FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 12,2007

Tony award winning choreographer and Webster University alumnus Jerry Mitchell Presents Masters Classes to Conservatory Students

Photo by Claudia Burris

Tony-award winning choreographer and Webster University alumnus Jerry Mitchell presented a series of classes to the an excited group of Webster Conservatory students on Nov. 7-9. The classes included a production forum, auditioning, a musical theatre styles dance class, composition classes and his observations and thoughts about directing in the commercial theatre.

Mitchell directed and choreographed "Legally Blonde," currently running on Broadway and consistently sold out. He's working on a new reality show on Bravo, which he will host, called STEP IT UP, in which dancers face new challenges. His few future projects include developing two new shows for Broadway.

In 2005, Mitchell was given an Honorary Doctorate from Webster University. That same year he won a 2005 Tony Award for his choreography of "La Cage Aux Folles."   Mitchell has received a number of award nominations including Drama Desk, Astaire Award, Outer Critics Circle, an Emmy nomination for his work on "The Drew Carey Show." He has previously been nominated for Tony awards for "Hairspray," "The Full Monty," and "Never Gonna Dance." His film work includes "In & Out," "Drop Dead Gorgeous" and "Scent of a Woman." Mitchell also directs, conceives and choreographs "Broadway Bares," an annually-produced benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Mitchell lives in New York City.