Jump to content

Draft:Rommy Sandhu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rommy Sandhu is... (description)

References

[edit]
[edit]


Rommy Sandhu
Occupations
  • Director
  • Choreographer
  • Actor
  • Educator
Years active1989–present
Websitewww.rommysandhu.com

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Associate director and choreographer

[edit]

Sandhu's associate credits include:

Directing and choreography

[edit]

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

ProductionVenue / details
Make Mine ManhattanConnelly Theater (Off-Broadway)
How Now, Dow JonesMinetta Lane / NY Fringe Festival
PlatinumLucille Lortel Theatre
Christmas Eve with Christmas EveBC/EFA benefit, starring Ann Harada
Indictment at Bedford StationClurman Theatre (director)
Peace, Love and CupcakesOff-Broadway, Acorn Theater (NYMF)
Gypsy of the Year opening numberNew Amsterdam Theatre, BC/EFA
Grease 40th anniversary OBC reunionNew Amsterdam Theatre, BC/EFA
Easter Bonnet opening numberMinskoff Theatre, BC/EFA
She Loves MeManhattan School of Music
At Home AbroadSymphony Space (with Noah Racey)
Changing the Stats: Asian Americans on BroadwaySymphony Space (producer: Christine Toy Johnson[11])
DanceBreakAlvin Ailey Dance Center
Every Kind of Light: The Love & Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn BergmanLyrics and Lyricists, 92nd Street Y, New York – choreography (dir. Dick Scanlan; 2026)[12]

Selected regional directing/choreography credits

ProductionVenue / role
Mamma Mia!New London Barn Playhouse, NH – director/choreographer
RagtimeJC Adams Playhouse – director/choreographer
Singin' in the RainThe Wick Theatre, FL – director/choreographer
Mary PoppinsCoeur d'Alene Summer Theatre, ID – co-director/choreographer
Sister ActTuacahn Center for the Performing Arts – co-director/choreographer
Fiddler on the RoofDrury Lane Theatre – director/choreographer
Singin' in the RainThe Muny – choreographer (dir. Marc Bruni)
Elf, The MusicalPioneer Theatre Company – choreographer (dir. Alan Muraoka)
How to Succeed in Business Without Really TryingMaltz Jupiter Theatre – choreographer[13]
Hunchback of Notre DameTuacahn Arts – choreographer
Mary PoppinsTuacahn Center – choreographer (in the style of Mear/Bourne)
A Funny Thing Happened... ForumGeva Center – choreographer
The Wizard of OzTuacahn Arts – choreographer
Dazzle AwardsCleveland 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

[edit]

Sandhu has appeared in 11 Broadway productions.[1]

Broadway credits

ProductionRole / notes
Mary PoppinsDance captain / swing (original cast; dir. Richard Eyre / chor. Matthew Bourne & Stephen Mear); received the Legacy Robe[14]
Bombay DreamsEnsemble – 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 GunTommy Keeler understudy & performed (with Bernadette Peters and Reba McEntire; chor. Graciela Daniele)
On the Town (1998 revival)Ensemble (dir. George C. Wolfe)
The LifeJoJo understudy (dir. Michael Blakemore)
A Christmas CarolDance captain; Ghost of Christmas Past understudy & performed (dir. Mike Ockrent / chor. Susan Stroman)
Zorba the GreekGeneral, featured (City Center Encores!)
Children and Art: Sondheim 75Ensemble (benefit, New Amsterdam Theatre)
Sweet Charity in ConcertEnsemble (with Gwen Verdon, Lincoln Center)

National tour credits

ProductionRole / notes
Kiss Me, KateDance captain; Paul & Hortensio understudy (first national tour; dir. Michael Blakemore / chor. Kathleen Marshall)
CarouselMr. 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

[edit]
ProjectRole / network
Unaccustomed Earth (Ep. 4)Dancing uncle – Netflix
Smash (season 1, ep. 12)Bollywood waiter – NBC
61st Tony AwardsPerformer (cast of Mary Poppins) – CBS
56th Tony AwardsPerformer (cast of Oklahoma!) – CBS
Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadePerformer (Mary Poppins 2006, Bombay Dreams 2004, Oklahoma! 2002, Annie Get Your Gun 2000) – NBC
Salute to Oscar Hammerstein IIPerformer – PBS Great Performances
NCAA March MadnessPerformer – CBS Sports
Guiding LightActor – CBS
The Today ShowPerformer
Live! with Regis and KellyPerformer
The ViewPerformer

Recognition and awards

[edit]

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

[edit]

Higher education (current and past faculty)

[edit]
InstitutionRole / notes
Marymount Manhattan College, New York, NYAdjunct instructor – musical theater/choreography (2004–present); co-instructor, ensemble performance class (2023–present)
NYU CAP21 Program, New York, NYAdjunct professor – musical theater, jazz, tap (2004–2012)
Manhattan School of Music, New York, NYGuest lecturer – musical theater (2021–22)
Belmont University, Nashville, TNGuest lecturer – musical theater (2019, 2025)
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIGuest lecturer – ballet, jazz, tap (2012)
Syracuse University, Department of Drama, Syracuse, NYGuest lecturer – musical theater tap (fall 2016)
University of Washington, Seattle, WAGuest lecturer – musical theater (2018)
Royal Welsh College of Music and DramaNew student recruitment / pre-screening (2020, 2026)

Dance and performing arts education

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 "Rommy Sandhu (Choreographer)". Playbill Vault.
  2. 1 2 3 "Youth Focus, Inc". LinkedIn.
  3. ↑ "Beth Malone and associate director/choreographer Rommy Sandhu". Getty Images.
  4. ↑ "Associate director/choreographer Rommy Sandhu and music director". Getty Images.
  5. ↑ "Exclusive: Latest Incarnation of Sheryl Crow Musical Diner Will Star Derek Klena, Matthew James Thomas and Noah Weisberg". Playbill. November 6, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Diner". Delaware Theatre Company.
  7. ↑ Rampell, Catherine (March 7, 2012). "Make Mine Manhattan Revival at Connelly Theater". The New York Times.
  8. ↑ Jones, Chris (February 5, 2024). "Review: Drury Lane's Fiddler on the Roof — Both Timeless and Brand New". Chicago Tribune.
  9. 1 2 "Singin' in the Rain is Joyful Sound at The Muny". Ladue News. July 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Review Roundup: The Muny's Singin' in the Rain Starring Corbin Bleu". BroadwayWorld. June 29, 2018.
  11. ↑ Christine Toy Johnson official website, www.christinetoyjohnson.com.
  12. ↑ Cohen, Alix (June 8, 2026). "Every Kind of Light: The Love & Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman". Theater Pizzazz.
  13. ↑ Rabinowitz, Chloe (February 24, 2020). "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is Currently On Stage at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre". BroadwayWorld.
  14. ↑ McBride, Walter (November 19, 2006). "Photo Coverage: Mary Poppins Gypsy Robe Ceremony". BroadwayWorld.
  15. ↑ "Rommy Sandhu (Gypsy Winner for Bombay Dreams) Gets the Robe from Merwin Foard". BroadwayWorld. April 29, 2004.
  16. ↑ Cite error: The named reference maltz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ↑ Cite error: The named reference pioneer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ↑ Cite error: The named reference tuacahn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. 1 2 Cite error: The named reference bio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ↑ "Theatrical Dance and Equity". Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University. September 24, 2020.
[edit]

Category:Living people Category:American choreographers Category:American theatre directors Category:American male actors Category:Dance captains Category:Marymount Manhattan College faculty