | Maltz Jupiter Theatre – choreographer[13] |
| Hunchback of Notre Dame | Tuacahn Arts – choreographer |
| Mary Poppins | Tuacahn Center – choreographer (in the style of Mear/Bourne) |
| A Funny Thing Happened... Forum | Geva Center – choreographer |
| The Wizard of Oz | Tuacahn Arts – choreographer |
| Dazzle Awards | Cleveland Playhouse Square, OH – director/choreographer (2017–2021) |
His work has featured performers including Corbin Bleu (Singin' in the Rain, The Muny), Ann Harada (Christmas Eve with Christmas Eve), Cady Huffman (BC/EFA), Laura Michelle Kelly (54 Below), and Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz (Two-Hander).
Performing career
Sandhu has appeared in 11 Broadway productions.[1]
Broadway credits
| Production | Role / notes |
|---|---|
| Mary Poppins | Dance captain / swing (original cast; dir. Richard Eyre / chor. Matthew Bourne & Stephen Mear); received the Legacy Robe[14] |
| Bombay Dreams | Ensemble – Qawwali/lament cover; fight captain (original cast); received the Legacy Robe[15] |
| Oklahoma! (2002 revival) | Dance captain, fight captain; Ali Hakim understudy (dir. Trevor Nunn / chor. Susan Stroman) |
| Annie Get Your Gun | Tommy Keeler understudy & performed (with Bernadette Peters and Reba McEntire; chor. Graciela Daniele) |
| On the Town (1998 revival) | Ensemble (dir. George C. Wolfe) |
| The Life | JoJo understudy (dir. Michael Blakemore) |
| A Christmas Carol | Dance captain; Ghost of Christmas Past understudy & performed (dir. Mike Ockrent / chor. Susan Stroman) |
| Zorba the Greek | General, featured (City Center Encores!) |
| Children and Art: Sondheim 75 | Ensemble (benefit, New Amsterdam Theatre) |
| Sweet Charity in Concert | Ensemble (with Gwen Verdon, Lincoln Center) |
National tour credits
| Production | Role / notes |
|---|---|
| Kiss Me, Kate | Dance captain; Paul & Hortensio understudy (first national tour; dir. Michael Blakemore / chor. Kathleen Marshall) |
| Carousel | Mr. Snow understudy & performed (Royal National Theatre tour; dir. Nicholas Hytner) |
Sandhu's credits as a regional theater director and choreographer include Singing In the Rain at The Muny, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre,[16] Elf The Musical at the Pioneer Theatre Company,[17] and The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Tuacahn Center for the Arts.[18]
As a performer, his early career included the national tours of Dreamgirls (with Jennifer Holliday), and Evita.[19]. He also performed in productions at venues such as the San Jose CLO, Ogunquit Playhouse, Theatre Under the Stars, and Maine State Music Theatre [19]
Television and film
| Project | Role / network |
|---|---|
| Unaccustomed Earth (Ep. 4) | Dancing uncle – Netflix |
| Smash (season 1, ep. 12) | Bollywood waiter – NBC |
| 61st Tony Awards | Performer (cast of Mary Poppins) – CBS |
| 56th Tony Awards | Performer (cast of Oklahoma!) – CBS |
| Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade | Performer (Mary Poppins 2006, Bombay Dreams 2004, Oklahoma! 2002, Annie Get Your Gun 2000) – NBC |
| Salute to Oscar Hammerstein II | Performer – PBS Great Performances |
| NCAA March Madness | Performer – CBS Sports |
| Guiding Light | Actor – CBS |
| The Today Show | Performer |
| Live! with Regis and Kelly | Performer |
| The View | Performer |
Recognition and awards
Sandhu was selected as a DanceBreak Foundation "Choreographer to Watch," presented at the Alvin Ailey Theatre in New York City.
- 2020 – Outer Critics Circle nominee, Best Revival of a Musical: The Unsinkable Molly Brown (as associate director and choreographer)
- 2019 – St. Louis Critics' Circle Best Choreography nominee: Singin' in the Rain at The Muny[9][10]
- 2007 – Original dance captain of Tony-nominated Best Musical and Best Choreography: Mary Poppins
- 2002 – Original dance captain and fight captain of Tony-nominated Best Direction, Choreography, and Revival of a Musical: Oklahoma!
- 2001 – Associate choreographer of Tony-nominated The Adventures of Tom Sawyer[1]
- 1998 – Replacement cast member, Tony Award-winning Best Revival: Annie Get Your Gun
- 1997 – Replacement cast member, Tony Award-winning musical: The Life
- 1989–90 – California State Ambassador, Youth Focus, Inc.[2]
Education and teaching
Higher education (current and past faculty)
| Institution | Role / notes |
|---|---|
| Marymount Manhattan College, New York, NY | Adjunct instructor – musical theater/choreography (2004–present); co-instructor, ensemble performance class (2023–present) |
| NYU CAP21 Program, New York, NY | Adjunct professor – musical theater, jazz, tap (2004–2012) |
| Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY | Guest lecturer – musical theater (2021–22) |
| Belmont University, Nashville, TN | Guest lecturer – musical theater (2019, 2025) |
| University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI | Guest lecturer – ballet, jazz, tap (2012) |
| Syracuse University, Department of Drama, Syracuse, NY | Guest lecturer – musical theater tap (fall 2016) |
| University of Washington, Seattle, WA | Guest lecturer – musical theater (2018) |
| Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama | New student recruitment / pre-screening (2020, 2026) |
Dance and performing arts education
Sandhu was a guest faculty member at Broadway Dance Center in New York City (1996–2018) and has served as an adjudicator and master class teacher for ONSTAGE New York (2018–present), working with performers aged 8–18.
He has led workshops for the Musical Theatre Lab at Vineyard Arts Project (Martha's Vineyard, 2019, 2021), NYCDA Winter/Summer Intensive (2010, 2018, 2019), Lachey Arts (Cincinnati, OH, 2017–22), Union County Vocational Theater Department (Scotch Plains, NJ, 2018–present), Class Act Performing Arts (South Orange, NJ, 2013–2016), LaGuardia High School (New York, 2005), and other performing arts schools between 1996 and 2020.
Public service and advocacy
Before his theater career, Sandhu served as California's first State Ambassador for Youth Focus, Inc.[2] (1989–90), traveling the state—including the California State Fair, the Indio Date Festival, and the Horseradish Festival in Tule Lake—to promote farming's role in California's ecology and economy.
Sandhu has supported Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) since 1995, participating in the Red Bucket Follies (formerly Gypsy of the Year), the Easter Bonnet Competition, and Broadway Bares.
In 2020, he established and led a forum at Marymount Manhattan College for BIPOC faculty and students, and took part in a livestreamed panel discussion, Theatrical Dance and Equity, hosted by Chapman University's Musco Center and College of Performing Arts on inclusion and equity in musical theater.[20] He has served on showcase advisement panels for graduating seniors at Marymount Manhattan College since 2016.
Professional memberships
- Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)
- Actors' Equity Association (AEA)
- SAG-AFTRA
- DanceBreak Foundation – Choreographer to Watch (2006)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Rommy Sandhu (Choreographer)". Playbill Vault.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Youth Focus, Inc". LinkedIn.
- ↑ "Beth Malone and associate director/choreographer Rommy Sandhu". Getty Images.
- ↑ "Associate director/choreographer Rommy Sandhu and music director". Getty Images.
- ↑ "Exclusive: Latest Incarnation of Sheryl Crow Musical Diner Will Star Derek Klena, Matthew James Thomas and Noah Weisberg". Playbill. November 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Diner". Delaware Theatre Company.
- ↑ Rampell, Catherine (March 7, 2012). "Make Mine Manhattan Revival at Connelly Theater". The New York Times.
- ↑ Jones, Chris (February 5, 2024). "Review: Drury Lane's Fiddler on the Roof — Both Timeless and Brand New". Chicago Tribune.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Singin' in the Rain is Joyful Sound at The Muny". Ladue News. July 2018.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Review Roundup: The Muny's Singin' in the Rain Starring Corbin Bleu". BroadwayWorld. June 29, 2018.
- ↑ Christine Toy Johnson official website, www.christinetoyjohnson.com.
- ↑ Cohen, Alix (June 8, 2026). "Every Kind of Light: The Love & Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman". Theater Pizzazz.
- ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (February 24, 2020). "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is Currently On Stage at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre". BroadwayWorld.
- ↑ McBride, Walter (November 19, 2006). "Photo Coverage: Mary Poppins Gypsy Robe Ceremony". BroadwayWorld.
- ↑ "Rommy Sandhu (Gypsy Winner for Bombay Dreams) Gets the Robe from Merwin Foard". BroadwayWorld. April 29, 2004.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedmaltz - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedpioneer - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedtuacahn - ↑ 19.0 19.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbio - ↑ "Theatrical Dance and Equity". Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University. September 24, 2020.
External links
- Official website
- Rommy Sandhu at the Internet Broadway Database
- Rommy Sandhu at the Playbill Vault
- Rommy Sandhu at IMDb
- Rommy Sandhu at BroadwayWorld
Category:Living people
Category:American choreographers
Category:American theatre directors
Category:American male actors
Category:Dance captains
Category:Marymount Manhattan College faculty
This article "Rommy Sandhu" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Rommy Sandhu. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
