Adam Cates has built a career in the entertainment field as a director, choreographer, playwright, producer, best-selling author, creative consultant, and arts educator. As a New York City based artist for 20 years, Adam taught at PACE UNIVERSITY, BROADWAY DANCE CENTER, STEPS, MARYMOUNT MANHATTAN COLLEGE, and THE GROWING STUDIO. He is a founding faculty member of the COMMERCIAL DANCE INTENSIVE and DANCERS INC. convention, and has conducted classes and workshops across the United States, Canada, Spain, and Bermuda.
Adam is the author of THE BUSINESS OF SHOW, a best-selling guidebook for young professionals. He co-conceived, choreographed, and co-wrote the libretto for THE WORLD ACCORDING TO SNOOPY in collaboration with Larry Grossman, Andrew Lippa, Kaitlin Hopkins, and The Peanuts Worldwide. Since premiering at Theater Under the Stars, the show is available for worldwide license from Concord Theatricals. Regional credits as a director of musicals and opera include[read] A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER, BIG RIVER, MARIA DE BUENOS AIRES, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and ANYTHING GOES. At Juilliard Opera, Adam provided movement and intimacy choreography for THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA described as “a viscerally overwhelming performance…with uninhibited emotion and physicality.” – The New York Times. Choreography highlights include the American premiere of JEEVES & WOOSTER IN PERFECT NONSENSE (Hartford Stage), LA BOHEME (The Santa Fe Opera), Disney’s BEAUTY & THE BEAST (Music Theatre Wichita), THE LITTLE MERMAID (Arkansas Rep), MY FAIR LADY (Gulfshore Playhouse), and several concerts at LINCOLN CENTER. On Broadway, Adam associate choreographed ANASTASIA and the Tony-winning “Best New Musical” A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE & MURDER. He assisted Kathleen Marshall on the Tony-winning ANYTHING GOES, and Tommy Tune & Patti Colombo on the national tour of DOCTOR DOLITTLE. He associate directed national tours of A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE . . . and THE WIZARD OF OZ, and associate choreographed television episodes of 90210 and LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER. Adam holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts/Performance Creation from Goddard College and a BA in Theatre from the University of Utah. His hometown, Reno, Nevada, proclaimed November 24th, 2014 “Adam Cates Day” in honor of his contribution to the arts.[/read]
