{{short description|American comedian, director, and actor}} {{For|the comedy actor|Andy Samberg}} '''Andy Sandberg''' is an American director, writer, actor, and producer. A 2005 graduate of Yale College, his Off-Broadway directing credits include ''Straight, Application Pending'' (also author), ''Shida, Craving for Travel'' (also author)'', Operation Epsilon'', and ''The Last Smoker in America''. He is also known as a producer of the Broadway (2009) and West End (2010) revivals of the musical ''Hair'' (2009 Tony Award).

==Early life and education== Sandberg began acting in school productions as a child.<ref name="Yale1" /> He graduated from the Browning School in 2001 and Yale College in 2005 with a B.A. in English (Writing Concentration) and Theater Studies. While at Yale, Sandberg performed with and served as the business manager for the Whiffenpoofs<ref>[http://www.whiffenpoofs.com/store/dragonfish-2005.html ''Dragonfish'' (2005)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009034232/http://www.whiffenpoofs.com/store/dragonfish-2005.html |date=2011-10-09 }}. Whiffenpoofs.com, accessed May 9, 2011</ref> and the Yale Alley Cats.<ref name="PlaybillBio" /> At Yale, he performed in and/or directed over 30 productions including ''Side Show, Parade, The Laramie Project, Songs for a New World, The Last Five Years'' and ''The Goat or Who is Sylvia?''{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

==Career== ===Director and writer=== He directed the Off-Broadway show ''Straight,'' which was named a Critics’ Pick by ''The New York Times'', which wrote that the production was “directed with polished finesse by Andy Sandberg.”

He directed the critically acclaimed ''Application Pending'', a comedy about kindergarten admissions that he co-wrote with Greg Edwards (Westside Theatre; BroadwayWorld Award – Best Off-Broadway Play; Drama Desk Nomination – Outstanding Solo Show).

He also directed the world premieres of ''Craving for Travel'', which he also wrote with Edwards (Peter J. Sharp Theater @ Playwrights Horizons); ''Shida'', a musical by Jeannette Bayardelle (Ars Nova; four AUDELCO Award Nominations, including Best Director and Best Musical; also at the American Repertory Theater in 2014; LA premiere in 2015); ''The Last Smoker in America'', an original musical by Tony nominee Bill Russell and Drama Desk nominee Peter Melnick (Westside Theatre); and Alan Brody’s ''Operation Epsilon'' (Four IRNE Awards, including Best Director, Best Play, and Best Ensemble; Three Elliot Norton Award Nominations).

Sandberg directed ''Bernice Bobs Her Mullet'' in 2007 (NYMF),<ref>[http://www.sheaasullivan.com/bernicebobsmullet.htm ''Bernice Bobs Her Mullet'' Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202025618/http://sheaasullivan.com/bernicebobsmullet.htm |date=2009-02-02 }}. Sheaasullivan.com, accessed May 9, 2011</ref> ''R.R.R.E.D.'' in 2009 (NYMF),<ref>[http://www.adampictures.com/rrred/Home.html ''R.R.R.E.D.'' Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110207125722/http://www.adampictures.com/rrred/Home.html |date=2011-02-07 }}. Adampictures.com, accessed May 9, 2011</ref> ''Zelda at the Oasis'' in 2012 (St. Luke's) and "Eli’s Comin’ to Broadway," a BC/EFA benefit hosted by Nathan Lane (Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center), as well as two Sing for Hope benefits, featuring Dick Cavett, Michael Cerveris, and Richard Kind.<ref name="Programme2011">Theatre programme, ''A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum'', Theatre at St. Clements, the Blue Hill Troupe, November 4, 2011</ref>

In 2007, Sandberg assisted Hal Prince on the Broadway production of ''LoveMusik'' (SDC Fellowship),<ref name="PlaybillBio">[http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/whoswho/biography/18251 Andy Sandberg biography]. Playbill.com, accessed May 9, 2011</ref> and he served as the Associate Director to Sheryl Kaller on Christopher Durang and Peter Melnick’s ''Adrift in Macao'' at Primary Stages.<ref name="BroadwayWorldPeople">[http://broadwayworld.com/people/Andy_Sandberg/ Andy Sandberg]. BroadwayWorld.com, accessed May 9, 2011</ref>

===Producer=== At age 25, Sandberg became the youngest producer in history to win a Tony Award.

He has worked on Broadway and in London's West End. He was a producer of the hit revival of ''Hair'' (2009 Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle Awards), the Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's ''The Best Man'', starring James Earl Jones, Angela Lansbury, Candice Bergen, Eric McCormack, and John Larroquette<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=491515|title=The official source for Broadway Information|author=The Broadway League|date=|publisher=IBDB|accessdate=2013-03-01}}</ref> (2012 Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle Nominations), and Will Eno's critically acclaimed play ''The Realistic Joneses,'' starring Toni Collette, Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts, and Marisa Tomei.

In the fall of 2009, Sandberg and Daryl Roth produced the New York premiere of ''Vigil'', starring Malcolm Gets and Helen Stenborg.<ref>[http://www.vigiltheplay.com/bios.html Bios for ''Vigil''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008223810/http://www.vigiltheplay.com/bios.html |date=2011-10-08 }}. Vigiltheplay, accessed May 9, 2011</ref> In the spring of 2010, Sandberg helped produce ''Paradise Found'', a new musical co-directed by Hal Prince and Susan Stroman, produced at London's Menier Chocolate Factory and starring Mandy Patinkin.<ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/139635-Prince-and-Stroman-Unveil-New-Musical-Paradise-Found-in-London-May-19 "Prince and Stroman Unveil New Musical ''Paradise Found'' in London May 19"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102201838/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/139635-Prince-and-Stroman-Unveil-New-Musical-Paradise-Found-in-London-May-19 |date=2011-11-02 }}. Playbill.com, May 19, 2010, accessed May 9, 2011</ref> Off-Broadway, he helped produce ''Love, Loss, and What I Wore'', by Nora and Delia Ephron (2010),<ref name="Yale1">Hull, Christina. [http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2011/jan/18/tony-award-winning-andy-sandberg-06-talks-theater/ "Tony award-winning Andy Sandberg ’06 talks theater"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226041447/http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2011/jan/18/tony-award-winning-andy-sandberg-06-talks-theater/ |date=2011-02-26 }}. ''Yale Daily News'', January 18, 2011</ref> and the lead producer of ''A Perfect Future'', a new play by David Hay (2011).<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/144183-Wilson-Milam-to-Direct-David-Hays-A-Perfect-Future-Off-Broadway-in-February-2011 "Wilson Milam to Direct David Hay's ''A Perfect Future'' Off-Broadway in February 2011"]. Playbill.com, October 21, 2010, accessed May 9, 2011</ref>

He served as the Executive Producer for the Off-Broadway revival of ''Pageant'' (2015 Drama Desk nomination).

In 2010, he directed and produced a Columbus, Ohio, production of ''The Last Smoker in America'', a new musical by Bill Russell and Peter Melnick,<ref>Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/143949-The-Last-Smoker-in-America-Will-Open-Off-Broadway-in-Spring-2011 "''The Last Smoker in America'' Will Open Off-Broadway in Spring 2011"]. Playbill.com, October 14, 2010, accessed May 9, 2011</ref> which subsequently opened in New York in the summer of 2012 under Sandberg's direction.<ref name="Programme2011" />

===Actor=== As an actor, Sandberg appeared as Jimmy opposite Lea Michele in the 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) production of ''Hot and Sweet''.<ref>[http://broadwayworld.com/article/Finneran_and_Michele_Star_in_NYMF_Musical_Hot_and_Sweet_20060829 "Finneran and Michele Star in NYMF Musical ''Hot and Sweet''"]. August 29, 2006, accessed May 9, 2011</ref> Other roles have included Huck in ''Big River,'' Sam in ''Fully Committed,'' and Joey in ''Scarlett Fever''. He has appeared in the films ''The Living'' and ''The Battle of Pussy Willow Creek''.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}}

==Awards and nominations== *''Hair'' (2009) – Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Drama League Award, Outer Critics Circle Award – Best Revival of a Musical *''The Best Man'' (2012) – Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle Nominations – Best Revival of a Play *''Operation Epsilon'' (2013) – IRNE Award – Best Director *''Shida'' (2013) – AUDELCO Award Nomination – Best Director *''Application Pending'' (2015) – Broadway World Award – Best Off-Broadway Play; Drama Desk Nomination – Outstanding Solo Show; Book Pipeline Competition Winner

== Other == Sandberg is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), Actors’ Equity Association (AEA) and the Off-Broadway League. He currently sits on the boards of the Yale Dramatic Association, the Whiffenpoof Alumni Association, and the Browning School (NY). He is President of the Browning Alumni Association and the Yale Alley Cats Alumni Organization.

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.andysandberg.com Official Site]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sandberg, Andy}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:People from New York (state) Category:American male actors Category:American theatre directors Category:American theatre managers and producers Category:Yale College alumni Category:Browning School alumni