Drew Anthony facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Drew Anthony
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| Born | 14 January 1969 Mackay, Queensland, Australia
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| Occupation | Director, choreographer, producer, actor, presenter |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Children | 3 |
Drew Anthony (born January 14, 1969) is an Australian artist who works as a director, choreographer, producer, and performer. He has directed many popular shows like Grease, Chicago, Strictly Ballroom, and The Wedding Singer. He also directed The Boy From Oz at Crown Theatre in 2021.
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Early life and achievements
Drew Anthony was born in Mackay, Queensland, Australia. He grew up on the Gold Coast. His mother, Kay, ran a school where people learned performing arts. His father, Bryan, worked for the Queensland Tourist Bureau. Drew started dance lessons when he was just four years old. He performed in musicals for a local theater group while he was in primary and high school.
In 1984, when he was 15, Drew became well-known. He won the Fred Astaire International Jazz and Tap Championship in New York City. He won in both the tap and jazz dance styles for his age group.
Career highlights
Drew Anthony started his career by performing in concerts, company events, and local dinner theaters. At 16, he became a dancer for Regmat Productions. Soon after, he joined the Australian tour of the musical Me and My Girl.
Musical theatre performances
Drew performed in many Australian musical theater shows. These included Cats, Rasputin, 42nd Street, and Hot Shoe Shuffle. He also appeared on Australian television shows like Midday and Good Morning Australia. In 2006, he worked on the animated movie Happy Feet.
Choreography work
As a choreographer, Drew Anthony created dance routines for many productions. Some of these were The Boy From Oz, Jolson, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, and Jailhouse Rock: The Musical. He also choreographed Orpheus in the Underworld for Opera Australia. He has worked with famous performers like Rhonda Burchmore and Rachael Beck.
Directing and producing
Drew Anthony has directed many shows through his company, Drew Anthony Creative. These include Grease, Chicago, 42nd Street, Strictly Ballroom, A Chorus Line, Saturday Night Fever, and The Wedding Singer. He has also directed other productions like The Boy From Oz and High School Musical.
Major event direction
Drew has also worked on very large events. He was an Associate Director for the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. He also helped direct the 2006 Asian Games in Doha and the 2010 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies in Vancouver. He has directed events such as the NRL State of Origin and a charity gala for Olivia Newton-John.
In 2008, Drew Anthony organized and directed a concert called A Musical Send Off. This event raised over $100,000 to help the Australian Paralympic Team.
