Legally Blonde’s director wants transcontinental approach to theatre

Tony Award winning Director and Choreographer Jerry Mitchell, has announced a partnership with the Ambassador Theatre Group in order to develop, create and produce new productions for ATG theatres in London, New York and around the world.    The collaboration between Mitchell and ATG Theatre will be known as Jerry Mitchell Productions, and will see Mitchell take on a creative producer role as well as Director/Choreographer on selected productions.

The company will focus on a wide range of projects from new commissions to fresh, innovative versions of classic pieces across the globe.

“Jerry Mitchell Productions represents a unique, transcontinental approach to creating new theatrical productions, and we feel fortunate to have access to both Jerry’s immense talents as well as his extensive relationships in the creative community,” said Howard Panter, joint Chief Executive and Creative Director of the Ambassador Theatre Group.

“We’ve had a great experience working with Jerry, and look forward to exciting collaborations with him through this new partnership.”

Jerry Mitchell made his Broadway and West End directorial debuts with Legally Blonde (for which her also served as choreographer) and will be directing the Australian premiere production in Sydney, set to open in late 2012. He has also choreographed Catch Me If You Can, the Gypsy revival, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Hairspray, to name a few.

“This is great vehicle as a director to be able to develop new work,” enthused Mr. Mitchell, “but I’m also extremely excited to have the chance to bring in fellow artists, whom I love and admire, to develop their own work under this new creative umbrella.”

Will Australia benefit from the ‘transcontinental approach’ to developing new theatre? Once Mitchell spends some time working with the soon-to-be announced Australian cast of Legally Blonde, and with our reputation as the new ‘Off Off Broadway’, anything is possible.