Christopher Gattelli is an American choreographer, performer and theatre director.
Gattelli grew up inBristol, Pennsylvania. He started dancing at the age of 8 and is a "Star Search" grand champion.[1] As a performer, he appeared inHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (revival) and the role of Pouncival inCats.[2]
Christopher Gattelli is best known for his work on the 2012 Broadway musicalNewsies.
Gattelli has choreographed several special benefit concerts, includingChess (2003),Hair (also co-director, Actor's Fund, 2004),[3] andChance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser (also directed, Actors Fund, October 2009).[4]
His work as choreographer forBroadway includesMartin Short: Fame Becomes Me (2006),High Fidelity (2006),The Ritz (2007),Sunday in the Park with George (Revival, 2008),South Pacific (2008),13 (2008),Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010),Godspell (2011),Newsies (2012), and the 2015 revival ofThe King and I.[2]
HisOff-Broadway choreographic work includesAdrift in Macao (2007, also Philadelphia, PA 2005),How to Save the World and Find True Love in 90 Minutes (also director, 2006),I Love You Because (2006),Altar Boyz (2005),tick, tick...BOOM!,Dogfight, andBat Boy: The Musical (2001).[5] In regional theatre he is the choreographer forThe Baker's Wife (Paper Mill Playhouse,Millburn, New Jersey, 2005),Tom Jones (2004),tick, tick...BOOM! (2004, also London Fringe, 2005),Me and My Girl, andO. Henry's Lovers (Goodspeed Opera House, 2003). He directed Jim Henson'sEmmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas at TheGoodspeed Opera House, Connecticut in 2008, and choreographed Julie Andrews'The Great American Mousical there in 2012.[6][7] His production ofThe Jungle Book played the Goodman Theatre and Huntington Theatre Company in 2013. He is the director of the musical spoofSILENCE! The Musical, which ran in 2005 at NYCFringe and is scheduled to open in London in January 2010.[8] Other West End and London credits includeSouth Pacific andSunday in the Park with George.[9] He is in charge of musical staging forLittle Miss Sunshine.[10]
He collaborated withStephen Flaherty on the world premiere ofIn Your Arms, which he directed and choreographed for theNew York Stage and Film'sPowerhouse Theater at Vassar in 2014. He directed and choreographedIn Your Arms for a production at theOld Globe Theatre in September 2015.[9]
Gattelli directed and choreographed the Spring 2014 lab of RKO'sTop Hat in New York.[11] This was a new version of the 2011 stage version that ran in London and the UK, and was being worked on by Gatelli andChad Beguelin. The production "is still several seasons off", according to Gatelli in January 2017.[12]
His choreography can also be seen in the Coen brothers featureHail, Caesar![9]
He was the resident choreographer forThe Rosie O'Donnell Show.[13]
Gattelli choreographed the American musical comedy television seriesSchmigadoon! forApple TV+ in 2020 and 2023.[14]
He is openly gay.[15]
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Lucille Lortel Award | Best Choreography | Bat Boy: The Musical | Won |
| 2005 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Choreography | Altar Boyz | Won |
| Lucille Lortel Award | Best Choreography | Won | ||
| 2008 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | South Pacific | Nominated |
| 2012 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Best Choreography | Newsies | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Choreography | Won | ||
| Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Won | ||
| 2015 | The King and I | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | My Fair Lady | Nominated | ||
| SpongeBob SquarePants | Nominated | |||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Choreography | Nominated | ||
| 2025 | Drama League Awards[16] | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Death Becomes Her | Nominated |
| Outer Critics Circle Awards[17] | Outstanding Direction of a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Choreography | Nominated | |||
| Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Best Choreography | Nominated |
