My approach to choreography:

Whether a musical has lots of dance, like Cabaret, or relatively little, like Assassins, my job as the choreographer is the same - I work very closely with the director to understand his/her goals for the productions and support them by creating a unique, expressive and engaging movement vocabulary that helps the actors to tell the story. Below is a sampling of some of my recent work; Candide, Cabaret, South Pacific, Into the Woods, Assassins, and two productions of Peter and the Starcatcher.

Leonard Bernstein’s Candide

Book by Hugh Wheeler, Lyrics by Richard Wilbur

Additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, John La Touche, Lillian Hellman, Dorothy Parker and Leonard Bernstein

The Clarence Brown Theatre

Directed by Calvin MacLean, Music Director/Conductor, Aram Demirjian

Acting Ensemble: David Kortemeier (Voltaire/Pangloss), James Onstad (Candide), Cecilia Iole (Cunegonde), Jonathan Christopher (Maximillian), Charlotte Munson (Paquette), Heidi Kettering (Old Lady), Roderick Peeples (The Baron/Ensemble), Tracey Copeland Halter (The Baroness/Ensemble), Jeff Parker (The Governor/Ensemble), David Crawford (The Grand Inquisitor/Ensemble), Perry Ward, (Ragotski/Ensemble), Jade Arnold (Captain/Ensemble), Cody Bolling (Vanderdendur/Ensemble), Pedro Thomas (Cacambo/Ensemble), Noelle Harb, Jennifer Barnett Harrell, Robert Parker Jenkins, Matthew Mimbs, Ellen Nikbakht, Kathryn Paden, Brittany Marie Pirozzoli, Owen Squire Smith, Aleah Vassell, Laura Beth Wells

Creative Team: Director, Cal MacLean; Music Director/Conductor, Aram Demirjian, Co-Director, James Marvel; Co-Director/Choreographer, Casey Sams; Scenic Designer, Michael Ganio; Costume Designer, Bill Black; Lighting Designer, Jennifer Tipton; Projection Designer, Joe Payne; Sound Designer, Curtis Craig; orchestral music performed by the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra

“Their concept has the 37-member orchestra and conductor onstage with the singer/actors in staging that seems to tumble out into the audience.…the production is a feast of vitality, instrumental crispness, vocal charm, marvelous ensemble-ness, and some dazzle, from a cast of surprising depth, top to bottom.” Alan Sherrod, ArtsKnoxville.

Cabaret

John Kander and Fred Ebb, Book by Joe Masteroff

Playmakers Repertory

Directed by Joe Haj

Acting Ensemble: Dee Dee Batteast, Max Bitar, Brett Bolton, Lisa Brescia, Katie Chelena, Nathaniel P. Claridad, Jeffrey Blair Cornell, Kelsey Didion, Ray Dooley, John Dreher, Brandon Garegnani, Marin Searle, Josh Gobin, Julie Fishell, Scott McCartney Gilliam, Meredith Jones, Taylor Mac, Patrick McHugh, Michaela Morton, Katie Paxton, Jack Ultrata

Creative Team: Director, Joe Haj; Music Director, Mark Harman; Scenic Design, Marion Williams; Costume Design, Jennifer Caprio; Lighting Design, Josh Epstein; Sound Design, Robert Dagit

"...this production brings the raunchy Berlin of the 1930s to full and glorious life. Swinging choreography, daring costumes, and an enchanting cast create a performance that’s zany and fun but also poignant and deeply sad." Susie Potter, Triangle Arts and Entertainment.

"Credit is also due to the Kit Kat Klub girls and boys who perform wonderfully era-appropriate choreography (by Casey Sams) and bring the Kit Kat Klub to life." Larisa Mount, BroadWay World.

South Pacific

Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein

Clarence Brown Theatre

Directed by Terry Silver-Alford

Acting Ensemble: Gracie Belt, Andrew Price Carlile, Andrew Drake, Kirk Edwards, Miguel Fana, Brian Gligor, Emily Helton, Andrew Henry, Connor Hess, Evans Jarnefeldt, Hannah Jones, Christine Jugueta, Presley Keith, Emily Kicklighter, Brady McNeil, McKinley Merritt, Alyssa Miller, Brady Muldrup, Charlotte Munson, Ellen Nikbakht, Aaron Orlov, Celeste Paultre, Lauren Pennline, Carlene Pochette, Benjamin Pratt, Evan Price, Ethan Roeder, Christopher Sanders, Sofia Silvan, Hannah Simpson, Benjamin Terpstra, Pedro Tomas, Natalie Torres, Keegan Tucker, Jude Carl Vincent, Christopher Ward, Lauren Winder

Creative Team: Director, Terry Silver-Alford; Music Director, Melony Dodson; Scenic Design, Jack Magaw; Costume Design, Kathryn Rohe; Lighting Design, John Horner; Sound Design, Barry G. Funderburg; Projection Design, Maranda De Busk

“The crowd scenes involving the SeaBees (with choreography by Casey Sams) flow like waves on the beach.” Alan Sherrod, Knoxville Mercury.

Into The Woods

Stephen Sondheim and James Lepine

Playmakers Repertory Company

Directed by Joe Haj

Acting ensemble: David Adamson, Daniel Bailin, Max Bitar, Lisa Brescia, Katy Castaldi, Katie Chelena, Jeffrey Blair Cornell, Abigail Coryell, Cary Cox, Benjamin Curns, Gregory DeCandia, Jorge Donoso, Mary Stewart Evans, Lenore, Field, Julia Gibson, Garrett Long, Jeffrey Meanza, Jessica Sorgi, Caroline Strange

Artistic Team: Director, Joe Haj; Music Director, Mark Hartman; Scenic Design, Marion Williams; Lighting Design, Josh Epstein, Costume Design, Bill Brewer; Sound Design, Robert Dagit

"From the stunningly choreographed and staged opening number, “Into the Woods,” which introduces (or reintroduces as the case may be) viewers to classic fairy tale characters to the melange-style ending, it is completely engaging." Suzie Potter, Triangle Arts and Entertainment.

Assassins

Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman

Playmakers Repertory

Mike Donahue

Acting Ensemble: Danny Binstock, Jeffrey Blair Cornell, Dede Corvinus, Gregory DeCandia, Jorge Donoso, Ray Dooley, Julie Fishell, Brandon Garegnani, Spencer Moses, Newlin Parker, Scott McCarney Gilliam, Nilan Johnson, Patrick McHugh, Jeffrey Meanza, Joseph Medeiros, Maren Searle, Jessica Sorgi

Creative Team: Director, Mike Donahue; Music Director, Mark Hartman; Scenic Design, Rachel Hauck; Costume Design, Anne Kennedy; Lighting Design, Charlie Morrison; Sound Design, Robert Dagit

“The entire cast is on-point, thanks not only to its talented members but also to tight direction… choreography that creates natural, effortless onstage movements and on-point lighting also add to the production value.” Susie Potter, Triangle Arts and Entertainment.

Peter and the Starcatcher

Rick Elise, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park

Blake Robison     

Acting Ensemble: Andrew Carlyle, Ollie Corchado, Johanna Howard, Jamal James, Josh Landay, Sean Mellott, Andy Paterson, Jose Restrepo, Arturo Soria, Tom Story, Nick Vanoy, Noah Zachary

Artistic Team: Director, Blake Robison; Music Director: Patrick Sulken; Scenic Design, James Kronser; Costume Designer, David Mickelsen; Lighting Design, Kenton Yeager, Sound Design, Matthew Nielsen; Puppetry, Betsy Rosen

Peter and the Starcatcher

Rick Elise, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

PlayMakers Repertory

Brendan Fox

Acting Ensemble: John Allore, Daniel Balin, Myles Bullock, Jeffery Blair Cornell, Benjamin Curns, Jorge Donoso, Ray Dooley, William Huges, Mitchell Jarvis, Evan Johnson, Schuyler Scott Mastain, Brian Owens, Arielle Yoder

Creative Team: Director, Brendan Fox; Music Director, Mark Lewis; Choreographer, Casey Sams; Scenic Design, McKay Coble; Costume Design, Holly Poe Durbin; Lighting Design, Xavier Pierce; Sound Design, Eric Alexander Collins

“…Casey Sams’ choreography add just the right amount of showbiz flair….”Jesse R. Gephart, Triangle Arts and Entertainment.