Kail and Blankenbuehler Win SSDC’s Callaway Awards

Thomas Kail and Andy Blankenbuehler are the winners of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers’ 2006-7 Joseph A. Callaway Awards for excellence for their direction and choreography of In The Heights. The awards will be bestowed tonight at the group’s annual membership meeting.

In the Heights, which features music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and a book by Quiara Alegría Hudes, played earlier this year at the 37 Arts Theater, and will transfer to Broadway next year. It is scheduled to begin previews on February 14 at the Richard Rodgers Theater, with opening night scheduled for March 9.

Kail received both Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Award nominations for his work on the show, while Blankenbuehler won the Lortel, Outer Critics, and Drama Desk awards for his work on the show. He has just been announced as the choreographer of the upcoming Broadway-bound musical 9 to 5, which will debut at L.A.’s Ahmanson Theatre in September 2008.