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Russell Wright

@rustyphreshness

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Opening tonight!

So incredibly thrilled to have choreographed 13 the Musical for Korsa Musical Theatre Company @korsamusicaltheater . Getting to be a part of this high-energy, hilarious, and heartfelt show has been an absolute joy. Collaborating with the brilliant Celeste Kamiya @jessicafirestolemystuff as director 🫶🏾💥🦉🚀 has made the entire process pure magic!

This cast of remarkable middle school students has poured their absolute all into every single number! Much love to this phenomenal group of storytellers! You will most def rock your opening night! 🎭✨

#RussellWrightChoreography by @rustyphreshness

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3 months ago

🎶 It’s Throwback Saturday!🎭

With all the well-deserved Tony Award winning hoopla surrounding the Ragtime revival currently on Broadway in 2026, I couldn’t help but take a little trip down memory lane to 2011, when I had the honor of choreographing this incredible show for Korsa Musical Theatre alongside the amazing Jennifer Boesing at the director’s helm.

Working on that production is a memory I still hold so close to my heart. So, why not dust off the “archives?”

Here is a look at my version of “The Gettin’ Ready Rag,” brought to life by a truly dazzling cast of teenage performers who to put it colloquially, “Left no crumbs!”

Enjoy this blast from the past! 💃🏾✨

#RussellWrightChoreography by @rustyphreshness

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4 months ago

Another clip from of the fourth, fifth sixth grade 2011 production of Cats. It’s Throwback Thursday, so why not another Cats post!? The one I posted recently received amazing feedback, and Lo and Behold! None other than original Broadway cast member Ms. Betty Buckley @blbuckley commented! I saw her in Cats (and other amazing performances). She is one of the reasons why I wanted to direct and choreograph a youth performance, so to know she saw my post sent me into orbit!

So here is a cli p from that same 2011, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade production of Cats, featuring one of the many song that Ms. Betty Buckley originated on Broadway, “Memory.” A few years later I saw Ms. Buckley in “Drood” and for the Act Two finale she did a high E that to this day I feel in my bones.

So, when Milo Boland played the role of “Grizabello, (to my knowledge the only cisgendered male to have played the role)” in this production of Cats, I asked him if he would option up at the end of “Memory” a la Ms. Betty Buckley in Drood, and he was game.

So here is the end of the song, 6th grade with @miloboland in the production of Cats that I directed and chorey in 2011. Like Ms. Buckley’s rendition Milo received thunderous applause. Although Milo stayed in Grizabello method acting mode, the rest of the cast broke character and started clapping too! If you want see Milo Boland all grown up go see Mean Girls the Musical at the Ray of Light Theatre in San Francisco. The link is in my bio. Thank you, Ms. Betty Buckley for your service in the theater. I’m inspired by you to this very day! by @rustyphreshness

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5 months ago

It’s throwback Thursday! Cats, the musical, is not only back on Broadway. It is also currently running locally at the Berkeley Playhouse. So why not post a scene from the 2011 production of Cats I directed and co-choreographed, featuring these amazing 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. This scene is the adagio just before the final section, “When Cats are Maddened by the Midnight Frenzy.”

#RussellWrightChoreography
#RussellWrightTheatre @_bobby_jean_ by @rustyphreshness

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5 months ago

It’s hard to believe that most of these middle schoolers had never danced before or had limited dance background! This is a dance that represents the fusion of the African diaspora from the West Coast of Africa, to the shape it took in the Americas, with choreography by yours truly, influenced by traditional West African, using rhythms from that region as well as the African American spiritual “Wade in the Water,” making it also a tribute to not only our ancestors, but Alvin Ailey as well.

It’s throwback Thursday, so… flashback to 2004 working under the production expertise of Emily Klion, this is a snippet from San Francisco Day School’s summer Center Stage program.

Amazing set by @jennifbur

Drumming by Josh Jacobs

#RussellWrightChoreography by @rustyphreshness

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6 months ago

Happy Birthday, Mama!

My Mama, Mary Wright, would be 96 years old today. It’s hard to believe she has been gone for 18 years. This video snippet is a dance from the last show that I directed choreographed that my mother saw 🫶🏾🔥🙌🏾🪷

The night before she died, she knew, to quote a gospel song she liked that “Time” was “Winding Up.” She realized that for the first time since I’d started working at Walden School she would miss the annual Upper Group Play in 2008. She mentioned as much. I was very touched that she would think of something that was many months away while she was terminally ill. The play she last attended, which she saw 6 months before she died, I was able to surprise her when the cast sang “Mary is a Grand Old Name,” the first line goes “My mother’s name is Mary..” The audience knew my Mama as she was a regular, so all eyes were on her, and the amazing soloist, Luna Lewis @lu.lu.lew pretty much sang it directly to her. The look on Miss Mary’s face, I shall never forget. Sheer pride and joy. That smile!

Here is a clip from the finale dance from that show which I titled “I Know You Got Soul.” Mama said she loved this dance. She couldn’t believe how much joy, energy, and skill the kids put into it. She said that I was a pretty good choreographer too. Best compliment ever! The song is called “Kajre Re.” It’s from the Bollywood film, “Bunt Aur Babli.” Miss you

#RussellWrightChoreography
#RussellWrightTheatre by @rustyphreshness

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7 months ago

by @rustyphreshness

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7 months ago

It’s Throwback Thursday so time to revisit 2018 with an African American Gospel hip hop dance. Love this amazing crew of talented 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students! Choreography by yours truly. #russellwrightchoreography by @rustyphreshness

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7 months ago

It’s Throwback Thursday, so I wanted to honor and celebrate recent Grammy Award winning artist and activist, Kehlani Parrish. This flashback goes back to the summer of 2008, with 13 year old Kehlani performing as a part of Young People’s Theatre Group, summer program performance. The snippet is from a show I directed and wrote, Urban Legends, with @katystephan as musical director.
Fun fact: she is singing to her good friend and godfather to her child, at Edward Hajari!

Here she is singing the gospel style song, “You Can’t Get to Heaven (on One Hallelujah).

I love you, Kehlani! by @rustyphreshness

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8 months ago

I was thrilled to have my birthday brunch at Curio Bar SF. Incredible food and outstanding service for my family and friends. Julio, our waitperson (pictured with me in front of the restaurant, 3rd photo), did the most amazing juggling act gracefully, efficiently, serenely, and promptly making sure that the 25 plus guests, were fed, and well cared for. I am grateful to each and every guest as your presence meant so much to me! I am one Happy Birthday Bro! And of course, endless gratitude to Patricia at @curiobarsf for the supportive, advanced planning. I felt so special, and to my good friend, Tim, @the_happyepicurean
For making me aware and taking me to this wonderful restaurant, which led me to this incredible experience for my birthday! by @rustyphreshness

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9 months ago

@dont.callme.rachel @prillyshandmadejewelry @lucia_rose___ @raq_abril @gxramirez by @rustyphreshness

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9 months ago

It’s Throwback Thursday, so here’s a lil’ June 2019 vibes. I loveee rehearsal clips, so here goes!

Choreography in an Afro-Brazilian vibe, in rehearsal with performers ages 10-12. From 2019's Ain't No Half Steppin,' a reimagining of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Walden Center and School, directed and choreographed by Russell Wright.

@elijahcopperman
@auggiefroggie123
@picklepeeps1
@addiepearl

#RussellWrightChoreography
#RussellWrightTheatre by @rustyphreshness

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10 months ago