MATT
WEST
Creating Live Entertainment
Bringing Magic to Life
Set Design by Stanley A. Meyer.
Photo - Disney on Broadway
"Matt West's choreography snaps with clean energy, and the tap number crackles through the audience like a live wire."— BroadwayWorld
"His version of 'Be Our Guest' might be some of the best staging I have ever seen." — Intermission
"Director and Choreographer Matt West paces this to perfection... West's stagecraft dazzles! In a word… magic!" — Katy Walsh, The Fourth Walsh
Welcome. I'm Matt West. My work has taken me from Broadway to stages around the world for more than five decades. My journey began at age 14 with the Walt Disney Company. At 18, I made my debut at Radio City Music Hall and eventually played the role of Bobby for four years in the Broadway production of A Chorus Line — a performance I later recreated in the film adaptation directed by Sir Richard Attenborough. Later, with the Disney Company in 1994, I choreographed the original Beauty and the Beast on Broadway and went on to direct and choreograph Stage Shows and Spectaculars on five continents. My approach blends storytelling with movement, scale with intimacy, and tradition with reinvention — always in service of the show, the company, and the audience. This site reflects that work and offers a window into the productions I've been fortunate to bring to life along the way. Enjoy!
Matt West — Director & Choreographer
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Matt West is the director and choreographer of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the new production currently touring North America. His relationship with Disney began at age 14 and has continued for more than five decades, making him one of the longest-tenured creative artists in the company's history.
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After his early performing work with Disney, West moved to New York City and began working immediately at Radio City Music Hall. He toured nationally as Barnaby in Hello, Dolly!, Fyedka in Fiddler on the Roof, and Hugo in Bye Bye Birdie, and performed in the legendary Lido de Paris show at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas. It was in Las Vegas that West auditioned for and was cast by Michael Bennett to play Bobby in the international production of A Chorus Line, which he later performed on Broadway for four years and which led to his definitive performance in Sir Richard Attenborough's film adaptation of A Chorus Line, the musical.​​
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Returning to Disney as a creative artist, West helped lay the groundwork for what became Disney Theatrical Productions. He choreographed the original Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast in 1994, which ran for 13 years and stands among the ten longest-running shows in Broadway history. West's choreography helped earn the show an Olivier Award for Best New Musical and garnered West a Drama-Logue Award, a Drama Desk nomination, and an Outer Critics Circle nomination. West's other credits include the Broadway production of Lestat (music by Sir Elton John, lyrics by Bernie Taupin, book by Linda Woolverton), the Alliance Theatre's Elaborate Lives, Disenchanted Off-Broadway, Little Shop of Horrors in Buenos Aires, and The Wanderer at Tokyo's Parco Theatre. For Disney Live Entertainment, West has directed and choreographed some of the company's most celebrated large-cast and technical spectaculars around the world, including Fantasmic!, World of Color, Dream Up!, and Jubilation! He also directed and choreographed the arena tour Trolls Live! for Cirque du Soleil, Disney's home video productions of The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and Peter Pan, and The Nutcracker for The Disney Channel.
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UNION AFFILIATION
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Matt West has been a member of SDC for over 35 years and is currently an active member of SDC and AEA.
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Matt West has been a member of five entertainment unions over his career. AGVA, AFTRA, SAG, AEA, SDC
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AWARDS
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1998 - Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Disney's Beauty and the Beast
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2026 - Disneyana Legend Award
PRESS
"Highly Recommended." — Chicago Tribune, Emily McClanathan
"West's staging has more razzle-dazzle than the Vegas Strip and makes 'Phantom of the Opera' look downright minimalistic... West packs in enough spectacle (including a scene of mind-blowing levitation) to keep anybody entertained, be they 6 or 60." — Chicago Sun-Times, July 16, 2025
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"'Be Our Guest' is a magnificent showpiece for West's choreography — a dance break that turns into a full Follies-style spectacle. It's exhilarating." — BroadwayWorld
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"His version of 'Be Our Guest' might be some of the best staging I have ever seen." — Intermission
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"West's stagecraft dazzles. In a word… magic." — The Fourth Walsh
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"Matt West's choreography snaps with clean energy, and the tap number crackles through the audience like a live wire." — BroadwayWorld
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"A master of both skill sets... His inventiveness and expertise is evident in this energetic and athletic production." — Chicago Theatre Review
"West's choreographical brilliance is carried throughout the production... a visual feast from start to finish." — Intermission
MY BODY OF WORK
Explore my current and past works below.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast · US Tour, 2025/Current
Director & Choreographer
Disney's Beauty and the Beast · AU/Singapore Tour, 2023/26
Director & Choreographer
Believe! Sea of Dreams · Tokyo DisneySea, 2022
Director & Choreographer
Disney's Beauty and the Beast · UK/Ireland Tour, 2022/23
Director & Choreographer
Dream Up! · Tokyo Disneyland 35th Anniversary Parade, 2018
Director & Choreographer
Disenchanted (Off-Broadway) · 2016
Choreographer - Musical Staging
Lestat (Broadway) · Palace Theatre, 2006
Choreographer - Musical Staging
Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Broadway) · Palace Theatre, 1994
Original Broadway Production - Choreographer
Fantasmic! Disneyland Resort · Walt Disney World, 1992/Current
Director & Choreographer
ADDITIONAL WORK
A selection of additional credits.
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Trolls Live! (Director & Choreographer) · Cirque du Soleil Arena Tour · 2019
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Mickey's Storybook Express Parade (Director & Choreographer) · Shanghai Disneyland · 2016
Inaugural Parade for Shanghai Disneyland · Longest parade route at any Disney park worldwide.
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Mimi le Duck (Musical Staging) · New World Stages, Off-Broadway · 2006
A new musical starring the legendary Eartha Kitt, with Annie Golden, Tom Aldredge, and Ken Jennings. Costumes by Tony Award winner Ann Hould-Ward.
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Little Shop of Horrors (Director & Choreographer) · Buenos Aires, Argentina · 2000
A Spanish-language production of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's beloved musical comedy.
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Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida (Choreographer) · Alliance Theatre, Atlanta · 1998
The pre-Broadway world premiere of the Elton John and Tim Rice musical that would later become Aida.
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The Wanderer (Director & Choreographer) · Parco Theatre, Tokyo · 1990
An original musical staged in Japan, exploring themes of travel, identity, and discovery.
CONTACT INFO
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For all inquiries, opportunities, and collaborations, please contact my agent,
Michael Moore
Michael Moore Agency
michael@michaelmooreagency.com
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I look forward to hearing from you.
