Countdown To Catch Me If You Can – 4 Weeks To First Preview!

The World Premiere production of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN is now only 4 weeks away. Today we feature choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

Full of talent and energy, this small town Michiganite worked his way up from Broadway hoofer to Broadway and Hollywood choreographer and occasional television host.

Mitchell made his Broadway debut in 1980 as a dancer in a revival of Brigadoon. From there he danced in Will Roger’s Follies and On Your Toes before making his Broadway debut as choreographer for the 1999 revival of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

He went on to choreograph the Broadway productions of The Rocky Horror Show, The Full Monty, Hairspray, Gypsy (with Bernadette Peters), La Cage Aux Folles, Never Gonna Dance and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

He received TONY Award nominations for The Full Monty, Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and won in 2005 for his choreography of La Cage Aux Folles.

In 2007 Mitchell added director to his list of credits when he directed and choreographed the Broadway production of Legally Blonde (which will take our stage by storm later this season). Mitchell received his sixth TONY Award nomination for his Blonde choreography.

In a unique move Legally Blonde was televised in its entirety on MTV and then the search for a young actress to play the leading role of Elle Woods also became a hit series with Jerry as one of its stars. Mitchell also was the host of Bravo Television’s Step It Up and Dance dance contest reality series.

In addition to his work on Broadway you will also likely have seen his work in film and on television. He was nominated for an Emmy for his work on The Drew Carey Show and his choreography was a significant element in the success of the film Scent of A Woman.

“I had no idea that a dance in a film could resonate with so many people. And in such an amazing way,“ Mitchell said regarding the tango scene he choreographed for Al Pacino. “It really opened up my whole vision to what dance is capable of and how it’s capable of communicating.”



After Scent of A Woman, Mitchell went on to provide choreography for the films Drop Dead Gorgeous, Meet Joe Black, Jeffrey, Camp and In and Out.

And on top of his Broadway and film credits, Jerry finds time to help others. When asked about his most fulfilling project to date he always replies, “Broadway Bares.”

Started by Mitchell in 1992, Broadway Bares is an annual fundraising event that has raised millions for the organization Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This burlesque style one-night-only revue features hundreds of Broadway’s top dancers and stars.

“I did it from my heart, and with no expectations. That was a charity that I created out of scratch and it’s grown into this monster — a glorious, wonderful, spectacular monster.” The 19th annual Broadway Bares held just last week raised $808,819.

I had the pleasure of serving with Jerry on the Board of Trustees of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, the national labor union for professional directors and choreographers and I can attest that he is one smart cookie.

I am thrilled to have Jerry back at The 5th and reunited with so many of his Hairspray colleagues. Don’t miss this show!!!