Christopher Gattelli

Christopher Gattelli (born November 1, 1972) is an American choreographer, performer and theatre director.

Early life and career Gattelli grew up in Bristol, Pennsylvania. He started dancing at the age of 8 and is a "Star Search" grand champion. In high school, after classes, e took dance classes at Alvin Ailey Dance half the day, As a performer, he appeared in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (revival), Fosse, and Pouncival in Cats.

Choreographer/Director Christopher Gattelli is best known for his work on the 2012 Broadway musical Newsies.

Gattelli has choreographed several special benefit concerts, including Chess (2003), Hair (also co-director, Actor's Fund, 2004), and Chance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser (also directed, Actors Fund, October 2009).

His Off-Broadway choreographic work includes Adrift in Macao (2007, also Philadelphia, PA 2005), How to Save the World and Find True Love in 90 Minutes (also director, 2006), I Love You Because (2006), Altar Boyz (2005), tick, tick...BOOM!, Dogfight, and Bat Boy: The Musical (2001). In regional theatre he is the choreographer for The Baker's Wife (Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, New Jersey, 2005), Tom Jones (2004), tick, tick...BOOM! (2004, also London Fringe, 2005), Me and My Girl, and O. Henry's Lovers (Goodspeed Opera House, 2003). He directed Jim Henson's Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas at The Goodspeed Opera House, Connecticut in 2008, and choreographed Julie Andrews' The Great American Mousical there in 2012. His production of The Jungle Book played the Goodman Theatre and Huntington Theatre Company in 2013. He was the director of the musical spoof SILENCE! The Musical, which ran in 2005 at NYCFringe. Other West End and London credits include South Pacific and Sunday in the Park with George. He is in charge of musical staging for Little Miss Sunshine.

He collaborated with Stephen Flaherty on the world premiere of In Your Arms, which he directed and choreographed for the New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater at Vassar in 2014. He directed and choreographed In Your Arms for a production at the Old Globe Theatre in September 2015. This was a new version of the 2011 stage version that ran in London and the UK, and was being worked on by Gatelli and Chad Beguelin. The production "is still several seasons off", according to Gatelli in January 2017.

His choreography can also be seen in the Coen brothers feature Hail, Caesar!

Gattelli choreographed the American musical comedy television series Schmigadoon! for Apple TV+ in 2020 and 2023.

Personal life He is openly gay.

Awards

Year Award Category Title Result 2001 Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Choreographer Bat Boy: The Musical 2005 Drama Desk Award Outstanding ChoreographyAltar Boyz Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Choreographer 2008 Tony Awards Best Choreography South Pacific 2012 Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding ChoreographyNewsies Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography Tony AwardsBest Choreography 2015 The King and I 2018 My Fair Lady SpongeBob SquarePants Drama Desk Award Outstanding Choreography 2025 Drama League Awards Outstanding Direction of a MusicalDeath Becomes Her Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Direction of a Musical Outstanding Choreography Tony Awards Best Direction of a Musical Best Choreography 2026Tony AwardBest Direction of a MusicalSchmigadoon! Best ChoreographyOuter Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Choreography Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Choreography Chita Rivera AwardOutstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show