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John Carrafa

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BIO

Two Time Tony Nominated Choreographer of URINETOWN and INTO THE WOODS.



John Carrafa is a two-time Tony Nominated, Lortel Award, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle and Obie Award winning Broadway director/choreographer. He's also a Media Choreography Award and World Dance Feature Film Award winning television and film choreographer.

Broadway credits include: URINETOWN THE MUSICAL (Tony Nomination), James Lapine's DIRTY BLONDE, Terrance MacNally's LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! DANCE OF DEATH with Ian Mckellan and Helen Mirren, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES and GOOD VIBRATIONS, which he also directed. He received a TONY NOMINATION for his work collaborating with Stephen Sondheim on a new Broadway production of INTO THE WOODS starring Vanessa Williams and worked with Sondheim again on A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at the Kennedy Center starring Kristen Bell and Blair Brown. Also at the Kennedy Center, he choreographed Richard Wagner's RING CYCLE for the Washington Opera, starring Placido Domingo.

He's choreographed three musicals for the NY City Center Encores Series, OUT OF THIS WORLD, THE PAJAMA GAME and ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER.

He's been a collaborator both as a director and choreographer in the creation of countless original musicals. He won Best Director both at the NY MUSICAL THEATER FESTIVAL and the Daegu, Korea INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL for his direction of the original musical ACADEMY and choreographed the original musical version of FINDING NEMO at Disneyworld.

Recent television credits include Julian Fellowes THE GILDED AGE, ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, DEAD TO ME, SUCCESSION, BARRY, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, Stephen Soderbergh's THE KNICK, TRANSPARENT, THE BLACK LIST, BLUE BLOODS, MANIAC, HAPPY! HAPPYISH, NURSE JACKIE, PRODIGAL SON and the Disney Musical FREAKY FRIDAY. He choreographed the Emmy winning "Eat Shit Bob" mega-musical number for LAST WEEK WITH JOHN OLIVER. He was series choreographer for six seasons of the ABC/CMT show NASHVILLE which he also directed and as well as Season 1 of EMPIRE.

Upcoming television includes Season 4 of WESTWORLD, Season 2 of THE GILDED AGE, the new Scott L. Burns drama EXTRAPOLATIONS, starring Meryl Streep, Daveed Diggs, Toby Maguire, Forrest Whitaker and Marion Cotillard, THREE WOMEN starring Shailene Woodley, Betty Gilpin and DeWanda Wise, LOOT starring Maya Rudolph, and the new David E. Kelly crime drama, THE MISSING, directed by Barry Levinson.

He pioneered the use of Motion Capture technology to create choreography on THE POLAR EXPRESS for to win the Media Choreography Award and received the World Dance Feature Film for SOMETHING BORROWED. Other films include THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, BRIDE WARS, ANALYZE THAT, IF I STAY, LET'S BE COPS, THE OTHER GUYS, REBEL IN THE RYE, THE LAST DAYS OF DISCO and THE CHAPERONE.

Broadway credits include: URINETOWN THE MUSICAL (Tony Nomination), James Lapine's DIRTY BLONDE, Terrance MacNally's LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! DANCE OF DEATH with Ian Mckellan and Helen Mirren, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES and GOOD VIBRATIONS, which he also directed. He received a TONY NOMINATION for his work collaborating with Stephen Sondheim on a new Broadway production of INTO THE WOODS starring Vanessa Williams and worked with Sondheim again on A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at the Kennedy Center starring Kristen Bell and Blair Brown. Also at the Kennedy Center, he choreographed Richard Wagner's RING CYCLE for the Washington Opera, starring Placido Domingo.

He's choreographed three musicals for the NY City Center Encores Series, OUT OF THIS WORLD, THE PAJAMA GAME and ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER.

He's been a collaborator both as a director and choreographer in the creation of countless original musicals. He won Best Director both at the NY MUSICAL THEATER FESTIVAL and the Daegu, Korea INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL for his direction of the original musical ACADEMY and choreographed the original musical version of FINDING NEMO at Disneyworld.

Other work includes Creative Director/Producer for the National Basketball Association, Director for concerts such as CAROLE KING AND FRIENDS at Madison Square Garden and the SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME CONCERT with Paul Macartney, Director/choreographer of the alternative circus, CIRQUE BERZERK at the Nokia Center and co-creator and director of the musical SHOWDOWN which has been running on Norwegian Cruise Lines since 2008.

He has choreographed music videos for SARAH BAREILLES, EDITORS, GREG LASWELL as well as MACHINE GUN KELLY's live Perfomance at the 2022 VMA Awards.

Commercials for a countless top brands including VERA WANG, SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL, ATT, SPRINT, OLD NAVY, THE GAP, BARNES & NOBLE.

He's known for being equally comfortable choreographing both lead actors with little or no dance training, and highly trained technical dancers. With the philosophy that everyone can dance, his calm and methodical approach has brought out the inner dancer in a countless number of the biggest stars in our industry. Robert DeNiro, Tom Hanks, Emma Stone, Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Daveed Diggs, Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson, Connie Britton, Kate Hudson are just a few.





STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Broadway Production, 1985
Ensemble


Productions

 
[Off-Broadway, 2009]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2008]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2008]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2008]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 2005]
Director
Choreographer
 
[Regional (US), 2004]
Director/Choreographer
 
[West End, 2004]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2003]
Choreographer
 
[US Tour, 2003]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 2002]
Choreographer
 
[Regional (US), 2002]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2002]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 2002]
Choreographer
 
[Los Angeles, 2002]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 2001]
Choreographer (Musical Staging)
 
[Broadway, 2001]
Choreographer (Musical Staging)
 
[Off-Broadway, 2001]
Choreographer (Musical Staging)
 
[Off-Broadway, 2001]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2000]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 2000]
Choreographer (Musical Staging)
 
[Off-Broadway, 2000]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 2000]
Choreographer (Musical Staging)
 
[Milburn, NJ (Regional), 1996]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 1995]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1995]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 1994]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 1994]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 1992]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 1992]
Choreographer
 
[Off-Broadway, 1991]
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1985]
Assistant to Miss Tharp

Additional Credits

OBIE AWARD 2002


Awards and Nominations

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2002 - Outstanding Choreography

John Carrafa, Urinetown


winner
The Lortels - 2002 - Outstanding Choreographer

John Carrafa, Urinetown

Tony Awards - 2002 - Best Choreography

John Carrafa, Into the Woods

Tony Awards - 2002 - Best Choreography

John Carrafa, Urinetown The Musical


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2001 - Outstanding Choreography

John Carrafa, Urinetown

News


Rachel Dratch, Abigail Breslin and More to Join THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 29, 2025

THE 24 HOUR PLAYS has revealed additional artists scheduled to participate in this year’s The 24 Hour Musicals, including Rachel Dratch and more. See who is starring and learn how to attend!
Michael R. Jackson, Bebe Neuwirth And More Return For The 24 Hour Musicals
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 13, 2025

The 24 Hour Musicals will take place on Monday June 16, 2025 at 7pm at the Lynn F. Angelson Theatre. See who is taking part and learn how to purchase tickets here!
Berkeley Rep Announces Participants For 2024 Ground Floor Summer Residency Lab
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 26, 2024

Berkeley Rep reveals the participants for the 2024 Ground Floor Summer Residency Lab, featuring a diverse group of artists and projects aimed at fostering new works in theater.
Photos: Jesse Eisenberg, Kathryn Gallagher & More Take Part in THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 20, 2024

Check out photos of The 24 Hour Musicals featuring Angelique Cabral, Ryan Scott Oliver and more.
Angelique Cabral, Ryan Scott Oliver, and More Join THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 6, 2024

THE 24 HOUR PLAYS has revealed additional artists for The 24 Hour Musicals. See who else is starring and learn how to purchase tickets.
David Rockwell & Rockwell Group and Additional Artists Join THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 31, 2024

The 24 Hour Musicals will be partnering with Tony Award-winning designer and architect David Rockwell and Rockwell Group for this year’s event. Learn more about the upcoming event!
THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS Makes Its Live Return To NYC, June 26
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 20, 2023

On June 26, 2023, distinguished artists from across the entertainment industry will come together at Classic Stage Company's Lynn F. Angelson Theater for The 24 Hour Musicals, an intensive theatrical endeavor where artists write, rehearse and perform four new musicals in 24 hours.
THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS to Stream Tonight
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 7, 2022

Distinguished artists from across the nation's entertainment industry came together at The Bourbon Room in Hollywood for The 24 Hour Musicals, the intensive theatrical endeavor where stars from Broadway, film and TV write, compose, rehearse and perform four original musicals within 24 hours. Now, the show premieres tonight on Stellar at 5:30 PT/8:30 ET and will be available through June.
Lisa Loeb, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Kether Donohue, and More Took Part in THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS This Weekend
by Stephi Wild - May 25, 2022

On May 23, 2022, distinguished artists from across the nation's entertainment industry came together in Los Angeles for The 24 Hour Musicals, the intensive theatrical endeavor where stars from Broadway, film and TV come together to write, compose, rehearse and perform four original musicals within 24 hours at the Bourbon Room. 
Rebecca Naomi Jones, Lisa Loeb & More to Take Part in THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS in Hollywood
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 17, 2022

On May 23, 2022, distinguished artists from across the nation’s entertainment industry will come together in Los Angeles for The 24 Hour Musicals, the intensive theatrical endeavor where stars from Broadway, film and TV come together to write, compose, rehearse and perform four original musicals within a 24 hour time span at the Bourbon Room.
Broadway Green Alliance (BGA) Releases Free Toolkit For Reopening Theatres
by Stephi Wild - Dec 7, 2020

The Broadway Green Alliance has just launched a free, online Toolkit outlining sustainable resources for the theatre community as they plan for reopening.
Paige Davis To Host The Annual Dance Lab New York Spring Gala
by Julie Musbach - Mar 7, 2019

Dance Lab New York (formerly Broadway Dance Lab) will celebrate its new identity, reflective of its mission to be an inclusive hub for dance makers of all genres at their annual Spring Gala on Monday, March 25, 2019 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater (405 W 55th Street, NYC).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has John Carrafa been in?

John Carrafa has appeared on Broadway in 1 shows.

How many West End shows has John Carrafa been in?

John Carrafa has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has John Carrafa been nominated for?

Outstanding Choreography (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Urinetown, Outstanding Choreographer (The Lortels) for Urinetown, Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for Into the Woods, Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for Urinetown The Musical and Outstanding Choreography (Drama Desk Awards) for Urinetown.

What awards has John Carrafa won?

John Carrafa has won the Outstanding Choreographer award from The Lortels for Urinetown and the Outstanding Choreography award from the Drama Desk Awards for Urinetown.

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