Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell, who was born in Paw Paw, Michigan, used to be a choir boy.  His career in choreography started when he was hired as associate choreographer by legendary stage director Michael Bennet for the musical Scandal.  He was also associate choreographer to Jerome Robbins on Jerome Robbins' Broadway.

He performed as a dancer on Broadway shows The Will Rogers Follies, Brigadoon and On Your Toes.  In 1979, he was cast member for the national tour of the critical hit and Tony Award winning play A Chorus Line.  Two years after, he became sole chorographer for the You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown revival.  In 2001, his choreography on The Full Monty earned him Tony, Drama Desk and Astaire Award nominations.  His choreography on Hairspray also received the same nominations plus one more nomination from the Outer Critics Circle Awards.

In 2005, he took home a Tony, a Drama Desk and an Outer Circle Award for his outstanding choreography on La Cage aux Folles.  He was also Drama Desk nominated for his choreography and directorial job on the musical Legally Blonde.  Among his body of works are the chorography on the revival of Gypsy, The Rocky Horror Show, Jekyll and Hyde and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to name a few.

Mitchell is also a fight chorographer.  He choreographed the fight scenes on plays Lips Together, Teeth Apart, The Years and Three Men and a Horse.  He conceptualized and directed Broadway Bares, an annual benefit comedy show that raises money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.  His film works include In and Out, Camp, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Scent of a Woman.  He was also Emmy nominated for his work on The Drew Carey Show.

Jerry Mitchell currently appears as a judge on Bravo's reality TV talent search Step it Up and Dance, where twelve dancers compete against each other in a series of tests including auditions for music videos and Las Vegas stage shows.  At the end of the show, the winner will receive a $100,000 grand prize.


(Photo courtesy of Bravo)