Deanna holds the distinction of being the youngest person ever hired at the age 16 for David Merrick’s Song and Dance Extravaganza “42nd STREET”. Since then she has performed on Broadway in Saturday Night Fever (Rosalie), CRAZY FOR YOU (Vera), CANDIDE (Dance Captain), MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, LEGS DIAMOND (Cigarette Girl), LOVEMUSIK (Associate Choreographer), and as appeared as Dolly Tate opposite Reba McEntire in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. National Tours and Regional Theatre credits include: Nickie Pignatelli in SWEET CHARITY starring Donna McKechnie, CHICAGO (Liz-POP!) Starring Deborah Gibson, CRAZY FOR YOU (Tess/Patsy/Dance Captain,Swing), MY ONE AND ONLY, (Edythe Herbert), and 42ND STREET (Anytime Annie). TV and Film credits include THE FIRST WIVES CLUB, THE STEPFORD WIVES, LITTLE CHILDREN, AS THE WORLD TURNS, GUIDING LIGHT, LAW AND ORDER, ED, and BOARDWALK EMPIRE.
As a director and/or choreographer Deanna’s credits include the International Touring companies of CRAZY FOR YOU, the Pre-Broadway Regional premiere of DISNEY’S “ALADDIN” at Tuacahn Center for the Arts, off-Broadway’s THE GOLDEN LAND (Drama Desk Nomination for Best Revival of a Musical), Alan Zweibel’s PINECONE MOMENT (World Premier), THE MUSIC MAN (2018 Theatre Tampa Bay Award Winner for Best Director of a Musical and nomination for Best Choreography), Elton John’s AIDA, 42ND STREET, BYE BYE BIRDIE, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, THE FULL MONTY (Denver Post and Column award nominations for Best Choreography), STATE FAIR (Dallas Theatre League Nomination for Best Choreography), ANNIE, PIRATES OF PENZANCE (Palm Beach Opera), THE MAGIC FLUTE (St. Petersburg Opera), and CANDIDE (Associate Chor. NYC Opera). Film and television credits: Teaching Without Borders (Director, short documentary), I Saw A Man With Yellow Eyes starring Harry Connick Jr. and Katherine Heigl (Second Unit Director), PBS’s UNDER THE STREETLAMP (Consulting Dir.), DECEPTION (Chor.), One Life to Live (Chor.), CASHMERE MAFIA (Associate Chor.), THE STEPFORD WIVES (Associate Chor.), THE EXTRA MAN starring Kevin Kline (Associate Chor.), LITTLE MANHATTAN (Associate Chor.), and spent five years with HBO’s BOARDWALK EMPIRE as both associate choreographer and choreographer. She has recently been approached about choreographing two new television series for Netflix.
Commercials: Publix Grocery Stores (Dir./Chor.), “Dancin’ in the Sand” (Dir./Chor. award winning tourism video for the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Film Commission), Rooms To Go, and Sox in the City (Regional Emmy/Telly awards) Deanna has had the great pleasure of being a guest teacher in theatre dance at the University of California-Irvine and has taught at numerous theatrical conservatories and dance studios across the country. Students of hers have gone on to appear on Broadway, at Radio City Music Hall, and on So You Think You Can Dance. www.deannadys.com
Teaching Artists
