Draft:Drew McOnie

Drew McOnie (born Andrew Ian McOnie, 30 September 1985 ) is a British choreographer and director. He is the artistic director of The McOnie Company and the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.

Early life
Born in Birmingham, McOnie began dancing when he was six, taking disco and freestyle dance classes at his local dance school. He was selected to perform as the little boy in the 1993 Birmingham Rep production of The Snowman, which transferred to Sadler's Wells in 1997 and was filmed in 1998. Aged 11 he auditioned for Tring Park School and was awarded a scholarship.

While in training, the National Youth Ballet Company offered him a scholarship to create his first dance piece Monochrome Suite. From there he went on to choreograph The Old Man of Lochnagar, where he was mentored by Matthew Bourne.

Career
McOnie left school at age 17 to join the German production of Cats. He subsequently auditioned for Matthew Bourne's New Adventures and joined a week before his 19th birthday. He went on to perform in the international tour of Edward Scissorhands and four other Matthew Bourne shows.

Aged 25 McOnie stopped dancing to focus on a full time career as a choreographer and director.

McOnie won the Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer for the Kings Cross Theatre production of In the Heights in 2016 and was nominated for the same award in 2017 for a production of Jesus Christ Superstar at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. This production subsequently played at the Barbican Theatre in London and toured the US and UK.

In November 2023, McOnie was announced as the new artistic director of Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. McOnie's first season of programming at the venue will be in 2025.

Theatre

 * The Artist - Director & Choreographer (for The McOnie Company), Theatre Royal Plymouth (2024)
 * Nutcracker - Director & Choreographer (for The McOnie Company), The Tuff Nutt Jazz Club, Southbank Centre (2023)
 * Carousel - Choreographer, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (2021)
 * King Kong - Director & Choreographer, Broadway Theatre, New York (2018)
 * On The Town - Director & Choreographer, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre (2017)
 * Strictly Ballroom - Director & Choreographer, West Yorkshire Playhouse / Piccadilly Theatre, London (2016)
 * Jesus Christ Superstar - Choreographer, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre / Barbican Theatre / American National Tour / UK Tour (2016 - Present)
 * Jekyll and Hyde - Director & Choreographer (for The McOnie company), The Old Vic (2016)
 * Bugsy Malone - Choreographer, Lyric Hammersmith (2015)
 * The Lorax - Choreographer, The Old Vic (2015, 2017)
 * In The Heights - Choreographer, Southwark Playhouse / Kings Cross Theatre (2014)
 * Hairspray - Choreographer, UK Tour (2015)
 * Oklahoma! - Choreographer, UK Tour (2015)
 * The Sound of Music - Choreographer, Leicester Curve (2014)
 * Drunk - Choreographer (For The McOnie Company), Leicester Curve/Bridewell Theatre (2014)
 * Chicago - Choreographer, Leicester Curve (2013)

Film & TV

 * Greatest Days - Choreographer (2023)
 * Me Before You - Choreographer (2016)

Awards and nominations

 * Olivier Award Nomination - Best Musical Revival - On The Town
 * Olivier Award Nomination - Best Theatre Choreographer - Jesus Christ Superstar (2017)
 * Olivier Award - Best Theatre Choreographer - In The Heights (2016)
 * National Dance Awards Nomination - Emerging Artist Award (2014)