{{Short description|American choreographer (born 1957)}} {{more footnotes|date=September 2017}} '''Robert Longbottom''' (born March 1957) is a New York City-based choreographer and director, primarily for theatre and opera.
== Early life == Longbottom was born and raised in Portland, Maine. He made his professional theatrical debut at age 8, appearing in the title role in ''Oliver!'' at the Brunswick Music Theater, now known as the Maine State Theater. He also played the roles of Winthrop in ''The Music Man'',<ref name=chicago>Christiansen, Richard. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-08-22-0008220042-story.html "Dancer Turned Director is One Step Ahead of the Pack"] ''Chicago Tribune'', August 22, 2000</ref> Patrick in ''Mame'', and Tom of Warwick in ''Camelot''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.robertlongbottom.net/biography/|title=Biography|website=Robert Longbottom|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-28}}</ref>
On Broadway, he appeared in the revival of ''Little Johnny Jones'' in 1982 as various characters.<ref> [http://www.playbill.com/production/little-johnny-jones-alvin-theatre-vault-0000000875 ''Little Johnny Jones''] playbill (vault), accessed July 31, 2019</ref> He appeared in the original companies of ''42nd Street Candy Co.'' and ''Me and My Girl'' (1986) as the stockbroker and in the ensemble.<ref> [http://www.playbill.com/production/me-and-my-girl-marquis-theatre-vault-0000008199 ''Me and My Girl''] playbill (vault), accessed July 31, 2019</ref> He understudied the role of Will Parker in the 1980 Agnes De Mille directed revival of ''Oklahoma!'' and played the role of Bobby in the European Company of ''A Chorus Line''.<ref name=":0" />
== Career == Longbottom made his Broadway debut as a director and choreographer with the original Broadway production of the Tony Award-nominated musical, ''Side Show'' in 1997.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/side-show-richard-rodgers-theatre-vault-0000003072 ''Side Show''] playbill (vault), accessed July 30, 2019</ref>
Longbottom directed and choreographed the reconceived revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ''Flower Drum Song'' on Broadway in 2002, with a new book by playwright David Henry Hwang following its premiere at The Mark Taper Forum, earning him a Tony Award nomination for his choreography, as well as Fred Astaire and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, among others.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/flower-drum-song-virginia-theatre-vault-0000005230 ''Flower Drum Song''] playbill (vault), accessed July 30, 2019</ref> Other Broadway work includes ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1997) at the Minskoff Theatre<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/the-scarlet-pimpernel-minskoff-theatre-vault-0000002333 ''The Scarlet Pimpernel''] playbill (vault), accessed July 30, 2019</ref> and ''Bye Bye Birdie'' (2009) for the Roundabout Theatre Company, starring John Stamos.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/production/bye-bye-birdie-henry-millers-theatre-vault-0000013042 ''Bye Bye Birdie''] playbill (vault), accessed July 30, 2019</ref>
He conceived, directed and choreographed the musical, ''Pageant'' in 1991 off-Broadway at the Blue Angel,<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/08/theater/theater-in-review-899491.html "Theater in Review"] ''The New York Times'', May 8, 1991</ref> which was nominated for four Outer Critics Circle Awards and a Drama Desk Award for Unique Experience.<ref>[http://iobdb.com/Production/1198 ''Pageant''] Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed July 30, 2019</ref>
Other work includes: Disney’s ''On The Record'', ''Carnival!'' for the Kennedy Center,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/casting-complete-for-kennedy-center-carnival-com-136222|title=Casting Complete for Kennedy Center Carnival {{!}} Playbill|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2018-09-28}}</ref> The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular,<ref name=chicago/> ''Show Boat'' in concert at Carnegie Hall (2008),<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/principal-casting-complete-for-carnegie-hall-show-boat-com-149884# "Principal Casting Complete for Carnegie Hall ''Show Boat''"] playbill, May 8, 2008</ref> ''Triangle'' at the Eugene O’Neill Center, ''South Pacific'' at The Muny, starring Howard Keel and ''Camelot'' at the Glimmerglass Festival, starring David Pittsinger and Nathan Gunn. Plays include Mister Roberts for the Kennedy Center and ''Hay Fever'' for the Old Globe. Longbottom staged a one night only benefit concert of ''Anything Goes'' for Lincoln Center Theatre, starring Patti LuPone, Howard McGillin and Boyd Gaines in 2002.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/perfect-blendship-anything-goes-concert-reunites-lupone-mcgillin-april-1-com-104783# "Perfect Blendship: ''Anything Goes'' Concert Reunites LuPone & McGillin, April 1"] playbill, April 1, 2001</ref> He directed and choreographed ''Broadway Cares / Equity Fights Aids'', as well as the three editions of ''The Easter Bonnet Competition''.
He participated in the National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival of New Musicals in 2008, directing ''Beatsville''.<ref>Hetrick, Adam. [http://www.playbill.com/article/wong-longbottom-bogardus-colella-and-lewis-will-take-part-in-namts-festival-of-new-musicals-com-153111# "Wong, Longbottom, Bogardus, Colella and Lewis Will Take Part in NAMT's Festival of New Musicals"] playbill, September 9, 2008</ref> He was the director and choreographer for the tour of ''Dreamgirls'', which premiered at the Apollo Theater in 2009, prior to a US national tour.<ref>Bacalzo, Dan. [https://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/dreamgirls-extends-nyc-run-at-the-apollo-through-d_22961.html " ''Dreamgirls'' Extends NYC Run at the Apollo Through December 12"] theatermania.com, November 17, 2009</ref> He was the director and choreographer of a production of ''La fille du régiment'' for the Washington National Opera in 2016.<ref>[http://www.kennedy-center.org/calendar/event/orosb "Washington National Opera: ''The Daughter of the Regiment''"] kennedy-center.org, accessed July 30, 2019</ref> He directed the concert production of ''Into The Woods'' at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in July 2019.<ref>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/BWW-Review-Broadway-Vets-Shine-in-Delightful-Star-Studded-INTO-THE-WOODS-at-the-Hollywood-Bowl-20190727 " ''Into the Woods'' at the Hollywood Bowl"] broadwayworld.com, July 27, 2019</ref>
Since 2005, Longbottom has devoted his time to mentoring high school students for Wendy Wasserstein’s "Open Doors" program (renamed the TDF Wendy Wasserstein Project in 2019).<ref>[https://www.broadwayworld.com/industry/article/Students-from-TDFs-Wendy-Wasserstein-Project-Will-Celebrate-Graduation-on-June-3-20190520 "Students from TDF's Wendy Wasserstein Project Will Celebrate Graduation on June 3"] broadwayworld.com, May 20, 2019</ref> In addition, he conducts master audition classes in colleges and universities.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.robertlongbottom.net/}} *{{IBDB name|15466}} *[http://americantheatrewing.org/biography/detail/robert_longbottom Credits at AmericanTheatreWing.org] as of July 2007 *[http://broadwayworld.com/bwidb/people/Robert_Longbottom/ Credits at Broadwayworld.com]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Longbottom, Robert}} Category:American choreographers Category:Living people Category:1957 births Category:Musical theatre choreographers