musical adaptation of The Great Gatsby which
premiered in Tokyo, Japan before a Japanese
national tour. Next in development, Bruce.
ROBERT TAYLOR (Book and Lyrics) began
writing poetry and lyrics around the same time
he picked up the violin at age 8. His love of
music, languages, literature and nature has led
him to a lifetime of study and travel. A graduate
of Holland’s Royal Conservatory, Union
College, the University of Bonn and Princeton
University, he has taught foreign languages
and ornithology in New York, English and music
in China; served as music critic to the Albany
Times Union; worked as a freelance musician
and writer in Manhattan, a translator in Europe
and Asia; and has lectured extensively on
opera, literature and art history. Mr. Taylor is the
co-lyricist/librettist with Richard Oberacker of
several new musicals, including Ace (National
Alliance for Musical Theater New Works Festival,
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Cincinnati
Playhouse in the Park, The Old Globe, Signature
Theatre), Journey to the West (New York
Musical Theater Festival), The Parenting Project
(Cincinnati Fringe Festival, Ensemble Theatre of
Cincinnati) and The Sandman (NAMT Festival
of New Works, Fredericia Theatre in Denmark),
their Tony Award-winning musical Bandstand,
which premiered on Broadway at the Bernard
B. Jacobs Theatre in April of 2017, and their
newest project, Bruce. A principal player with
the New York Chamber Soloists Ensemble and
the Mozart Orchestra of New York, Mr. Taylor is
a member of the Dramatist’s Guild, and leads
birding and nature tours around the world for
the Audubon Society.
ANDY BLANKENBUEHLER (Original Director/
Choreographer) is a three-time Tony Awardwinner
for his choreography in the Broadway
productions of Bandstand, In the Heights and
Hamilton, for which he also received London’s
Olivier Award. The recent production of
Bandstand (director/choreographer) also
received the Drama Desk and Chita Rivera
Award for Best Choreography. Other Broadway
credits include Bring It On, 9 to 5, The People
in the Picture, The Apple Tree, Annie and
the recent revival of Cats. Upcoming theater
projects include the new musical Only Gold
with British singer/songwriter Kate Nash and
the musical Five Points. On television, Mr.
Blankenbuehler’s work has been seen most
recently on the Emmy Award-winning FX series
“Fosse/Verdon” and his choreography will be
seen in the upcoming Universal Studios film of
the musical Cats. Andy is very proud to have
made his concert debut earlier this year with
a piece entitled “Remember Our Song” for
the Tulsa Ballet Company. As a performer, Mr.
Blankenbuehler has danced on Broadway in
Fosse, Contact, Man of La Mancha, Saturday
Night Fever, Steel Pier, Big and Guys and
Dolls. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr.
Blankenbuehler resides in New York City, with
his wife Elly and two children, Luca and Sofia.
Mr. Blankenbuehler is a recipient of a special
2015 Drama Desk Award for his achievement
in the theater. Mr. Blankenbuehler received the
2018 Kennedy Center Honors for his work on
the musical Hamilton.
GINA RATTAN (Tour Director). Broadway
credits include Angels in America, Matilda The
Musical, Soul Doctor, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s
Cinderella, Billy Elliot. Live TV musicals: “Peter
Pan,” “The Sound of Music” (Live on NBC).
Regional credits include ART, Old Globe,
Guthrie Theater, Lone Tree Arts Center, Theater
Raleigh, Theater Workshop of Nantucket.
Currently director of Camp American Girl and
R&H’s Cinderella nat’l tour and new musicals in
development. Champion of the work, thoughts
and rights of women and girls.
MARC HEITZMAN (Restager Choreographer
and Additional Choreography) is honored
to be restaging Andy Blankenbuehler’s Tony
Award-winning choreography after being
a collaborator and dance captain for the
Broadway production. Broadway: Bandstand
(Dance Captain), Cats (Plato/ Macavity). Off-
Broadway: Standard Time, NY City Center
Encores! High Button Shoes. Some other
favorite credits include the national tour of
Movin’ Out (Eddie), international tour of Man in
the Mirror (Dance Captain), Wexford Ireland’s
Opera Festival, NY Fashion Week and Mark
Stuart Dance Theatre’s When Change Comes.
Marc has also directed and supervised for
Norwegian Cruise Line as well as collaborated
on many shows and films. As always, this show
is dedicated to all the veterans, especially my
grandfathers. Instagram: @cramheitzman.
FRED LASSEN (Music Supervisor) is a
seasoned Broadway conductor, music director
and arranger. Broadway productions he has
conducted or supervised include Prince of
Broadway, Bandstand, Mean Girls, King
Kong, Finding Neverland, Once, Porgy and
Bess, South Pacific, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,
Spamalot, Cabaret, 42nd Street, Once Upon
a Mattress. Off-Broadway/regional: The Sting
(Paper Mill Playhouse, w/Harry Connick, Jr.), The
Threepenny Opera (Atlantic Theatre, dir. Martha
Clarke), Zorro (Alliance Theatre), Dangerous
Beauty (Pasadena Playhouse. International:
Prince of Broadway (Tokyo/Osaka), 4Stars,
(Tokyo/Osaka), Maury Yeston’s Peony
Pavilion (Beijing), Cabaret (Folies Bergère,