“…directed by Kelly Robinson who is one of Canada’s Broadway Musical Mavens, VIDA! is not only one of the world premieres at Luminato, but also a jewel in the Festival’s Crown … the stage throbs with vibrant movement” The Globe and Mail, Paula Citron
Kelly Robinson is a director and choreographer whose career spans opera, theatre, film and television. He has worked extensively in the United States with critically acclaimed productions of DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, LA BOHÈME and LA BELLE HELENE for the opera companies of Dallas, Utah, Portland and Arizona to his credit. In Canada, he has presented opera audiences in Edmonton, Victoria, Calgary, Winnipeg and Vancouver with new productions of works ranging from LES PÊCHEURS DE PÉRLES and EUGENE ONEGIN to Britten's THE TURN OF THE SCREW and LA CENERENTOLA. Mr. Robinson's work has been seen at the National Arts Centre (Ottawa), Canadian Stage Company (Toronto), the Palace Theatre (New York), the Vineyard Theatre (New York) and the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Centre. He is currently Director of the Opera as Theatre Programme and Director of Theatre Arts at the Banff Centre.
Mr. Robinson made his directorial debut in London’s West End with PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED, the World Premiere of a musical theatre creation by Gaudio with book and lyrics by Sarner and Liechling. His productions of SOUND OF MUSIC and GUYS AND DOLLS were huge successes at Ontario’s renowned Stratford Festival, breaking all records. In 2002 he directed Portland Opera’s COSI FAN TUTTE to great acclaim, and returned to Arizona Opera during the same season for Humperdinck’s HÄNSEL UND GRETEL in October. He was director for the world premiere of FILUMENA, libretto by John Murrell, music by John Estacio for Calgary Opera in February of 2003. Hailed at its premiere, the production was also presented at the Banff Centre, at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre and was produced in Edmonton (later filmed for television). Mr. Robinson staged SWEENEY TODD for the Calgary Opera and Arizona Opera, LE NOZZE DI FIGARO for the Banff Centre and UN BALLO IN MASCHERA for L’Opéra de Québec. Projects for 2005-2006 included ROMÉO ET JULIETTE for Opera Ontario and the Canadian Premiere of DEAD MAN WALKING plus DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE in Calgary. His creative energy led to the successful World Premiere of Estacio’s FROBISHER in Calgary, while recent and upcoming productions include the World Premiere of Tovey’s THE INVENTOR, BALLAD OF BABY DOE, LITTLE WOMEN and ARIADNE AUF NAXOS for Calgary Opera, RIGOLETTO and LILLIAN ALLING (a world premiere) for Vancouver Opera, DIE ZAUBERFLOTE for L’Opéra de Montreal and ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL for Arizona Opera. His 2011-2012 schedule is notable for LE NOZZE DI FIGARO for Opera Santa Barbara and Opera Hamilton’s IL TROVATORE.
Further credits include VIDA for the Luminato Festival in Toronto and in Havana, Cuba, WEST SIDE STORY for the Stratford Festival, the Gershwins’ A FOGGY DAY for the Shaw Festival and NEEDFIRE for Mirvish Productions at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Mr. Robinson is a former associate artistic director of the Banff Music Theatre Ensemble, Edmonton Opera and Comus Music Theatre in Toronto. Film and television credits include choreography for Columbia pictures, CBC, NBC and ABC television. He holds a law degree from York University and is Director of Creative Development for Mirvish Productions.
Arizona Opera Banff Centre Calgary Opera Canadian Opera Company (Ensemble) Dallas Opera Edmonton Opera Manitoba Opera Minnesota Opera Opéra de Québec Opera Lyra, Ottawa Opera Ontario Pacific Opera Victoria Portland Opera Utah Opera Vancouver Opera
Theatre
Canadian Stage Co. Eugene O’Neill Theater Center Manitoba Theatre Centre Mirvish Productions, Toronto MTG (New York) National Arts Centre, Ottawa Old Vic Theatre, England (workshop) Plymouth Theatre Royal, England Premiere Dance Theatre Rainbow Stage Shaftesbury Theatre, West End Shaw Festival Stage West Stratford Festival Theatre Calgary Vineyard Theatre (Workshops)
Film & Television
CBC, ABC, NBC, CTV, Global Columbia Pictures Simcom Productions Concerts Celine Dion in Concert Hamilton Philharmonic John MacDermott Sharon, Lois & Bram Toronto Symphony Pops Winnipeg Symphony Canadian Brass The Nylons
Concerts
Celine Dion in Concert John MacDermott Sharon, Lois & Bram Canadian Brass The Nylons
"Robinson staged "The Mikado" on an adrenaline rush. The action was non-stop...to Ko-Ko's wooing of Katisha, which provided some of the biggest laughs."
Arisona Daily Star - Cathalena E. Burch
“Perhaps the single largest credit for the production must go to Kelly Robinson, who co-directed and choreographed it. His choreography is an unusual blend of a kind of klutzy company-ness and the polished art of dancing.” ( Canadian Stage Company – COMPANY) The Globe & Mail – Ray Conologue
“…a theatrically dazzling production with some breathtaking moments…”
(Canadian Stage Company – THE THREE PENNY OPERA) Toronto Star – Robert Crew
“Director and choreographer, Kelly Robinson has given the work an enjoyably sharp-edged jazzy style that strongly recalls the Bob Fosse film .”
(Citadel Shoctor Theatre – HAPPY END) The Globe and Mail – Vancouver
“…and Kelly Robinson’s production of the show is beautifully crafted…The various effects of magic have been selected with theatrical taste and simplicity. His skill is much in evidence.”
(Young People’s Theatre – A CHRISTMAS CAROL) The Globe and Mail – Ray Conologue
“It’s…remarkable what director Kelly Robinson and his talented cast have done. He has an eye for detail. He enriches each scene with telling nuances so that the stage is always bustling with activity.”
(Stage West, Calgary – BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS) Calgary Sun – Louis B. Hobson
“One of the evening’s chief delights is the expert comedy director Kelly Robinson generates in moving his forces around the stage.”
(Edmonton Opera – H.M.S. PINAFORE) Edmonton Journal – Liz Nicholls
“Director Kelly Robinson’s creative staging is delightfully witty. Every movement, throughout the show is a treat.”
(Edmonton Opera – The MIKADO) The Edmonton Sun – Donna Marie Artuso
“Stage director Kelly Robinson has devised a wry, colorful production busy with snapping Japanese fans and twirling parasols. His chorus work is right on the money.”
Edmonton Journal – Mairi MacLean
“single set served effectively as the context for Kelly Robinson’s imaginative staging, which moved seamlessly between the principal singers and individual members of the chorus, the story unfolding with the taut pace of music theatre.” (Calgary Opera, SWEENEY TODD)
