Dennis Courtney

Dennis H. Beaulne (born April 30, 1958), better known by his stage name Dennis Courtney, is an American stage director, choreographer, actor and teacher of master classes in auditioning for the theatre.[1] As a director, he is notable for winning the 2008 Israeli National Theatre Prize (Israel's TONY Award equivalent) for his work in the Cameri Theatre production of Fiddler On The Roof, in Tel Aviv.[2][3][4] The production closed on January 27, 2016 after a near 8-year run. As an actor, he made his Broadway debut in the 1979 production of Peter Pan with Sandy Duncan and George Rose.[5][6][7] Subsequent Broadway/National Tour/Production credits include Shenandoah with John Raitt (1984),[8] Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1984), Roza (1987) and Starlight Express (1989-1990).[9] He directed and choreographed a production of My Way, for the Riverside Center Theatre in Virginia[10] and It Shoulda Been You starring Kim Zimmer and 8 Track: The Sounds of the 70's for Gretna Theatre in July and August 2016.[11] In early 2017, he directed and choreographed Kiss Me, Kate at Kent State.[12] In March 2017 he directed the pre-Broadway workshop production of The Last Adam, a new musical by George Alex Livings and Jonathan Hickey. He has collaborated with playwright David Brian Colbert on a new play with music about the life of legendary performer, Ethel Waters, entitled Still Waters: The Life of the Legendary Ethel Waters. The play is currently in development.

Dennis Courtney
Dennis Courtney in Provincetown in 2016
Born (1958-04-30) April 30, 1958
Detroit, Michigan
Occupation(s)Director, Choreographer, Actor, Audition Coach
Years active1977-present
SpouseGrant Wheaton

Personal life

Born Denis Beaulne in Detroit, Michigan to French Canadian parents, Albert Beaulne and Claudette Perron. He took the stage name Dennis Courtney with his first union acting job in 1978. Courtney has 2 siblings - a sister, Rachelle Beaulne McKevlin and a brother, Raymond Beaulne. He also has a step-sister, Lori Hurren Harrell and a step-brother, William Hurren. Dennis' parents divorced in 1967 and both remarried. His mother married Harry Parr and his father married Anna Pasternacki. Harry Parr died in 1986, Anna Pasternacki Beaulne died on December 5, 2011.[13] Albert Beaulne is currently living in Cornelius, NC. Dennis' mother, Claudette, died on June 6, 2010.[14] Dennis has been in a long term relationship with entrepreneur, Grant Wheaton, since 2000.[15] Dennis and Grant became engaged on Christmas Day 2016 and married on July 29, 2017.

He graduated from Anderson High School in Cincinnati, Ohio and studied theatre at the University of Cincinnati. He currently resides in New York City and has homes in Sarasota, Florida and Palm Desert, California.

Notes
  1. Wilson, Angie (September 4, 2008). "Internationally Renowned Director/Choreographer in Cape Preparing for Opening Night at River Campus".
  2. "Cameri Theatre of Tel Aviv Repertoire" (PDF). www.cameri.co.il. pp. 21, "Fiddler On The Roof". Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-07-24.
  3. "Israel Prize Recipient". www.cameri.co.il.
  4. "Courtney recently won an Israeli Theatre Prize, Israel's equivalent of the Tony Award, for his work in "Fiddler on the Roof."". February 8, 2010.
  5. "Broadway World - Dennis Courtney Theatre Credits".
  6. "IBDB Internet Broadway Database, Dennis Courtney, performer". www.ibdb.com.
  7. "Peter Pan Broadway Revival 1979".
  8. "Shenandoah". www.ovrtur.com.
  9. "Starlight Express (First National Tour)". www.ovrtur.com.
  10. Walker, Jeffrey (June 3, 2015). "BWW Reviews: MY WAY Brings Back Sinatra in a Tuneful Revue at Riverside Center".
  11. "Gretna Theatre 2016 Season". 2016.
  12. "Dennis Courtney 2016-2017 Roe Green Visiting Director". www.kentstate.edu. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  13. "Legacy' Anna F. Pasternacki Beaulne". December 5, 2011.
  14. "Tributes Claudette Parr". June 6, 2010.
  15. Lasasso, Anthony (2008). "THE 7-DAY DATING AND RELATIONSHIP PLAN FOR GAY MEN By GRANT WHEATON With DENNIS COURTNEY" (PDF).

Official Website - http://www.denniscourtney.com

Dennis Courtney (http://ibdb.com/person.php?id=92973) at the Internet Broadway Database

Dennis Courtney (http://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Dennis-Courtney/#) at BroadwayWorld.com

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