Janet Miller is a 2009/2010 Ovation Nominee in the Choreography category for her work on The Marvelous Wonderettes with Musical Theatre West.
LA Stage asked Janet Miller the following questions:
What was the first theatrical production you ever attended and what impact did it have on you?
It was a production of The Sound of Music in Long Beach, CA. I thought it was completely magical and I wanted to be on stage with all those beautiful people!
Janet Miller
What is your most cherished theatre memory?
Working at the Pasadena Playhouse as the assistant director/choreographer on Dames at Sea with Tamara Long, the original Mona in the 1968 Off-Broadway production.
Which LA theatre artists’ work do you consider a ‘Must See’?
Ken Roht, Rick Sparks, Ken Sawyer, Jeffrey Polk, Darryl Archibald, Natalie Wachen, David Burnham, Paul Witten, Christia Mantzke, Cody Lyman, Jeremy Lelliott, Reggie De Leon, David P. Johnson, Eileen Barnett, Bruce French, Stan Chandler, Kirsten Chandler, Kim Huber, Carol Brolaski- Kline, Matt Walker, Glenn Casale, Gordon Goodman, James Anest, Jason Graae, Joseph Leo Bwarie, Leonard Kelly-Young, Ruth Williamson, Michael Wallot, and, of course, all the artists I work with in Wonderette Land.
What is your favorite thing about working in the theatre in LA?
Getting the opportunity to direct straight plays as well as musicals.
If you could change one thing about theatre in Los Angeles, what would it be?
Since I work a lot in La Mirada, I wish I could change the commuting aspect of theatre in LA!
Who’s the first person you texted or tweeted when you got the news about your nomination?
I was in rehearsal for my current show, The Importance of Being Earnest, for Phantom Projects. Many of my good friends were present, so I didn’t have to!
Biography:
Janet Miller is a director, choreographer and educator. Her choreography was recently seen Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre in The Marvelous Wonderettes. She received a 2009 Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Outstanding Choreographer for that production. In 2010, Janet was thrilled to stage her original choreography at Musical Theatre West/Norris Theatre, Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany NY, San Jose Repertory Theatre, Theatre Aspen, and Sacramento Music Circus. Ms. Miller is currently the Resident Director for Phantom Projects housed at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Last season for Phantom, she was honored to direct Lydia R. Diamond’s adaptation of the Toni Morrison book, The Bluest Eye to critical acclaim. Ms. Miller was the resident choreographer for Milt Larsen’s Variety Arts Center for six years, and choreographed several period pieces in that venue. Her preferred style of dance is tap, which she has taught and choreographed worldwide, most notably in Thailand and China. Janet is the recipient of the 2003 Excellence in Art Award for Drama from the city of Torrance, where she was the Artistic Director/Resident Director for the Torrance Theatre Company for seven years, directing sixteen shows during her tenure. Ms. Miller received a 2003 Choreography Garland for The Marvelous Wonderettes, in addition to the 2006 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Choreography. In 2008, she received a Garland and a LADCC award for choreography for Winter Wonderettes. JM holds a B.A. in musical theatre from CSUN, and an M.A. in theatre from CSULA. She is adjunct faculty at Cerritos College and CSULA. Ms. Miller is a proud member of SDC. www.janetmiller.net
For a full list of Ovation nominees, or for information about the Ovation Awards Ceremony on January 17th, click here!
