Rob Ashford is an acclaimed American stage director and choreographer. He is a Tony Award, Olivier Award, Emmy Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award winner. He has numerous Broadway choreography and directing credits, including Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002), The Wedding Singer (2006), Curtains (2007), Cry-Baby (2008) and Evita starring Ricky Martin (2012). In April 2015, Ashford directed and choreographed an acclaimed production of Carousel for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and he served as the choreographer of the musical Frozen. Here his story leading to TALIM: “My first trip to Tangier was six years ago. I had been asked by (Fellow) Madison Cox to be commencement speaker at the American School in Marrakech. I decided to take a holiday afterward in Tangier. Madison always spoke beautifully of Tangier. I fell for the place immediately! Not just the people that I met but its history. I was especially taken with the story of Joe McPhillips who, until his untimely death, was headmaster at the American School in Tangier. He created wonderful productions with and for the students and recruited the likes of Paul Bowles, Yves St. Laurent, and Ira Beline to work with him. I felt passionately that this tradition of creating plays in Tangier should continue. I’ve directed two productions in Tangier so far, both as benefits for the American School and for the American Legation. I’m looking forward to the next production.”
