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Cyndi Lauper, Matthew Morrison, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and More Honor Jerry Mitchell with 2013 “Mr. Abbott” Award

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation presented Mitchell with the honor on Monday, May 13.

New York City

May 14, 2013

Tony Award-winning choreographer and director Jerry Mitchell was presented with the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation’s 2013 “Mr. Abbott” Award in a ceremony held Monday, May 13 at B.B. King’s. The award is named in honor of renowned director George Abbott and is presented to a director or choreographer in recognition of lifetime achievement.

Mitchell received Tony Award nominations for his direction and choreography of Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s new musical, Kinky Boots, currently running at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. He received Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics’ Circle Awards for choreographing the 2005 Tony Award-winning La Cage aux Folles and was nominated for the Tony as choreographer of Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray, Never Gonna Dance, and The Full Monty.

On hand to celebrate Mitchell’s career were Kinky Boots writers Lauper and Fierstein, stars Billy Porter, Stark Sands, and Annaleigh Ashford, and designers David Rockwell and Kenneth Posner; Hairspray director Jack O’Brien and stars Matthew Morrison and Marissa Jaret Winokur; Legally Blonde stars Christian Borle and Andy Karl; The Full Monty‘s Andre De Shields, and many others.

Check out photos from the event in the gallery below.

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Honoree Jerry Mitchell smiles alongside George Abbott’s widow, Joy.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Honoree Jerry Mitchell smiles alongside George Abbott’s widow, Joy.
(© David Gordon)

2013 Tony Award nominee Cyndi Lauper is the coauthor of <i>Kinky Boots</i>, Jerry Mitchell’s most recent musical.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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2013 Tony Award nominee Cyndi Lauper is the coauthor of Kinky Boots, Jerry Mitchell’s most recent musical.
(© David Gordon)

Tony Award-nominated <i>Kinky Boots</i> star Stark Sands and book writer Harvey Fierstein smile for the cameras.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Tony Award-nominated Kinky Boots star Stark Sands and book writer Harvey Fierstein smile for the cameras.
(© David Gordon)

2013 Tony Award nominee Billy Porter stars in Jerry Mitchell’s latest musical, <i>Kinky Boots</i>.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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2013 Tony Award nominee Billy Porter stars in Jerry Mitchell’s latest musical, Kinky Boots.
(© David Gordon)

Matthew Morrison and Marissa Jaret Winokur reunite after starring in <i>Hairspray</i>, which Jerry Mitchell choreographed.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Matthew Morrison and Marissa Jaret Winokur reunite after starring in Hairspray, which Jerry Mitchell choreographed.
(© David Gordon)

2013 Tony Award nominee Annaleigh Ashford is among the cast members of <i>Kinky Boots</i>, the most recent musical Jerry Mitchell directs and choreographs.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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2013 Tony Award nominee Annaleigh Ashford is among the cast members of Kinky Boots, the most recent musical Jerry Mitchell directs and choreographs.
(© David Gordon)

Christian Borle starred in <i>Legally Blonde</i>, which Jerry Mitchell directed in 2007.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Christian Borle starred in Legally Blonde, which Jerry Mitchell directed in 2007.
(© David Gordon)

Andy Karl costarred in <i>Legally Blonde</i>, the first musical that Jerry Mitchell both directed and choreographed.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Andy Karl costarred in Legally Blonde, the first musical that Jerry Mitchell both directed and choreographed.
(© David Gordon)

Director Jack O’Brien has worked with Jerry Mitchell on many productions including <i>Hairspray</i> and <i>Dirty Rotten Scoundrels</i>.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Director Jack O’Brien has worked with Jerry Mitchell on many productions including Hairspray and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
(© David Gordon)

Director/choreographer Bob Avian gave Jerry Mitchell his first job, in the national tour of the landmark musical, <i>A Chorus Line</i>.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Director/choreographer Bob Avian gave Jerry Mitchell his first job, in the national tour of the landmark musical, A Chorus Line.
(© David Gordon)

Musical director John McDaniel smiles alongside performer Andre De Shields, who starred in <i>The Full Monty</i>, a show that was choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. <br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Musical director John McDaniel smiles alongside performer Andre De Shields, who starred in The Full Monty, a show that was choreographed by Jerry Mitchell.
(© David Gordon)

Sergio Trujillo and Jack Noseworthy get close for the camera.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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David Rockwell and Kenneth Posner are the Tony Award-nominated set and lighting designers of Jerry Mitchell’s latest production, <i>Kinky Boots</i>.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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David Rockwell and Kenneth Posner are the Tony Award-nominated set and lighting designers of Jerry Mitchell’s latest production, Kinky Boots.
(© David Gordon)

Andrew Lippa composed original music for the 1999 revival of <i>You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown</i>, the first musical Jerry Mitchell fully choreographed.<br />(© David Gordon)”/>
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Andrew Lippa composed original music for the 1999 revival of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, the first musical Jerry Mitchell fully choreographed.
(© David Gordon)