Emily Hardesty

Broadway Dance Rep

Susan Stroman

Susan Stroman was born on October 17, 1954 in Wilmington, Delaware. She began

studying dance at the age of five. She would later become a Tony winning director and

choreographer, but Susan grew up watching Fred Astaire, cultivating a love of music, and

choreographing for local community theatres. In 1977, after receiving a theatre degree from the

University of Delaware, she moved to New York City to pursue her career as a professional

dancer.

When Stroman got to the city, her first professional appearance in Goodspeed Opera

House’s production of Hit the Deck. In 1979, she gained her first Broadway credit in the

ensemble of the musical Whoopee!. Soon, Susan decided that she wanted to be behind the scenes

instead of on stage, so she began gaining credentials in positions like assistant director, assistant

choreographer, and dance captain. In 1987, she collaborated with colleague Scott Ellis on an Off-

Broadway revival of Flora, the Red Menace. The production became a cult sensation and led to

the pair getting hired for jobs such as New York City Opera’s version of Mozart’s Don Giovanni

in 1989 and Kander and Ebb’s revue And the World Goes ‘Round in 1991. Susan Stroman won

her first Outer Critics Circle Award for her choreography for the Kander and Ebb production.

As time went on, Stroman’s work continues to garner her notoriety. In 1992, she

choreographer George and Ira Gershwin’s ever popular Crazy for You. The musical was a

Broadway hit and won Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle awards. She was also

acclaimed for her work on Show Boat in 1994, the London revival of Oklahoma! in 1998, and a

revival of The Music Man in 2000. Stroman developed a musical “dance play” with John

Weidman called Contact. The production consisted of three separate stores told almost entirely

through dance and ran on Broadway from 1999 to 2002.

 Emily Hardesty
Broadway Dance Rep
Susan Stroman

Susan Stroman did not only find success in the world of musical theatre. She

choreographed for the professional dance world as well. Some of these credits include But Not

For Me for the Martha Graham Dance Company, and Blossom Got Kissed, The Blue Necklace,

and Makin’ Whoopee for the New York City Ballet. She also worked in the television and film

industry. Fun fact, she is a close friend of the Food Network’s Ina Garten, and has made multiple

appearances on her show Barefoot Contessa.

After Stroman’s husband, Crazy for You director Mike Ockrent, died in 1999, she took

over the directorship in addition to her position as choreographer. This opened the door for

Susan’s success as a director. She directed the film adaptation of The Producers in 2005. In the

position of dual director/choreographers, her credits are numerous. Most notable are Sondheim’s

The Frogs, Young Frankenstein, The Scottsboro Boys, Big Fish, and Bullets Over Broadway.

Recently, she collaborated with Hal Prince as co-director on Prince of Broadway.

Though her career is not yet over, Susan Stroman has a wealth of awards to her name.

Along with countless nominations, Stroman has both Drama Desk and Tony awards for

choreography and direction as well as international awards for her work.