James A. Rocco is an Award Winning Professional Director with over 200 Productions to his credit and a proven track record of successful collaborations. He has brought his unique vision to theaters around the world, staging productions that have delighted audiences and critics alike.
With a passion for storytelling and an unwavering commitment to excellence, James has established himself as one of the most talented and sought-after directors in the world of theater and video.
"A POWERHOUSE OF TALENT"
CBS News
A longtime member of NAMT (National Alliance for Musical Theatre), he served on the Alliance's New Works committee. Rocco commissioned the holiday musical A Country Christmas Carol and was part of the creative teams behind the off-Broadway cult hits Nite Club Confidential and Hooked on the 70s. His re-versioned stage production of Singin' in the Rain has been seen worldwide.
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His freelance work as a director/choreographer includes award-winning productions of 33 Variations (Broadway World, Best Regional Production of the Decade), Maladies, Grey Gardens, Yankee Doodle Dandy (World Premiere), Sweeney Todd, The Wizard of Oz (with Roseanne, Eartha Kitt, and Mickey Rooney), Chess, She Loves Me, Violet, South Pacific, As Bees in Honey Drown, A Little Night Music, Songs For A New World, Damn Yankees, Pirates of Penzance, Guys & Dolls, On the Town, A Christmas Story, and more.
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On Video, he was the Executive Producer and Co-Director of the Regional Emmy Nominated Documentary, The World We Create, and directed the television musical, Born of A Dream. For Mitsubishi/ArtSphere, he created the stage and television spectacular Galaxy Express 999.
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"TERRIFIC"
The New York Times
He has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, bringing his creative energy and unique perspective to each and every project. Whether he is directing a classic play or a modern musical, James brings a sense of excitement and innovation to every production he touches.
"TOP DRAWER"
The Chicago Tribune
Rocco's theatrical career started at three years old, as the youngest member of the (Art) Linkletter Totten Tots! He appeared in Oliver! with Ray Walston and Jules Munschin; Carousel as Enoch Snow Jr with John Raitt; Sheppard in Sidney Lumet & David Merrick's Paramount motion picture Child's Play and played The Rum Tum Tugger on Broadway in CATS. He holds the distinction of being the first man to play The Witch in Into The Woods and received critical aclaim for his performance of Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar.
"A MASTER SHOWMAN"
The Star Tribune
He is the visionary CEO of Thirty Saints Productions, creators of the Songbook Series and Broadway Songbook®. Thirty Saints Productions is a dynamic and innovative company that excels in creating original theatrical works for a diverse range of venues across the globe. In 2022, the company expanded its horizons, venturing into negotiating, consulting, and acquiring music licenses for popular jukebox musicals, solidifying its position as an industry leaders.
With Broadway Asia, Thirty Saints toured Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat® to Tokyo and led the artistic team for the US Air Force's 9/11 tribute video, There Are No Words, seen by millions of viewers. Thirty Saints is an investor in the current Broadway, National Tour, and Toronto productions of Come from Away and Magic Mike in London.
He is the former Producing Artistic Director of Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, and Interim Artistic Director of Stage One, a theatre dedicated to new musical development.
From 2005-2017, Rocco was Producing Artistic Director of The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts,
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At The Ordway, he presented and booked the best of touring Broadway (August, Osage County, An American In Paris, Kinky Boots, Les Misérables) and produced and directed award-winning theatricals (In The Heights, Love, Janis, Cabaret, West Side Story.) As the Ordway's representative and member of the Broadway League and the IPN (Independent Producer's Network), he was a producing partner and investor in Fun Home, Legally Blonde, The Color Purple, Monty Python's Spamalot, and others, as well as serving on the IPN's Governance Committee.
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In 2019, he was recognized by The Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds for "30 years of dedication, craft, and contribution to the theater" at their annual Broadway Salutes ceremony.
"EXCELLENT"
The Los Angeles Times