Olivier award for dance trailblazer

A talented choreographer who attended Tring Park Performing Arts School has triumphed in the recent Olivier Awards.
Founders Day 2014, Tring ParkFounders Day 2014, Tring Park
Founders Day 2014, Tring Park

Drew McOnie, aged 30, received an Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer for his work on In The Heights at the King’s Cross Theatre at the awards ceremony at the Royal Opera House on April 3.

Drew was also responsible for the choreography for Bugsy Malone at the Lyric, Hammersmith, which also received a nomination for Best Musical Revival.

He won a Broadway World Award for Best Choreography for the touring production of Hairspray the Musical.

Drew is well remembered by his teachers at Tring Park School.

The school’s director of dance, Rachel Rist, said: “Drew was an outstanding young man.

“He trained at Tring from age 11 to 18 and by the time he graduated, we knew from his commitment and passion for dance, combined with his flair for choreography and design, that he would not only be a very successful dancer but also a trailblazer in the dance industry.

“We are incredibly proud of all that Drew has achieved, and we have no doubt that he will continue to achieve great things.

“Drew was always going to be outstanding.

“Drew, along with many of his peers in that year group, were all incredibly passionate about dance and they inspired each other.”

Drew is the artistic director of the McOnie Company, for which he is creating a brand new dance thriller, Jekyll and Hyde, which premieres on the Old Vic’s main stage next month.

This summer he is involved in Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar.