Drew McOnie Q & A

Over the course of this half-term, we've welcomed a number of industry heavyweights delivering online masterclasses and Q & A sessions, not least Drew McOnie. The Hammond's Professional Diploma students had an exceptionally informative session with Drew and came away feeling motivated and inspired. We'd like to extend our thanks to Drew for taking the time to speak to our students and impart some industry wisdom in such strange times. And a thank you to Julie Williamson for organising!

Drew McOnie's Biography

Drew is the Artistic Director of The McOnie Company and a proud Associate Artist of London’s Old Vic theatre and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. He won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreography for In the Heights in 2016 and he was nominated for the same award in 2017 for the ground-breaking production of Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre.

Drew is currently under commission to create Merlin a full length narrative ballet for the Northern Ballet Theatre and will also be working on creating the choreography for the up coming reimagining of Carousel at Regents Park Open Air Theatre. Previous theatre credits as director/choreographer include: King Kong (The Broadway theatre, Broadway) Strictly Ballroom (Piccadilly Theatre, London’s West End/Toronto/West Yorkshire Playhouse); On the Town (Olivier Award Nomination for Best Musical Revival 2018 - Regent’s Park); The Wild Party (The Other Palace) and Torch Song (Turbine Theatre- London).

Theatre credits as a choreographer include: Jesus Christ Superstar (Olivier Award Nomination for Best Theatre Choreography 2017 - Regents Park/Barbican Theatre/US National Tour), In the Heights (Olivier Award Winner for Best Theatre Choreography, Winner of the Off West End Theatre Award for Best Choreography-Southwark Playhouse and Kings Cross Theatre), The Lorax (Old Vic), Hairspray (BroadwayWorld Award Winner for Best Choreography-UK Tour), Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith), Oklahoma! (National Tour), Kinky Boots (Malmo Opera), The Sound of Music (Curve Theatre Leicester), Chicago (Curve Theatre Leicester), West Side Story (NYMT), British Style (Collaboration with Matthew Bourne at Buckingham Palace- BBC), Laurel and Hardy (The Watermill), James and the Giant Peach (National Tour), 13 (West End), Tommy (European Tour), Spring Awakening (German Premier- Frankfurt), The Full Monty (German Premier,Frankfurt), Kes (Liverpool Playhouse & UK Tour).

For the McOnie Company: Jekyll and Hyde (BroadwayWorld Award Winner for Outstanding Achievement in Dance – Old Vic Theatre), DRUNK! (Curve Theatre Leicester/ The Bridewell Theatre London) which lead to him being nominated for the ‘Emerging Artist Award’ at the National Dance Awards, Making Midnight (Jermyn Street Theatre/ Latitude Festival) Slaughter (Audience Choice Award Winner- The Place Prize) and Be Mine! (Robin Howard Theatre).

Additional Ballets for the National Youth Ballet Company include: Monochrome Suite (Sadlers Wells), The Old Man Of Lochnagar (Sadlers Wells and Hackney Empire) Little Red Riding Hood (Wimbledon Theatre) To You (Sadlers Wells). Film credits include: Me Before You (Directed by Thea Sharrock) and Recordare: Days of Remembrance (pre-selected for the Cannes & Berlin Film Festival).

Twitter: @DrewMcOnie Instagram:@Drew_McOnie