“Most of the time you go to the theatre and you say, ‘I’ve seen that
before,’
or, ‘Gosh, I could have done that,’” says Peter Schneider,
former president of feature animation at Disney
who has since returned
to his first love, directing and producing theatre.
“What’s so
extraordinary about Ken is that every time I see his work
or even just
talk to him—there’s no chance I could have done that.
His mind is so interesting and unique and odd.”
"While this website is focused on offering a somewhat comprehensive look at my work over many years, I hope that it also reflects and honors the incredible work by my profound mentors, warrior producers, magical directors and designers, and the incomparable performers that I've been blessed to work with. Ask me all about them! Together we created very special teams-communities-families that have made my life rich and worthwhile. I'm excited to be a part of another team, either as a leader or facilitator of another's inspired vision." - Ken About Ken:
From his multiple new works commissions by LA's premiere theater company, Center Theater Group,
to writing and directing feature film musicals, to performing in music videos for
Florence + the Machine and System of a Down, Ken's interests and talents have brought him
to many exciting arts venues around the U.S. and Europe, including New York City Opera,
Disney Hall's REDCAT, and London's Bussey Building.
(a comprehensive bio, below)
film - theater - music - dance
click: music
Ken Roht, bio...
Aug '24
After three years, two arts grants and one star-turn as an operatic French dandy in small town northwest Ireland,
Ken is back on the west coast of the U. S of A.
From January 2018 to August 2020, he was the Producing Artistic Director of Daniel's Art Party,
From January 2018 to August 2020, he was the Producing Artistic Director of Daniel's Art Party,
a professional, community-engagement, multimedia program
at the Daniel Arts Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
He is currently creating online arts and entertainment.
Ken co-directed The Behavior of Broadus, co-produced by Center Theater Group,
which was awarded Best Musical
in Los Angeles and is now published by Samuel French. Ken received the Best Choreographer award.
in Los Angeles and is now published by Samuel French. Ken received the Best Choreographer award.
C.T.G. commissioned him
twice,
in 2014 and 2016, to write and direct progressive holiday musicals. And, he choreographed
Moises Kaufman’s production of Bent at C.T.G.’s Mark Taper Forum.
in 2014 and 2016, to write and direct progressive holiday musicals. And, he choreographed
Moises Kaufman’s production of Bent at C.T.G.’s Mark Taper Forum.
As a filmmaker, Ken's film Perfect Cowboy screened
opening weekend in Los Angeles’ OUTFEST, which celebrated Ken
as one of their top five writer/directors to follow, "5 in Focus". An accomplished actor, Ken acted the title role.
as one of their top five writer/directors to follow, "5 in Focus". An accomplished actor, Ken acted the title role.
Ken adapted, directed and choreographed Duke
Ellington's Queenie Pie for Chicago Opera Theater,
and the highly successful production of the Czech opera The Good Soldier Schweik at Long Beach Opera.
Ken directed and choreographed an evening of Offenbach for Bard Summerscape Festival in New York,
and his one-act opera Last Resort, in which he played a lead role, opened the first New Works Festival at Disney’s REDCAT.
He is the creator and director of the celebrated 99c Shows, sponsored by the 99c Only Stores chain.
Seven original musicals in eight years.
and the highly successful production of the Czech opera The Good Soldier Schweik at Long Beach Opera.
Ken directed and choreographed an evening of Offenbach for Bard Summerscape Festival in New York,
and his one-act opera Last Resort, in which he played a lead role, opened the first New Works Festival at Disney’s REDCAT.
He is the creator and director of the celebrated 99c Shows, sponsored by the 99c Only Stores chain.
Seven original musicals in eight years.
Ken was a recipient of the 2010 COLA grant
from the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs,
for writing, directing and performing in a one-act opera, Permissible Union.
for writing, directing and performing in a one-act opera, Permissible Union.
He also received the 2003 Audrey Skirball Kenis $45,000 TIME Grant,
awarded to only five others in the country. Ken has been granted and/or commissioned by Durfee Foundation,
Common Ground Festival, Dance Theater Workshop, California Arts Council,
and Evidence Room Theater.
awarded to only five others in the country. Ken has been granted and/or commissioned by Durfee Foundation,
Common Ground Festival, Dance Theater Workshop, California Arts Council,
and Evidence Room Theater.
Ken choreographed Monodramas and Moses in Egypt
for New York City Opera,
and Philharmonic
360 for New York Philharmonic,
both for director/designer Michael Counts. Other choreography offerings include ones for New York’s Playwrights Horizons,
La Jolla Playhouse, Yale Repertory, Opera Boston, Oregon Shakespeare Festival (seven seasons),
Getty Villa, Kirk Douglas Theater and Lookingglass Theater in Chicago.
both for director/designer Michael Counts. Other choreography offerings include ones for New York’s Playwrights Horizons,
La Jolla Playhouse, Yale Repertory, Opera Boston, Oregon Shakespeare Festival (seven seasons),
Getty Villa, Kirk Douglas Theater and Lookingglass Theater in Chicago.
As a performer, Ken was a principal actor in
videos by artists Bill Viola and Winsome Brown;
danced in Florence + The Machine’s “What Kind of Man” video; and for British video artist Jacob Sutton,
both choreographed by Ryan Heffington. Ken co-starred with an alligator in
danced in Florence + The Machine’s “What Kind of Man” video; and for British video artist Jacob Sutton,
both choreographed by Ryan Heffington. Ken co-starred with an alligator in
System of a Down's music video, "Beethoven's C*nt".
He was a company member and
choreographer, for seven years, for experimental theater auteur Reza Abdoh.
Ken has led
Master Classes for California Institute of the Arts, AMDA Conservatory,
Occidental College, University
of Oregon,
CSU Summer Arts, Cal State Los Angeles, University of South Dakota, Augustana College, Wichita State University,
Cal State Northridge and Spaufford Detention Center, Brooklyn, New York.
CSU Summer Arts, Cal State Los Angeles, University of South Dakota, Augustana College, Wichita State University,
Cal State Northridge and Spaufford Detention Center, Brooklyn, New York.
