Mike Ockrent

Michael Robert "Mike" Ockrent (18 June 1946 – 2 December 1999) 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, The Nerd and Follies, he became an established figure in London theatre. In 1986 he made a successful transition to New York City with Me and My Girl that earned several Tony Award nominations. In later life Ockrent worked in film, mainly straight-to-TV movies.

Mike Ockrent

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 leukaemia in New York in 1999. Ockrent's son is the screenwriter and director Ben Ockrent.[1]

A charitable trust now exists in his name.[2] 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'".

Work

Filmography
  • Shakespeare Lives! (1982) TV series (co-producer)
  • Bestseller (1985) (TV) (director)
  • Mrs. Capper's Birthday (1985) (TV) (a.k.a. Star Quality: Mrs. Capper's Birthday (UK)) (director)
  • Dancin' Thru the Dark (1990) (director)
  • Money for Nothing (1993/II) (TV) (a.k.a. Hot Millions (USA) or Screen One: Money for Nothing (UK: series title)) (director)
  • A Christmas Carol (2004/I) (TV) (musical) (a.k.a. A Christmas Carol: The Musical (USA)) (screenplay)

Stage

Novel
  • Running Down Broadway (1992)

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 Furber and Stephen Fry)
  • 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
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gollark: I guess just count total betrayals, take 2^that or something, and count if there was a betrayal in that many recent moves.
gollark: With my minor tweak where after round 93 of 100 they start engaging in evilness.
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References
  1. McKinley, Jesse. "Mike Ockrent, 53, Who Directed On Broadway and in London". Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  2. http://www.mikeockrent.com Archived 1 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Programme for Happy Birthday, Sir Larry, dated 31 May 1987
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