Director | Choreographer | Teacher
– Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts | www.pagosacenter.org
– San Diego Musical Theatre | www.sdmt.org
– ION Theatre | www.IONtheatre.com
– Temecula Valley Players | www.temeculavalleyplayers.com
– Encore Youth Theatre | www.encoreyouththeatre.com
– Carlsbad Community Theatre | www.carlsbadcommunitytheatre.com
Ali
Whitman
Director
Choreographer
Teacher
“Ali really knows her stuff”
– Randall Hickman
Director and Owner, Broadway Theatre, Vista, CA
REVIEWS
"Ali Whitman pulled-out all the stops”
Review of Music Man (2014)
by San Diego Theatre Reviews | July 29, 2015
The Music Man splashes across the Star Theatre stage, under the direction and choreography of Ali Whitman, with musical director Jim Thompkins-MacLaine - heading-up a 12-piece show orchestra. Key headliner in the "every little town ought to have a boys band," is the likeable con-artist Harold Hill (as played and sung tops by Joel Schmidt), and the River City's town librarian-from-heaven, Marian Paroo, played by Jessica Laitinen (looking as beautiful, tall and stately - as her lyric soprano could ask for)... READ MORE
"Directer Ali Whitman portrayed the popular musical in a fresh new way”
Review of Sound of Music (2013)
by Carlsbad Patch | August 11, 2013
The Music Man splashes across the Star Theatre stage, under the direction and choreography of Ali Whitman, with musical director Jim Thompkins-MacLaine - heading-up a 12-piece show orchestra. Key headliner in the "every little town ought to have a boys band," is the likeable con-artist Harold Hill (as played and sung tops by Joel Schmidt), and the River City's town librarian-from-heaven, Marian Paroo, played by Jessica Laitinen (looking as beautiful, tall and stately - as her lyric soprano could ask for)... READ MORE
"elaborate choreography”
Review of A Christmas Carol (2011)
by Temecula Night Out | December 3, 2011
Directed by seasoned area stage actor and director, Kit Fugrad ("Romeo and Juliet", "The Clean House," "Much Ado About Nothing", "Run For Your Wife"), with elaborate choreography by the nationally award-winning Ali Whitman ("Gypsy"), the irritable Ebenezer Scrooge (Don Vecchione) is taken on his famous journey through Christmases past, present, and "yet to come" with accents of singing and dancing and very creative use of stage props and lighting (which I won't spoil here)... READ MORE
"The crowd definitely enjoyed this number in a big way”
Review of Gypsy (2011)
by Temecula Night Out | September 17, 2011
The Temecula Valley Players' production of one of the classic musicals of all time, Gypsy, is nearing the end of its run in the valley. In fact, this weekend is the final chance to catch this amazing production. Directed and choreographed by Ali Whitman, Gypsy is loosely based on the 1957 memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous striptease artist... READ MORE
"sheer audacity”
Review of Gypsy (2011)
by The San Diego Union Tribune | September 30, 2011
It takes a certain kind of confidence to stage a musical — particularly one as daunting and iconic (not to mention beloved) as “Gypsy: A Musical Fable.”It would seem to take something beyond mere confidence to shoehorn such a musical — with 13 actors playing some 54 characters — into a 49-seat theater about the size of some people’s kitchens.Something more like sheer audacity (perhaps with a splash of the delusional)... READ MORE
"Wow. Just beautiful.”
Review of Burlesque! (2016)
by Pagosa Daily Post | March 21, 2016
This last weekend SE School of Movement delivered Pagosa’s (first-ever?) burlesque show to three sold-out audiences at the Pagosa Center for the Arts (PSCA). The show was produced by Sariah Espinosa Ellsmore, and choreographed and directed by Ali Whitman... READ MORE
"Theatre changes lives”
Review of Footloose (2015)
by The Vista Press | July 29, 2015
Carlsbad Community Theatre kicked off opening night of their summer production “Footloose” with a bang at the AVO Playhouse in Vista. The musical, produced by Ric Henry and directed by Ali Whitman, with music director Jessie Bullock, will run for two weekends, from July 24th to August 2nd... READ MORE
Testimonials
“Most exciting were the dance scenes that blended the romance of ballet, with bold, crisp contemporary moves that lit up the stage and both set, then lifted the dark moments of the musical. Kudos to choreographer Ali Whitman and the cast — the hard work and attention to the dancing details shone bright.”
– Kerri S. Mabee
Southwest Riverside News Network
“Ali Whitman is a talented and creative force in the youth theatre and professional worlds.”
– Rob Appel
San Diego Theatre Review
“Ali directed and choreographed my musical, “Luann – Scenes In A Teen’s Life”. Which won a National Youth Theatre award for “Best Production” in the nation. Her enthusiasm, creativity and dedication gave the show a flair and professionalism that you don’t often see in regional theatre. All that AND she was a joy to work with!”
– Greg Evans
Creator and Cartoonist of the Nationally Syndicated Comic Strip, "Luan"
“She has a wonderful sense of humor, and a firm and easy management style that allows her cast to work hard in a safe and creative environment. She is flexible and quick thinking. She is a collaborator; everyone on the creative team loves working with her because she always encourages new ideas and at the same time is true to her vision”.
– Leslie Crawford
Producer
“On set, Ali’s unparalleled talent and intense dedication to her craft consistently amazed me. She possesses both a powerful sense of confidence within her character and the unique ability to draw attention in with her compelling, honest, and intelligent decisions."
– Tamara Rodriguez
Actress, Dancer, Singer
“She prepares the cast and motivates everyone to be ready and excited to move from the rehearsal hall to the stage. Ali gets the actors on the set, blocked and ready for tech faster than any director I’ve hired. Her sense of space and the ability to envision blocking a cast of 60 on a huge set is brilliant. Another of her one-of-a-kind gifts is how she moves large groups of actors to paint a picture with depth and balance."
– Ric Henry
Ric Henry Productions