Danny Mefford
Danny Mefford (born May 18, 1982) is an American theatre director and choreographer. He has choreographed Broadway shows including Dear Evan Hansen, Fun Home, and Kimberly Akimbo. In the 2024–2025 season, he directed and choreographed a revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the Kennedy Center, with critics praising its energy and strong ensemble.
Mefford has also worked in television and film, staging sequences for Rise on NBC, creating dances for Dickinson on Apple TV+, and choreographing a scene for Fleishman Is in Trouble on FX. He is currently choreographing the film adaptation of Merrily We Roll Along, directed by Richard Linklater, which is filmed over a twenty-year span.
Education and early career: Mefford studied acting at the University of Evansville and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Brown University/Trinity Repertory Company program before moving to New York City. He began as an actor and switched to choreography after choreographing Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2006, which helped launch his career in dance-driven storytelling.
One of his early notable projects was Miss You Like Hell, which premiered at La Jolla Playhouse and later ran Off-Broadway at The Public Theater. The Los Angeles Times credited his choreography for emphasizing everyday movement and inclusivity.
Broadway and tours: His Broadway choreography includes Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The Bridges of Madison County, Fun Home, Dear Evan Hansen, and Kimberly Akimbo. He has also worked on large touring productions, including the North American tour of The Sound of Music. A new production of that show launched in 2025 at the Kennedy Center and played in more than 55 cities through 2026. He directed the national touring production of Shrek the Musical.
Future projects: Mefford is developing The Gorgeous Nothings, a new musical about six gay men imprisoned in 1930s New York and the drag performances they staged. He is directing and choreographing Amber Ruffin’s Off-Broadway musical Bigfoot!, announced in early 2026.
Awards: He has won a Fred & Adele Astaire Award and has been nominated for Drama Desk Awards and the Lucille Lortel Awards.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:36 (CET).