Abbey O’Brien is a New York City based Director, with a career in the entertainment industry that spans over 20 years. As a seasoned creative, her artistic journey is diverse, from Tony Award-winning cast member, to collaborating on an Emmy nominated TV show, to being on the creative teams of Tony winning Broadway shows, to directing original works, choreographing music videos, and working with major corporations. 

Abbey stands as a theatre director with the unique ability to craft spellbinding narratives that fluidly move through the storyline, have the power of emotion, and the raw authenticity of nuanced theatre. With a foundation rooted in dance and a creative spirit, her directing seamlessly blends her diverse background with the realms of dramatic storytelling. Her unique gift for generating ideas knows no bounds. She is committed to reimagining the conventional and that has led her to continuously find new ways to reshape the theatre-going experience as a whole. Abbey brings a kaleidoscope of perspectives to the director’s chair, promising an unforgettable journey for the audiences.

Abbey has worked with famed actors Uma Thurman, Hugh Jackman, Hank Azaria, Sara Bareilles, Megan Hilty, Katharine McPhee, Martha Plimpton, David Hyde Pierce, plus acclaimed directors Mike Nichols, Diane Paulus, Alex Timbers, Casey Nicholaw, Des McAnuff, Anne Reinking, Jerry Mitchell, Josh Bergasse, Joe Mantello, Lear DeBessonet, Bebe Neuwirth, Sidi Larbi, Daniel Sullivan, Graciela Daniele, Lorin Latarro and many more. 

Ms. O’Brien’s is currently the Global Associate Director of Sara Bareilles’ Waitress the Musical. Most recently the Resident Director of the global sensation, Moulin Rouge, as well as Alanis Morissette’s 15 time Tony award nominated Jagged Little Pill. Abbey is also the Director of Theater at Perry-Mansfield and Resident Director of Jeffrey Finn’s Hot on Broadway, which creates evening length industrial shows for corporations across America. 

Director credits: Goodbye New York, Never Be King, Five Women, Cabaret, Rocky Horror Show, 13 the musical, Meet Me in St.Louis, A Quarantine Cabaret, A Holiday Cabaret (wrote and created)

Choreography credits include: ExtraOrdinary (Directed by Diane Paulus), Broadway for Biden (Directed by Liesl Tommy), NBC’s Jimmy Fallon Show, CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman, Sugarland (Music Video), NYC Mayor’s Inner Circle Gala, Big Fish, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Rock of Ages , Mama Mia, American Idiot, Dreamgirls, Spamalot, True Love, Performa Gala, Wizard of Oz, and many industrial/ corporate entertainment events. 

Associate Director/Choreographer credits: Jagged Little Pill (Broadway and American Repertory Theater), Waitress (All Companies), #DateMe (Off-Broadway), Taste of Things to Come (The York Theatre and Chicago Broadway Playhouse), The Odyssey (Public Works at The Delacorte), Double Portrait (Film), Elf (Paper Mill Playhouse), Ragtime (Lincoln Center), Bernadette Peter’s Drama League Gala (The Plaza), NBC’s Smash, Company (Bucks Co. Playhouse), National Pastime (BCP), Plaid Tidings (BCP), Legs (Tory Burch commercial), Microsoft (Industrial), Norwegian Cruise Line (RWS), Chicago (Ogunquit Playhouse). Favorite performing credits: NBC's Smash, Broadway’s Spamalot, Broadway’s Pal Joey, Radio City Rockette’s, NBC's Celebrity Apprentice, Longshot (Film), Martha Plimpton Sings? (Lincoln Center-American Songbook Series), Sinatra (Radio City Music Hall), No Strings (Encores!), The Met Gala (NYC), Carnivale (Radio City).

Abbey O’Brien is also a Master Teacher, Guest Artist, and Creative Consultant.