Wichita State University - Musical Theatre Program and Dance Program Guest Artist:
ANDREW PALERMO
In 2008, artist-in-residence, Andrew Palermo contributed his immense talent to Wichita
State University in a number of ways. In January, Palermo served as Guest Choreographer
for the Wichita State Opera and Musical Theatre production, The Wild Party, courtesy of the Harold and Dorothy Hauck Fund for Music Theatre. In May, he served
as Director and Choreographer for the production of Hair. According to Marie King, Director of Opera, he, "has some new ideas that will challenge
what people know about Hair and reach into new parts of the work's psyche to present a contemporary face and
take on the classic work."
The WSU Dance Program was honored to have him and co-founder Taye Diggs direct the
Connoisseur Series: dre.dance at Miller Concert Hall in September 2008*. Their New York City based contemporary
dance company fuses the extraordinary with the everyday. Emotion and power drive the
company's aesthetic, while simultaneously maintaining authenticity. The group will
premiere its new full-evening work beyond.words, 
a powerful piece that prompts exploration into the experience and acceptance of autism
through a movement vocabulary discovered and developed in workshops with autistic
children.
Outside of dre.dance, his stage choreography credits include Great Joy at New Amsterdam Theatre, Kristin Chenoweth at Carnegie Hall, X'Posed/Jai Rodriquez at Hudson Theatre, and Journey to the West at 37 Arts, among others.
Palermo's performing highlights include original Broadway casts of Wicked and Annie Get Your Gun, and the Broadway revival of How to Succeed Without Really Trying. Palermo has toured national and internationally with West Side Story, and performed Off-Broadway in Michael John La Chiusa's Little Fish. Other performing credits include Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl and numerous regional theatres. For the camera, Palermo has choreographed for Comedy Central's Stella, the film Holey Habits, and commercials for G-Shock and The Showtime Network/Apple Computers.
*This presentation was supported by Mid-America Arts Alliance with generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts, Kansas Arts Commission and foundations, corporations and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.