By Fabrizio O. Almeida

Sergio Trujillo has a talent for continuing a conversation exactly at the point where he left off, something that serves the choreographer well during an extended interview at the Argo Tea near the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre. It’s where his latest project, the highly anticipated musical version of “The Addams Family,” is in previews for a December 9 world premiere.

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and he’s in the middle of relating how Debbie Allen (of “Fame” fame) became his sponsor for his Green Card in the early nineties—Trujillo is Canadian by nationality and Colombian by birth—when he leaves briefly to retrieve a tomato-goat-cheese quiche and nonfat latte. He is describing his collaboration with “Addams Family’”s innovative co-directors/designers Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch (“amazing but a new way of working for me”) when he answers his iPhone to clarify a note to an assistant. There is the time Trujillo has to excuse himself for twenty minutes in order to run back to the Oriental to give notes to the cast. Later, at the brand-new Puma flagship store across from the theater (“I’ve been dying to check this place out,” he says), he begins telling me how he had been mugged two weeks earlier on State Street following a late-night production meeting, then stops to admire a pair of black Pumas.  “I love these,” he says.

To witness Trujillo squeeze an in-depth interview, lunch, a notes session and window shopping on Black Friday into ninety minutes is to receive a master class in the art of multitasking. But it makes sense given how busy he’s been. “This is probably the best year I’ve had choreographically,” he says modestly. “It started with ‘Guys and Dolls’ [the Broadway revival], then I did ‘West Side Story’ [for Canada’s Stratford Festival], then ‘Next to Normal’ [Off-Broadway, since transferred to Broadway], then I did ‘Tarzan’ [in Germany], then ‘Memphis’ [also on Broadway] and now ‘Addams Family.’” And if you count the blockbuster “Jersey Boys,” which Trujillo also choreographed, you have to include productions in New York, London, Chicago, Australia, Las Vegas, Toronto and on tour.  Should “Jersey Boys,” “Normal” and “Memphis” run through April of next year in New York, by which time “The Addams Family” will open, Trujillo will have four shows running simultaneously on Broadway, a huge achievement.  How does he do it? Read the rest of this entry »

Andrew Keltz/Photo: Liz Lauren

RECOMMENDED

This year’s edition of the alternative Christmas classic is no disappointment; if you’re planning on going Scrooge-less this year, this is the show for you.

The Hans Christian Andersen tale follows young Gerda (Leslie Ann Sheppard) as she travels to save her friend Kai (Andrew Keltz) from the Snow Queen. Sheppard, the ensemble’s newest addition, brings high-energy likeability to the role; both she and Keltz have the strong singing and dancing chops necessary to pull off the leads.

Michael Smith’s witty lyrics can occasionally be over-long and repetitive, but the multi-talented ensemble clearly enjoys the material and each other. Show veteran Cheryl Lynn Bruce’s turn is warm and wry; Sue Demel’s song stylings are both poignant and hilarious; Barbara Barrow’s voice is a force of nature. Jeff Bauer’s set and puppets by Blair Thomas and Meredith Miller lend the show the fantastic fairy tale touch it requires. (Lisa Buscani)

“The Snow Queen” plays at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, (773)871-3000. Through December  27.