Christopher Ashley (born July 6, 1964) is an American stage director. Since 2007, he has been the artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse.

Career

Ashley graduated from

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...

in 1986, with a Bachelor of Art in Theatre.
American Repertory Theater, accessed January 29, 2022 In 1987, he completed The Drama League program for directors. He directed many

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

stage productions, including at Manhattan Theatre Club. He directed '' Jeffrey'' by

Paul Rudnick Paul Rudnick (born December 29, 1957) is an American novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and essayist. His plays have been produced on and off Broadway theatre, Broadway. He wrote the screenplays for ''Sister Act'', ''Addams Family Values'', Jef ...

Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1993, for which he received the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Director. He also directed the film version, which was released in 1995. He directed the Sondheim

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

Celebration productions of ''

Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the penny dreadful serial '' The String of Pearls'' (1846–1847). The original tale became a feature of 19th-century melodrama and London legend. A barber from Fleet St ...

'' and '' Merrily We Roll Along'' in 2002. In 2007, he was appointed artistic director of La Jolla Playhouse, California.Boehm, Mike
"La Jolla Playhouse names artistic director"
''Los Angeles Times'', April 11, 2007 He directed the musical version of the 1980

cult film A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase, which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage in repeated ...

'' Xanadu'' on Broadway, receiving a

Drama Desk Award The Drama Desk Awards are among the most esteemed honors in New York theater, recognizing outstanding achievements across Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway productions within the same categories. The awards are considered a signific ...

nomination for direction. Ashley directed the musical '' Memphis'', which opened on Broadway in October 2009, receiving the

Outer Critics Circle Award The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town news ...

nomination for Outstanding Director and

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

nomination, Best Direction of a Musical. He directed the new musical '' Come from Away'', which premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in June 2015, and opened on Broadway in February 2017 at the

Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, formerly the Plymouth Theatre, is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 236 West 45th Street (Manhattan), 45th Street in the Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, ...

, receiving a

for Best Direction of a Musical."Tony Awards 2017: Complete Winners List"
''Variety'', June 11, 2017, retrieved June 15, 2017 He was originally set to direct a film adaptation of the musical, which was canceled on February 2, 2021, because of the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. Instead, he directed a live stage film recording of the show at the Schoenfeld Theatre in front of an invited audience including survivors and first responders from the 9/11 attacks, which was released on

Apple TV+ Apple TV+ is an American subscription over-the-top streaming service owned by Apple. The service launched on November 1, 2019, and it offers a selection of original production film and television series called Apple Originals. The service w ...

on September 10, 2021, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the attacks. He directed the musical version of '' Freaky Friday'', which premiered at the Signature Theatre, Arlington, Virginia in October 2016. The 2021 film musical '' Diana'', directed by Ashley, was released on

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

on October 1, 2021. In September 2024, Ashley was hired by the

Roundabout Theatre Company The Roundabout Theatre Company is a nonprofit organization, non-profit theatre company based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, affiliated with the League of Resident Theatres. History The company was founded in 1965 by Gene Feist, Michael Fr ...

as its artistic director. He will begin his tenure in July 2026.

Personal life

Ashley is openly gay.

Work

;Broadway *'' Diana'' (2021) *'' Escape to Margaritaville'' (2018) *'' Come from Away'' (2017)

, Best Direction of a Musical *''

Leap of Faith In philosophy, a leap of faith is the act of belief, believing in or accepting something not on the basis of reason. The phrase is commonly associated with Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. Idiomatic usage As an idiom, ''leap of faith'' ca ...

'' (2012) *'' Memphis'' (2009) *'' Xanadu'' (2007) *The 24 Hour Plays (2005) (Special Benefit): That Other Person" *'' All Shook Up'' (2005) *'' The Smell of the Kill'' (2002) *''

The Rocky Horror Show ''The Rocky Horror Show'' is a Musical theatre, musical with music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien. A humorous tribute to various B movies associated with the Science fiction film, science fiction and Horror film, horror genres from the 193 ...

'' (2000) (Revival)

nomination, Direction of a Musical *'' Voices in the Dark'' (1999) *''Jackie'' (1997) (Production consultant) ;Off-Broadway (select) *''Blown Sideways Through Life'' written by Claudia Shear (1993 and 1994), also TV film (1995) *'' Jeffrey'' (1992 and 1993), also the film version (1995) *'' Fires in the Mirror: Crown Heights, Brooklyn and Other Identities'', written by Anna Deavere Smith (1992) Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Director *'' The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told'' (1998) *'' Communicating Doors'', written by Alan Ayckbourn (1998) *''Valhalla'' (2004), written by

;Sommer, Elyse
"A CurtainUp Review 'Valhalla'"
CurtainUp, February 4, 2004 Lucille Lortel Award nomination, Outstanding Director ;Regional *''Babbitt'', La Jolla Playhouse (2023) *''The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical'', La Jolla Playhouse (2023) *'' Escape to Margaritaville'', La Jolla Playhouse (2017) *'' Freaky Friday'', Signature Theatre (2016) * '' Come from Away'', La Jolla Playhouse (2015)

References

External links

*
Internet Off-Broadway Database
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ashley, Christopher 1964 births Living people Place of birth missing (living people) American theatre directors American LGBTQ directors Tony Award winners LGBTQ theatre directors Yale College alumni 21st-century American LGBTQ people American artistic directors