Congratulations to Alex Sanchez on his 7th Equity Jeff Award nomination for Best Choreography for the Marriott Theatre’s production of SOMETHING ROTTEN!
Sanchez’s previous Jeff Award nominations for Choreography include the Marriott Theatre’s productions of Sweet Charity (2019), Oklahoma! (2018), Newsies (2018) and On the Town (2015); the Goodman Theatre’s production of Wonderful Town (2017); and Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production of Follies (2011).
Click below to watch the awards ceremony.
In addition to Best Choreography, SOMETHING ROTTEN! received nominations in the categories of Best Musical or Revue (Large), Best Director for Scott Weinstein, Best Performer in a Supporting Role – Musicals for Ross Lehman (Nostradamus), Best Ensemble (Musical or Revue) and Costume Design – (Large) for Theresa Ham.
“Being born and raised in Chicago, this always makes the recognition of being nominated extra special,” said Sanchez. “I’m so proud of having worked at The Marriott, where I grew up watching shows as a kid. Working with an amazing cast, creative team and crew in such a special production, which was also nominated for Best Musical, was thrilling and truly a labor of love.”
Selected reviews for SOMETHING ROTTEN!
“This production, smartly directed by Scott Weinstein and choreographed within an inch of its life by the brilliant Alex Sanchez, is absolutely slap-happy and unstoppable. If the energy of this cast could be harnessed, these actor/singer/dancers could probably generate enough power to light up all of Lincolnshire. In other words, this impressive, brilliantly cast ensemble of triple-threats is astounding. Looking as if they’re having the time of their lives, these two-dozen generously gifted ensemble members unleash so much unbridled mirth and mayhem that theatergoers will wonder when they have time to breathe.
This Chicago area premiere is dynamically directed by that Chicago genius, Scott Weinstein. It’s energetically choreographed by one of Chicago’s finest, Alex Sanchez.”
Colin Douglas, Chicago Theatre Review
“And, the choreography by Alex Sanchez honors and spoofs so many shows and modern moves (we see you Fortnight) that everyone can connect with the moves.”
Mary Beth Euker, Northwest Herald
“Under the careful staging of Scott Weinstein and the extraordinary choreography by Alex Sanchez and with a cast that one might say is PERFECT, this should be on your “MUST SEE” list.
In particular the dance numbers. Alex Sanchez has taken this to a whole new level. If you like “tap” you will LOVE what he has created.” Alan Bresloff of Around the Town Chicago
Joined by Nick and the ensemble, he leads the group in the high kicking, high energy, show-stopping “A Musical.” Gloriously choreographed by Alex Sanchez with musical direction by Ryan t. Nelson, the number wonderfully mashes together more than a dozen hit musicals from “Annie” and “Seventy-Six Trombones” to “Cats” and “South Pacific.” Jodie Jacobs of Chicago Theater and Arts
“Weinstein and choreographer Alex Sanchez have also worked extensively with the ensemble to generate strong performances even within the dance sequences. The entire ensemble sparkles, but especially notable is Sawyer Smith, who makes the ensemble role of Robin, the member of Bottom’s company who plays all the female parts, into something comically memorable with perfect movements and facial expressions.
Something Rotten, with its clever send-ups of Shakespeare, history, and many of the notable conventions and iconic choreography of musical comedy, is simply one of the most joyful shows I know, and Marriott’s top-notch production makes it even better. If you love musical theatre and Shakespeare, you will love this show.” Karen Topham of Chicagoonstage.com
Alex Sanchez is a Puerto Rican, New York City based director/choreographer. He has directed and choreographed Sweet Charity, Newsies and Evita for The Marriott Theatre in Chicago. In The Mood (Bud Forrest Entertainment/national & international tour). As a Latin American he is thrilled to be directing On Your Feet for Riverside Theater of Vero Beach for their 2022 season and to get the opportunity to use his voice to tell this amazing Latin American Story. In New York he choreographed Roman Holiday, (Pre Broadway GFI productions). GIANT, The (The Public Theater, Lucille Lortel Nomination), Far From Heaven (Playwrights Horizon), Where’s Charley & Fiorella, (New York City Center Encores!), co-choreographed Red Eye of Love (Amas Musical Theater, Calloway Award co-winner with wife Lainie Sakakura).
He’s choreographed over 45 productions for some of the top theaters in the country, including: The Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House, The Goodman Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Dallas Theater Center. Alex performed in Ten Broadway shows and was a soloist dancer with Ballet Chicago.
Other nominations include a Connecticut Critic Circle Award as well as Dance Magazine’s “25 to watch”.
Website: Alexsanc.com
The Jeff Awards for the 52nd annual awards for theater excellence that include 142 theater artists across 30 artistic and technical categories, will be presented in an online program on Monday, November 9, 2020 at 7:00PM.
The traditional Equity season runs August 1st through July 31st however, this year, it ended March 13th due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of the 2019-2020 season, Jeff Awards members attended the openings of 78 productions. From these, 64 productions became “Jeff Recommended.” With two productions having runs so short (due to the pandemic shutdown), a total of 62 productions became eligible for 2020 award nominations.
This year, the work of 28 Equity theater companies is showcased with 37 productions receiving one or more nominations. Musicals led the nominations with An American in Paris (12) and Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies (8). Five productions tied with seven nominations including The Boys in the Band, Bug, Grey House, King Hedley II, and The Color Purple. Among theater companies, Drury Lane Productions captured the most nominations with 22, followed by Paramount Theatre (13), Porchlight Music Theatre, Court Theatre and Steppenwolf Theatre Company (all with 11), TimeLine Theatre (10), and eight nominations each for A Red Orchid Theatre, Windy City Playhouse and Writers Theatre.
The virtual awards ceremony will be presented on November 9th to recognize theater excellence over the past Equity season, announce recipients and honor the dedicated theater companies so significantly impacted during these challenging times. Details on accessing the free online program will be available in late October.
Click here for all the nominees.
An Afternoon of Pure Joy at Lainie Sakakura’s UWS DANCE
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman. She stars in and served as Executive Producer for the short independent films Hide and Seek, Balancing Act, Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Belongingness and When the World was Young. She is also the Executive Producer for The Cactus, The Language Lesson, The Writer and Cream and 2 Shugahs.
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