RICHARD JESSUP (director & choreographer) has been performing professionally since 1977, choreographing professionally since 1979, and has directed professionally since 1994. He has directed and/or choreographed over 70 musical theatre productions, from his first, Grease; to his personal favorites, The King and I and Follies. Previously this year, he has directed and/or choreographed productions of Annie Get Your Gun (Seattle), plus The Shedd Theatrical 2013 productions of No No Nanette and The Music Man (co-choreographer). Richard was artistic director of Southern Oregon’s Rogue Music Theatre, co-directed Seattle’s Jessup/Jenkins Dance Studios, and is the founding producer of the Against the Grain/MEN IN DANCE Festival in Seattle. Richard currently directs and choreographs independently, teaches jazz and musical theatre dance, in both Southern California and Seattle, and is a professional massage therapist focusing on a water massage called watsu.