Deanna Dys is a national award winning Choreographer and Director based in NYC and SW Florida
Nationally Deanna choreographed the acclaimed Pre-Broadway Regional Premiere of Disney’s Aladdin at Tuachan Center for the Arts, a prestigious 2000 seat outdoor ampitheatre in southern Utah. With approval from the Gershwin Estate Deanna choreographed and directed the National and International touring companies of the Tony Award Winning Musical Crazy For You which played throughout the US, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland. In NYC she choreographed the Drama Desk nominated Off Broadway revival of The Golden Land, the World Premiere of Alan Zweibel’s Pinecone Moment directed by Fred Berner, was the baton twirling choreographer for the Broadway production of Meet Me in St. Louis, and choreographed production numbers for Broadway’s Gypsy of the Year.
Regional stage theatrical directorial and/or choreographic credits include Elton John’s Aida, The Full Monty, Green Day’s American Idiot, The Music Man, Jesus Christ Superstar, Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, and for Opera The Magic Flute and Pirates of Penzance. Approved by the the Rodgers and Hammerstein Estate she choreographed the musical State Fair. She has directed and choreographed more Crazy For You’s than she can count including multiple productions at THE MUNY and Sacramento Music Circus.
Deanna was the associate choreographer for the Broadway Production of LoveMusik directed by Hal Prince, multiple companies of New York City Opera’s Candide, again directed by Mr. Prince, the World Premiere of Cy Coleman’s last musical The Great Ostrovsky, Funny Girl in Los Angeles starring Pia Zadora, and the world premiere of Orphan Train for the NY Musical Theatre Festival.
For film and television Deanna was honored to the choreographer for Season One of Paramount + Yellowstone’s “1923” and choreographed numerous episodes of HBO’s Emmy and Golden Globe winning series Boardwalk Empire, NBC’s Deception, One Life to Live, The Extra Man starring Kevin Kline, a series of commercials for the Boston Red Sox, Sox in the City ,an educational documentary produced by Zev Buffman entitled Teaching Without Borders, national commercials for Rooms To Go, and a music video for the grocery store PUBLIX. She was the associate choreographer for the films The Stepford Wives, Little Manhattan, the television shows Guiding Light, As The World Turns, Cashmere Mafia, Boardwalk Empire, and worked with her mentor, Patricia Birch of Grease fame, on the final dance scene for The First Wives Club. She recently produced and directed two award winning videos for the Florida Tourism Industry, Dancin’ in the Sand and Downtown Shuffle
Before becoming a director and choreographer Deanna was a Broadway performer. She got her start as being the youngest performer ever hired by legendary Broadway producer David Merrick for his song and dance extravaganza 42nd Street. She went on to appear on Broadway in Meet Me in St Louis (Bridget), Peter Allen’s famous flop, Legs Diamond (Hermione the Cigarette Girl), Crazy For You (Vera), Candide (Dance Captain), Band in Berlin (multi-media performer), Saturday Night Fever (Rosalie), and played opposite Reba McEntire as Dolly Tate in Annie Get Your Gun. National credits include Nickie in Sweet Charity starring Donna McKechnie, My One and Only (Edythe Herbert), Sugar Babies, Pal Joey (Valerie) starring Dixie Carter, Barnum at the Asolo Rep/Maltz Jupiter (The Baton Twirler), and CHICAGO (POP!) starring pop singer Debbie Gibson. For film and television she has had roles in Little Children, The Stepford Wives, The First Wives Club, Little Manhattan, Law and Order, One Life to Live, Guiding Light, and As The World Turns, She recently filmed a leading role in Dan Myrick’s (The Blair Witch Project) Southern Gothic anthology Black Veil as Young Bettina (Sally Kirkland as elder Bettina) filmed on location in SW Florida. She can be seen every now and then as an on air guest on the Home Shopping Network with a new and innovative product which sometimes includes jumping on a trampoline at 4 in the morning on live tv.
As an educator Deanna is a respected guest artist in dance and musical theatre and has taught at The University of California-Irvine, Camp Broadway, Maltz Jupiter Conservatory, the Patel Conservatory, and The Broadway Artists Intensive. She headed up summer musical theatre programs for Algonquin Arts, The Texas Arts Project, Broadway Bootcamp, and was the movement director for the Grammy Revolution Music Project. She teaches masterclasses and workshops throughout the US and Europe and was asked to hold workshops and lectures about being a dance captain and swing performer to the performers at Walt Disney World. She was recruited by the Drug Enforcement Administration to head up DEA Dance in Tampa which brought dance to underprivileged youth in the area.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
FILM / TELEVISION THEATRE
Regional Emmy Award (Best Non News Promotion-Boston) Drama Desk Nomination (The Golden Land)
Telly Award (Sox in the City-Nomar) Broadway World Regional Award (Best Choreography)
Clearwater Arts Alliance (Grand Prize WInning Short Film) Denver Post Nomination (Best Choreography)
St. Pete-Clearwater Film Commission’s (Grand Prize Award Winning Video) Colorado Theatre Guild Nominatin (Best Choregraphy)
Dallas Theatre League Nomination (Best Choreography)
Column Award Nomination (Best Choreography)
Theatre Tampa Bay Award (Outstanding Director)
Theatre Tampa Bay Nomination (Best Choreography)
