Wayne Cilento
Second season: Choreographer of Tommy. Elsewhere: Wayne Cilento is one of the most acclaimed “triple threats” in the entertainment industry. Nominated for seven Tony Awards, he won his first for his breakthrough choreography for the historic Broadway production of The Who’s Tommy, for which he also received the Drama Desk Award and the coveted Fred Astaire Award. His work on the West End production also resulted in an Olivier Award nomination for Best Choreography. His other six Tony Award nominations are for his choreographic work on How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (starring Matthew Broderick), Dream: The Johnny Mercer Musical (which he also directed), the heralded 2004 revival of Sweet Charity, Baby, the current through-the-roof international hit Wicked and Bob Fosse’s Dancin (Best Featured Actor in a Musical). His Wicked work has also garnered several awards and award nominations in London, Germany, Australia, Japan, Korea and Holland. Mr. Cilento also choreographed Elton John’s Aida on Broadway, on tour and the European productions in Germany and Amsterdam as well as the iconic Broadway production of Jerry Herman’s Jerry’s Girls. Off-Broadway he directed and choreographed the sold-out hit A Hot Minute at the rock-’n’-roll mecca the Bottom Line. His concerts include Alicia Keys’s world tour and the critically revered Spirit, a contemporary Native American spectacle that was later filmed for an award-winning PBS special. In 2009 Mr. Cilento re-teamed with The Who’s Tommy director Des McAnuff on the circus version of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Stratford Festival. Their La Jolla Playhouse production had previously won Mr. Cilento the San Diego Drama Critics Award and Drama-Logue Award. As a performer he was a member of the original Broadway casts of A Chorus Line (in which he played Mike and introduced “I Can Do That”), The Act, Seesaw, Perfectly Frank, Irene, Big Deal and Rachel Lily Rosenblum. His choreographic career was launched by his universally praised work in over 100 national commercials, including high-profile spots for Visa, Joe Boxer, Dr. Pepper, Burger King, McDonalds, Kmart and Dairy Queen, and he recently finished production on the major motion picture A Winter’s Tale, starring Colin Farrell. He has also directed and choreographed major national and international concerts for Liza Minnelli, Barry Manilow, Chita Rivera, Billy Joel, Donna Summer, Pete Townshend, Alicia Keys and the Jonas Brothers.