Joshua Bergasse

Joshua Alexandre Bergasse (born March 6, 1973) is an American choreographer and dancer. He has won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for his work on the TV show, Smash (TV series), Smash. He has choreographed a number of Broadway theatre, Broadway and Broadway theatre, Off-Broadway musicals such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (musical), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the 2014 revival of On the Town (musical), On the Town (his first Tony Awards, Tony Award nomination for Tony Award for Best Choreography, Best Choreography), the Off-Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hart’s I Married an Angel, and the Broadway production of Smash (musical), Smash, the latter which gave him his second Tony Awards, Tony Award nomination for Tony Award for Best Choreography, Best Choreography in 2025.

Early life

Joshua Bergasse was born on March 6, 1973, and grew up in Farmington Hills, Michigan. He attended his mother's dance studio and later taught there. He says he was influenced by Bob Fosse, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Hermes Pan, and Michael Kidd.

Career

At age 22, Bergasse auditioned for the national tour of ''West Side Story (musical), West Side Story'' during a vacation in New York City. He was offered the role of Baby John and was a member of the tour for two years. After the tour ended, he stayed in New York to continue working as a dancer.

In 2012, Bergasse became a choreographer for the TV show ''Smash (TV series), Smash'' for its two-season run. He got the job after the director, Michael Mayer (director), Michael Mayer, saw some of Bergasse's work at a New York University benefit. During the filming of the second season, Bergasse was able to choreograph for both of the hypothetical musicals: Bombshell (musical), Bombshell and Hit List (musical), Hit List. In 2012, Bergasse won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for his work on ''Smash''.

In 2014, Bergasse choreographed the Broadway revival of ''On the Town (musical), On the Town''. He received an Astaire Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Choreography.

Bergasse choreographed the Broadway revival of ''Gigi (musical), Gigi'' in 2015, as well as the Off-Broadway productions of ''Sweet Charity'', ''Captain Louie'', and ''Cagney''. He earned a Drama Desk, an Astaire, and an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for his choreography in Cagney. His other choreographic credits include ''West Side Story (musical), West Side Story'' at the Stratford Festival, ''Little Me (musical), Little Me'' at City Center Encores!, ''It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman'' at City Center Encores!, ''Pirates of Penzance'' at Barrington Stage Co., ''Guys and Dolls (musical), Guys and Dolls'' at Carnegie Hall, and ''The Sound of Music'' at Carnegie Hall.

Bergasse choreographed the Broadway musical ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (musical), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' in 2017.

In 2019, Bergasse directed and choreographed a revival of the Rodgers and Hart musical ''I Married an Angel'' for the New York City Encores! series. This production starred his wife, Sara Mearns.

After serving as choreographer for Smash (TV series), Smash, the NBC sitcom, Bergasse choreographed the Broadway premiere of the Smash (musical), musical production in 2025, which garnered him his second Tony Awards, Tony Award nomination for Tony Award for Best Choreography, Best Choreography.

Personal life

In November 2012, Bergasse met Sara Mearns when she was auditioning for a featured dancing role on ''Smash''. After five years of dating, they got engaged on Valentine's Day. They were married on November 3, 2018, in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. They have worked on projects together since their marriage such as Rodgers and Hart's ''I Married an Angel''. They divorced in 202
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bergasse, Joshua
Living people
1973 births
American dancers
American choreographers
Musical theatre choreographers