Robert Longbottom is a director, choreographer and director, primarily for theatre and opera. He made his Broadway debut as a director and choreographer with the original Broadway production of the Tony Award-nominated musical, Side Show in 1997. Other Broadway works include the reconceived revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and the 2009 revival of Bye Bye Birdie. He conceived, directed and choreographed the musical, Pageant in 1991 Off-Broadway. Other works include: Disney’s On The Record, Carnival!, The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular, Show Boat in concert at Carnegie Hall, Mister Roberts, and Hay Fever. He was the director and choreographer for the tour of Dreamgirls, which premiered at the Apollo Theater in 2009, prior to a US national tour.
We talked about the importance of entrepreneurship in this business as well as . . .
- How to make a transition from one career to another inside the Broadway biz (which isn’t always the most supportive of that kind of change).
- The origins of Side Show.
- How he convinced people to give him a shot . . . when they really shouldn’t have (according to him)
- The process of choreographing a great big, fat, opening number – what do you do first?
- Why things take so long to develop in 2018 and what we can do about it?
The Book of Merman is a diva-driven journey featuring original songs and show-stopping ballads. Check it out at: broadway.com/shows/book-merman
Keep up with me: @KenDavenportBway