Dennis Courtney
Dennis H. Beaulne, 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. As a director, he is notable for winning the 2008 Israeli National Theatre Prize for his work in the Cameri Theatre production of Fiddler On The Roof, in Tel Aviv. 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. Subsequent Broadway/National Tour/Production credits include Shenandoah with John Raitt, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Roza and Starlight Express. He directed and choreographed a production of My Way, for the Riverside Center Theatre in Virginia and It Shoulda Been You starring Kim Zimmer and for Gretna Theatre in July and August 2016. In early 2017, he directed and choreographed Kiss Me, Kate at Kent State. 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. The play is currently in development.
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. Albert Beaulne is currently living in Cornelius, NC. Dennis' mother, Claudette, died on June 6, 2010. Dennis has been in a long term relationship with entrepreneur, Grant Wheaton, since 2000. 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.
Stage Credits
| Year | Production | Role | Venue/Company |
| 2018 | Mary Poppins | Director/Choreographer | J. Scheidegger Theatre |
| 2018 | Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike | Director | Gretna Theatre |
| 2017 | Civil War Voices | Director/Choreographer | Gretna Theatre |
| 2017 | The Last Adam | Director | New York City |
| 2017 | Kiss Me, Kate | Director/Choreographer | Kent State |
| 2016 | It Shoulda Been You | Director/Choreographer | Gretna Theatre |
| 2016 | 8 Track: The Sounds of the 70s | Director/Choreographer | Gretna Theatre |
| 2015 | My Way: A Tribute To Frank Sinatra | Director/Choreographer | Riverside Center |
| 2015 | Civil War Voices | Director/Choreographer | National Arts Club, NYC |
| 2015 | The King and I | Director | Bedell Theatre |
| 2015 | Dancing In The Street | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2014 | Little Shop of Horrors | Director/Choreographer | Gretna Theatre |
| 2014 | The Primadonnettes | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2014 | Only Humans Like My Music - The Music of Paul Cozby | Director/Choreographer | Laurie Beechman Theatre, NYC |
| 2013 | Das Barbecu | Director | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2013 | My Way: A Tribute To Frank Sinatra | Director/Choreographer | Gretna Theatre |
| 2013 | Kiss Me, Kate | Director/Choreographer | Gretna Theatre |
| 2012 | Babes At Sea | Director/Choreographer | Stage reading, Snapple Theatre, NYC |
| 2012 | Burt & Me | Director/Choreographer | Gretna Theatre |
| 2012 | Shake, Rattle and Roll | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2011 | That's Life - Again | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2011 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Director/Choreographer | Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre |
| 2011 | Rocky Horror Show | Director/Choreographer | University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| 2010 | Civil War Voices | Director/Choreographer | Off-Broadway, June Havoc Theatre, NYC |
| 2010 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Director/Choreographer | Miracle Theatre |
| 2010 | Funny Girl | Director/Choreographer | Gretna Theatre |
| 2010 | Little Shop of Horrors | Director | Watters Theatre, SUNY Binghamton |
| 2010 | Carousel | Director | Bedell Theatre |
| 2010 | Brassy Broads | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2009 | 1940's Radio Hour | Director/Choreographer | Bedell Theatre |
| 2009 | I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change | Director/Choreographer | Peterborough Players |
| 2009 | Peter Pan | Director | Gretna Theatre |
| 2009 | The Producers | Director/Choreographer | Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre |
| 2009 | That's Life | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2008 | Fiddler On The Roof | Choreographer | Cameri Theatre |
| 2008 | European Cabaret | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2008 | I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change | Director/Choreographer | Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park |
| 2007 | The British Invasion | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2006 | The Flip Side | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2006 | Hedwig and the Angry Inch | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2006 | All Night Strut | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2006 | Piano Men | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2005 | The Last 5 Years | Director/Choreographer | Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park |
| 2005 | The Last 5 Years | Director/Choreographer | Actors Theatre of Phoenix |
| 2005 | Ethel Waters: His Eye Is On The Sparrow | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2005 | My Way: A Tribute To Frank Sinatra | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2005 | G.I. Jive | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2005 | The Rise and Fall of Western Civilization According to Tom Lehrer | Director/Choreographer | Director/Choreographer |
| 2005 | Three Friends, Two Guitars and A Broken Tambourine | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2004 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Director/Choreographer | Music Theatre of Wichita |
| 2004 | It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2004 | One Hit Wonders | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2003 | And The World Goes 'Round | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2003 | Guitar Girls | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2003 | Too Darn Hot - A Cole Porter Revue | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2003 | On The Road | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2002 | Fash Bash 2002 | Director/Choreographer | Fox Theatre, Detroit |
| 2002 | Swingin' On A Star | Director/Choreographer | Mitchell Hall |
| 2002 | My One and Only Gershwin | Director/Choreographer | Florida Studio Theatre |
| 2001 | United Way of NY Benefit | Director/Choreographer | New York City Sheraton |
| 2001 | 1700th Anniversary Celebration of the Armenian Church | Producer/Director/Choreographer | Central Park, NYC |
| 2001 | Swingtime Canteen | Director/Choreographer | Mitchell Hall |
| 2000 | Sophisticated Ladies | Director/Choreographer | Stage One |
| 2000 | I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change | Director/Choreographer | Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park |
| 2000 | Beehive | Director/Choreographer | Mitchell Hall |
| 2000 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Director/Choreographer | Mitchell Hall |
| 2000 | Hello, Dolly! | Director/Choreographer | Musical Theatre West |
| 2000 | A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum | Director/Choreographer | Lyric Theatre |
| 2000 | Summer '69 | Director/Choreographer | Cabaret Old Town |
| 2000 | A Festival of Broadway 2000 | Director/Choreographer | Music Theatre of Wichita |
| 2000 | Words and Music by Jerry Herman | Writer/Director/Choreographer/Narrator | Stage One |
| 2000 | Words and Music by Harold Arlen | Writer/Director/Choreographer/Narrator | Stage One |
| 2000 | Words and Music by Rodgers & Hart | Writer/Director/Choreographer/Narrator | Stage One |
| 1999 | Words and Music by Burt Bacharach | Writer/Director/Choreographer/Narrator | Stage One |
| 1999 | West Side Story | Director/Choreographer | Musical Theatre West |
| 1999 | Cinderella | Director/Choreographer | Tennessee Repertory Theatre |
| 1999 | Words and Music by Burt Bacharach | Writer/Director/Choreographer/Narrator | Stage One |
| 1998 | Red Hot Mama | Director/Choreographer | Denver Center Theatre |
| 1998 | Music Man | Director/Choreographer | Lyric Theatre |
| 1998 | George M! | Director/Choreographer | Lyric Theatre |
| 1997 | Paper Moon | Director/Choreographer | Stage One |
| 1997 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Director/Choreographer | Music Theatre of Wichita |
| 1997 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Director/Choreographer | Tucson Convention Center |
| 1997 | West Side Story | Director/Choreographer | Tucson Convention Center |
| 1997 | Lucky Stiff | Director/Choreographer | Worcester Foothills Theatre |
| 1997 | Showboat | Director/Choreographer | Birmingham Summerfest |
| 1996 | Oliver! | Director/Choreographer | Tennessee Repertory Theatre |
| 1996 | Guys and Dolls | Director/Choreographer | Birmingham Summerfest |
| 1995 | French Toast | Director/Choreographer | Holland America Cruise Line Show |
| 1995 | Peter Pan | Director/Choreographer | Southern Arizona Light Opera Company |
| 1995 | Fiddler On The Roof | Director/Choreographer | Tennessee Repertory Theatre |
| 1995 | Annie Get Your Gun | Director/Choreographer | Irving Berlin Festival |
| 1995 | Paint Your Wagon | Director/Choreographer | Southern Arizona C.L.O. |
| 1995 | A Grand Night For Singing | Choreographer | Virginia Musical Theatre |
| 1994 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Director/Choreographer | Santa Barbara CLO |
| 1994 | Oklahoma | Director/Choreographer | Southern Arizona C.L.O. |
| 1994 | Singin' In The Rain | Director/Choreographer | Southern Arizona C.L.O. |
| 1994 | Singin' In The Rain | Director/Choreographer | Summer Repertory Theatre |
| 1993 | Fiddler On The Roof | Director/Choreographer | Southern Arizona C.L.O. |
| 1993 | Mame | Director | Summer Repertory Theatre |
| 1993 | The Fantasticks | Matt | West Coast Opera Theatre |
| 1992 | Camelot | Mordred | Grand Dinner Theatre |
| 1992 | Annie Get Your Gun | Director/Choreographer | Summer Repertory Theatre |
| 1992 | Cable Cabaret | Director/Choreographer | Disney Channel/Bravo |
| 1992 | Permanent Charities Benefit | Director/Choreographer | Beverly Wilshire Ballroom |
| 1992 | Aladdin Live Pre-show | Choreographer | El Capitan Theatre |
| 1992 | Creativity Challenge Awards | Choreographer | Disneyland |
| 1991 | CAA Benefit | Director/Choreographer | Universal Amphitheatre |
| 1991 | Disney's Magical Music | Director/Choreographer | SOGO Taiwan Tour |
| 1991 | Dupont Convention | Producer/Director/Choreographer | Disneyland Ballroom |
| 1991 | Grease | Doody | Theatre League Tour |
| 1989-90 | Starlight Express | Flat-Top/CB cover | First National Tour |
| 1989 | Annie Get Your Gun | Choreographer | Harlequin Playhouse |
| 1989 | Fiddler On The Roof | Choreographer | Grand Dinner Theatre |
| 1988 | Peter Pan | Director/Choreographer | San Jose C.L.O. |
| 1988 | Can-Can | Choreographer | Sacramento Music Circus |
| 1988 | Drood | Deputy | Sacramento Music Circus |
| 1988 | Can-Can | Etienne | Sacramento Music Circus |
| 1988 | Fiddler On The Roof | Choreographer | Downey C.L.O. |
| 1988 | Mame | Choreographer | Harlequin Playhouse |
| 1987 | Peter Pan | Director/Choreographer | Houston T.U.T.S. |
| 1987 | Sportsclub LA Grand Opening | Director/Choreographer | Sportsclub LA |
| 1987 | Sitmar Princess Cruise Lines | Director/Choreographer | Sitmar/Princess Cruise line shows |
| 1987 | ROZA | Momo/Moise standby | Broadway and Mark Taper Forum |
| 1987 | Lady Lou | Choreographer | Occidental College |
| 1986 | Peter Pan | Director/Choreographer | Long Beach C.L.O. tour |
| 1986 | American Film Market 5th Anniversary | Director/Choreographer | Beverly Wilshire Ballroom |
| 1986 | Gypsy | Tulsa | Union Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas |
| 1986 | Snow White | Scotty | Beverly Theatre |
| 1985 | Cabaret | Choreographer | Mission Hills Theatre |
| 1985 | I Know I've Heard That Song Before | Dennis | Lawrence Welk Theatre |
| 1984 | I Have Gone To The Circus | Tilly | Off-Broadway, Musical Theatre Works |
| 1984 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Benjamin | Westport Country Playhouse |
| 1984 | Shenandoah | Henry Anderson | Long Beach C.L.O. |
| 1983 | Music Man | Tommy Djilas | Long Beach C.L.O. |
| 1983 | South Pacific | Ensemble | Lawrence Welk Theatre |
| 1981-1982 | Peter Pan | Nibs | First National Tour |
| 1979-1981 | Peter Pan | Nibs | Broadway, Lunt Fontanne Theatre |
| 1978 | Charley's Aunt | Charley | Thomas Playhouse |
| 1978 | Guys and Dolls | Benny Southstreet | Thomas Playhouse |
| 1978 | The Odd Couple | Vinnie | Thomas Playhouse |
| 1978 | The Sound of Music | Friedrich | Beef 'N Boards Dinner Theatre |
| 1977 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Brother | J.I. Rodale Theatre |
| 1976 | The Sound of Music | Friedrich | La Comedia Dinner Theatre |
Awards
| Award | Category | Nominated Production | Nominated/Won |
| Israeli National Theatre Prize | Choreographer of the Year | Fiddler On The Roof - Cameri Theatre | Won |
| Midtown International Theatre Festival | Outstanding Direction | Civil War Voices | Nominated |
| Midtown International Theatre Festival | Outstanding Choreography | Civil War Voices | Nominated |
| Cincinnati Entertainment Award | Best Director | Last 5 Years - Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park | Nominated |
| AriZONI Award | Best Director | Last 5 Years - Actors Theatre of Phoenix | Nominated |
| Sarasota Magazine Award | "Staging A Story" Special Award | And The World Goes 'Round - Florida Studio Theatre | Won |
| Drama-Logue Award | Direction | Peter Pan | Won |
| Drama-Logue Award | Choreography | Peter Pan | Won |
| Robby Award | Best Choreography | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Santa Barbara CLO | Nominated |
| Handy Award | Best Choreography | And The World Goes 'Round - Florida Studio Theatre | Nominated |
| Handy Award | Best Director | Hedwig and the Angry Inch - Florida Studio Theatre | Nominated |
| Broadway World Award | Best Choreography | Little Shop of Horrors - Gretna Theatre | Nominated |
| BackStage 'Critic's Pick' Award | Best Director | West Side Story - Musical Theatre West | Won |
| Theatre League Award | Best Choreography | Oklahoma | Nominated |