Mike Ockrent
Encyclopedia
Mike Ockrent was a British stage director, well-known both for his Broadway
musicals and smaller niche plays. He was educated at Highgate School
. Through directing Educating Rita
and Follies
, he became an established figure in London
theatre. In 1986 he made a successful transition to New York
with Me and My Girl
that earned several Tony Award
nominations. In later life Ockrent worked in film, mainly straight-to-TV movies.
In 1992 Ockrent worked with Susan Stroman
on Crazy for You
and other productions. They were married in 1996 and remained so until Ockrent's death from leukemia
in New York in 1999.
A charitable trust now exists in his name. The trust aims to give access to theatre for children with cancer, involving nights at the theatre with visits backstage afterwards. It also funds leukaemia research, "both mainstream and 'alternative'".
Nominations
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musicals and smaller niche plays. He was educated at Highgate School
Highgate School
-Notable members of staff and governing body:* John Ireton, brother of Henry Ireton, Cromwellian General* 1st Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, owner of Kenwood, noted for judgment finding contracts for slavery unenforceable in English law* T. S...
. Through directing Educating Rita
Educating Rita (film)
Educating Rita is a 1983 film of Willy Russell's play of the same title directed by Lewis Gilbert and stars Julie Walters, Michael Caine, and Maureen Lipman with a screenplay by Russell.-Premise:...
and Follies
Follies
Follies is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The story concerns a reunion in a crumbling Broadway theatre, scheduled for demolition, of the past performers of the "Weismann's Follies," a musical revue , that played in that theatre between the World Wars...
, he became an established figure in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
theatre. In 1986 he made a successful transition to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with Me and My Girl
Me and My Girl
Me and My Girl is a musical with book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose and music by Noel Gay. It takes place in the late 1930s in Hampshire, Mayfair, and Lambeth....
that earned several Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
nominations. In later life Ockrent worked in film, mainly straight-to-TV movies.
In 1992 Ockrent worked with Susan Stroman
Susan Stroman
Susan Stroman is an American theatre director, choreographer, film director, and performer. She has won the Tony Award for both her choreography and direction, notably for the stage musical The Producers.-Early years:...
on Crazy for You
Crazy for You
Crazy for You is a musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin. Billed as "The New Gershwin Musical Comedy", it is largely based on the songwriting team’s 1930 musical, Girl Crazy, but interpolates songs from several other productions as well...
and other productions. They were married in 1996 and remained so until Ockrent's death from leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in New York in 1999.
A charitable trust now exists in his name. The trust aims to give access to theatre for children with cancer, involving nights at the theatre with visits backstage afterwards. It also funds leukaemia research, "both mainstream and 'alternative'".
Filmography
- Shakespeare Lives! (1982) TV series (co-producer)
- Bestseller (1985 film)|Bestseller (1985) (TV) (director)
- Mrs. Capper's Birthday (1985) (TV) (aka Star Quality: Mrs. Capper's Birthday (UK)) (director)
- Dancin' Thru the DarkDancin' Thru the DarkDancin' thru the Dark is a 1990 British film directed by Mike Ockrent and written by Willy Russell. It is based on the play Stags and Hens by the same author. The film stars Con O'Neill, Claire Hackett, Simon O'Brien, Julia Deakin and Mark Womack....
(1990) (director) - Money for Nothing (1993/II) (TV) (aka Hot Millions (USA) or Screen One: Money for Nothing (UK: series title)) (director)
- A Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol (2004 film)A Christmas Carol, also known as A Christmas Carol: The Musical, is a 2004 television film based on a 1994 stage musical of the same name, with songs written by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens . The musical is based on Charles Dickens' famous 1843 novella of the same name, produced by Hallmark...
(2004/I) (TV) (musical) (aka A Christmas Carol: The Musical (USA)) (screenplay)
Stage
- The Dead of Night by Stanley EvelingStanley EvelingStanley Eveling, or Harry Stanley Eveling was an English playwright and academic, based in Scotland. Eveling was educated at Rutherford College and Samuel King's School...
(1975) - Once a CatholicOnce a CatholicOnce a Catholic is a play by Mary O'Malley.Once a Catholic was a comedy first performed at The Royal Court Theatre in 1977, directed by Mike Ockrent....
(1979) - Rowan Atkinson at the Atkinson (1986)
- Me and My GirlMe and My GirlMe and My Girl is a musical with book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose and music by Noel Gay. It takes place in the late 1930s in Hampshire, Mayfair, and Lambeth....
(1986 - 1989) - Happy Birthday, Sir Larry (31 May 1987) an 80th birthday tribute to Sir Laurence Olivier
- Crazy for YouCrazy for YouCrazy for You is a musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin. Billed as "The New Gershwin Musical Comedy", it is largely based on the songwriting team’s 1930 musical, Girl Crazy, but interpolates songs from several other productions as well...
(1992 - 1996) (Ockrent conceived the idea) - A Christmas Carol (1995)
- BigBig, The MusicalBig: the musical is a musical adaptation of the 1988 Tom Hanks film Big. It was directed by Mike Ockrent and featured music by David Shire and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., with choreography by Susan Stroman. It involves a 12-year-old boy, Josh Baskin, who grows up overnight after being granted a...
(1996) - King David (1997)
Awards and nominations
Awards- 1987 - Drama Desk Award Outstanding Book - Me and My Girl
- 1987 - Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical - Me and My Girl
Nominations
- 1987 - Tony Award Best Book of a Musical - Me and My Girl (joint with L. Arthur Rose, Douglas FurberDouglas FurberDouglas Furber was a British lyricist and playwright.Furber is best known for the lyrics to the 1937 song The Lambeth Walk and the libretto to the musical Me and My Girl, composed by Noel Gay, from which it came. This show made broadcasting history when in 1939 it became the first full length...
and Stephen FryStephen FryStephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
) - 1987 - Tony Award Best Direction of a Musical - Me and My Girl
- 1992 - Drama Desk Award Best Direction of a Musical - Crazy for You
- 1992 - Drama Desk Award Outstanding Director of a Musical - Crazy for You