My advice to the next generation of men and women applying for colleges is perhaps avoid the college that excels in your strength.
Mates blogger: Andrew Wright
Andrew Wright is one of over 45 theatre bloggers who are part of the MyTheatreMates collective. This page features Andrew's posts on MyTheatreMates. Take a look at our full list of theatre bloggers and our aggregated feed of all our Mates' posts. We’re always looking for new theatre bloggers. Could that be you? Learn about how to join us.
Andrew Wright is an award-winning choreographer, whose myriad credits from the West End, Chichester, Bath, Leicester and elsewhere, include: Mrs Henderson Presents, Guys and Dolls, Singin’ In The Rain, Barnum, 42nd Street, The Critic/The Real Inspector Hound, High Society, Wonderful Town, Betty Blue Eyes, Saturday Night Fever, A Little Night Music, Follies, Oliver!, The Showgirl Within, Almost Like Being In Love, Stepping Out, Once Upon A Time At The Adelphi, By Jeeves, I Sing and Soul Traders. He directed and choreographed Happy Days (National Tour), for which he was nominated for Best Director/Choreographer in the Broadway World Awards 2014. Andrew was educated at Millfield School (Old Millfieldian of the year 2015, Distinguished Old Millfieldian 2012) and trained with the NYMT and Arts Ed. He blogs at a-wright.com and tweets at @AndrewWright5.
The latest from Andrew on MyTheatreMates
What is this apparent obsession in the UK of shunning success?
A recent article questioning Richard E Grant’s near apocalyptic public display of happiness at his Oscar nomination got me thinking about the great Mark Bramble who the world sadly lost this week.
A year richer for working alongside talented children
I will remember 2018 for many things, primarily as the year of courage. No, not shown by me but by all the brilliant children I have worked with over the past year on Joseph and Nativity! The Musical among other projects.
Let’s stop comparing on social media & take Joseph’s advice to follow our dreams
It struck me a few weeks ago, when teaching a group of students, just how overly aware young people are now compared to the distant years of my youth.
’It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish’ – A helping of graduate advice
If it really is true that only one in 10 gets a job then why not make it your goal and mission to be that special one? If your heart, mind and manner is set on a successful career there is nothing to hold you back.
‘One of the world’s greatest dance makers’: The memory of Gillian Lynne will live forever
I haven’t felt the calling to scribble my thoughts down of late. However, the recent passing of one of the world’s greatest dance makers Gillian Lynne has moved to do just that.
Letting your ‘children’ go: The final Flash, Bang, Wallop!
When a show comes to an end – as Half A Sixpence did this weekend in the West End – it is often a challenging time.
What Joy: Remembering an inspirational dance teacher
Recently many of us mourned the passing of an inspiring dance teacher in Somerset by the name of Joy Tinney. Her christian named pretty much summed her and her teaching methods up perfectly. She encouraged students of all abilities to create, to strive to be better and most importantly to discover the Joy of dance….
At school with Five Guys Named Moe: A tribute to stagey parents
In the same rehearsal venue as us are the kids of School Of Rock – a show that is high on my list to see. Every morning at 10 and every evening at 6 you see the real heroes, no not the kids but the parents waiting for their loved ones.
Unrehearsed for life? Even the best actors make mistakes
I recently had a delightfully reminiscent few hours with an old hoofer chum about our dancing years. Ah, those glory days long before the bones started to creak, hair recedes and magazines landed on my doorstep for middle aged must-haves.
Meeting your idols (confession: mine is Cheryl Baker)
Whilst sipping my free coffee (thank you Waitrose), I got to thinking about my idols and how they inspired and motivated me and just what it feels like to actually meet one of them – though in my case not in a supermarket!
The Choreography A-Z
A – A is for the need of an honest Assistant who speaks the truth and that you can trust! When you find the right one never let them go!
Yes! Why not find one reason to try something instead of 20 reasons not to?
So many times when I am choreographing a show someone will challenge an idea, a dance step, a creative vision. Oh how I long for someone to just say: “Yes, I will happily give that a go”.
Make Room, I Gotta Dance
According to Jullian Marsh in 42nd Street “The most glorious words in the english language are Musical Comedy”. How head spinning, toe tapping, leg kicking right he is! London is practically sinking under the weight of dance shows at the moment and I for one couldn’t be happier.
The Joy Of The Theatre
There is a song in our new production of Half A Sixpence entitled “Joy Of The Theatre”. In most instances this is indeed true.
Setting sail with Moby Dick in an over-saturated Off-West End
The Off-West End market is an over-saturated one. Years ago it was an exception to see a full-scale musicalmounted on the fringe; today they are virtually on every London street corner!
Friendship, Just The Perfect Blendship!
The Brangelina break-up got me to thinking of a theatrical bust-up that I once witnessed. Where no love was lost and divorce was inevitable! I was part of a show where the leading lady fired three leading men in quick succession.
Back to my beginning: What I Did For Love
Last weekend I had the absolute joy of returning to where it all began. The alarmingly lanky, awkward yet determined young Andrew first got the taste for this beautiful business at the Strode Theatre in Street many decades ago. A wonderful hidden gem of a venue run by a brilliant women, Liz Leyshon.
All grown up? Sixpence’s transfer brought out the child in me
Even at this ripe old age theatre, still excites me like nothing else does. The child within is still very much alive and kicking.
Things not to say to a choreographer: “I liked the scenery”
once when my own father came to the press night of a rather challenging production I choreographed, his very first and only comment was that he liked the scenery! Ouch..
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