Authors / Creative Contributors
RAY RODERICK (Writer/Director/Choreographer) recently directed MAME starring Tony Nominated Louise Pitre and Broadway Veteran Judy Blazer for Goodspeed Musicals, where he also directed SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, 42ND STREET and MY ONE AND ONLY. Ray also recently created/directed ‘S WONDERFUL! THE NEW GERSHWIN MUSICAL. Now licensed by Music Theatre International, Ray adapted the Broadway script for CHITTY, CHITTY, BANG, BANG for 1st US National tour (director), UK tour and upcoming Australian tour. He was associate director of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Madison Square Garden for six years, where he was privileged to work with original director Mike Ockrent. He was also associate director for Susan Stroman’s Broadway revival of THE MUSIC MAN, and subsequently directed the successful 3 year North American Tour. And most recently, Ray was assistant director to the legendary Jerry Lewis and the new Broadway bound musical THE NUTTY PROFESSOR based on the 1963 movie. He co-wrote/directed/choreographed Irving Berlin’s I LOVE A PIANO (Carbonell Award nomination best choreography, Florida Stage) 4 year National Tour US and Japan. Off-Broadway, Ray directed and co-wrote the new musical THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER (published by Samuel French), and directed and choreographed THE ARK, LAMOUR THE MERRIER and THE STORY GOES ON. He also co-wrote, directed and choreographed THE RAT PACK LOUNGE! (Carbonell Award nomination, best new work, Florida Stage), A CHRISTMAS SURVIVAL GUIDE (published by Samuel French) and I LOVE NEW YORK (Bistro Award, Best Musical Review 1999). Ray was the founding artistic director of Tri-State Center for the Arts, where he remained at the helm for seven years. With partner James Hindman, he formed Miracle or 2 Theatrical Licensing, a licensing and production company dedicated to the creation and development of the new American musical. Together, they have created ARE WE THERE YET?, COMING TO AMERICA, and THE BIKINIS…A NEW MUSICAL BEACH PARTY! (Goodspeed Musicals summer 2012, touring 2013). For The Denver Center of the Performing Arts, Ray has directed and choreographed THE LAST 5 YEARS, THE TAFFETAS, FIVE COURSE LOVE, and I LOVE YOU, YOU’RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE! (Denver’s longest running show). Ray begins his fourteenth year as creative director for the United States Tennis Association’s US Open, directs ARTHUR ASHE KIDS DAY television show for CBS, and creates on court ceremonies for ESPN and CBS live television. He wrote the English adaptation and directed the Chinese production of CHUN YI, THE LEGEND OF KUNG FU now in its 8th year in Beijing, having played London’s West End and tours of Japan and Russia. Regionally, Ray has directed many shows including THE MUSIC MAN at Ogunquit (Moss Hart Award), DAMES AT SEA at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor and he directed and choreographed an all new BARNUM for Westchester Broadway Theatre. He also directed BELIEVE, the award winning SHAMU (killer whale) show for SeaWorld in San Diego. As Broadway performer, Ray was seen in many shows, including BARNUM starring Jim Dale and Glenn Close, and originated roles in GRIND, CATS, THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, CRAZY FOR YOU and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM starring Nathan Lane and Whoppi Goldberg. Ray is a graduate of Illinois State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in the performing arts. He resides in New York, is married to Broadway actress Karyn Quackenbush, and is the proud father of SUNY Purchase student and lighting designer Jamie Roderick.
