Scott Ellis is a stage director, actor, and television director. Before he became a director, Ellis was a successful stage actor; he performed on Broadway in the original casts of the 1980 original musical Musical Chairs and The Rink. He has been the Associate Artistic Director for the Roundabout Theatre since 1998. He has been nominated for the Tony Award as Best Director eight times: the revival of She Loves Me, Steel Pier, the revival of 1776, Twelve Angry Men, Curtains, the revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, the revival of You Can't Take It with You, and another revival of She Loves Me. He received the 1991 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Director of a Musical, for And The World Goes Round. He won the Olivier Award as Best Director, Musical, for She Loves Me. He was the executive producer for the television drama Weeds on Showtime, and has directed television episodes of Modern Family, Nurse Jackie, 30 Rock, and Frasier. He received an Emmy Award nomination in 2007 for directing the episode "The Break Up" of the comedy series 30 Rock.
Listen in and hear Scott tell all, including . . .
- How he got the courage (as a chorus boy!) to walk up to Kander and Ebb and ask to direct a revival of one of their shows . . . and what they said!
- Why he believes casting is 70% of a Director’s job.
- Why he loves to say, “I don’t know,” during rehearsals.
- What is in his will and how it can help YOU.
- The best lesson he ever learned about putting a show together.
Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway