About

Nicholas Cunningham, an Australian-born performer, dancer, choreographer, and director, has returned to Australia after his career achievements in Paris, London, Athens, Tokyo, Seoul, and Berlin followed by an incredibe fifteen years working in New York City.

Known for his passion for and contributions to theatrical dance, Nicholas began his artistic journey at the age of 12, drawing inspiration from Fosse, Musicals, MGM Musical Films, Riverdance and Ballroom Dance. He received his early training at the Queensland Dance School of Excellence and subsequently honed his skills at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts in Perth. There, he demonstrated exceptional talent, completing a three-year degree program in just two years. This achievement propelled him to Paris, where he made his professional debut at the famous Moulin Rouge at just 18 years of age.

Nicholas’s career then led him to London, where he amassed an impressive array of West End credits. These included roles in the Tony award-winning Broadway show ‘Movin’ Out’, directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake’, and the Olivier award-winning revival of ‘La Cage aux Folles’. During his London tenure, he also featured in ‘Nine’, under the direction of Oscar-winner Rob Marshall.

His Broadway debut came with the 2010 Tony and Drama Desk award-winning revival of ‘La Cage aux Folles’, where he served as the Associate Choreographer, Dance Captain, and portrayed Hanna from Hamburg. Nicholas’s Broadway credits also include performances in ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, under the direction of Hal Prince, and ‘The Terms of My Surrender’, directed by Michael Mayer.

Nicholas’s versatility is further evidenced by his diverse performances such as the New York City Center’s ‘High Button Shoes’, Bernstein’s ‘Candide’ with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Bernstein’s ‘Mass’ for PBS Great Performances at the Ravinia Festival. Additionally, he was involved in ‘Judgement Day’ at the Park Avenue Armory as an Associate Choreographer to Anjali Mehra, under the direction of Richard Jones.

More recently he has worked as an Ensemble/Swing at The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, as a presenter on The Wendy Williams Show, performed for NBC and American Horror Story, and choreographed for Princeton University’s Triangle Club, Broadway Backwards, and Jerry Mitchell’s “Broadway Bares”. 

Beyond performance, Nicholas has contributed to the arts as an educator and mentor in theatre jazz at the world renowned “Steps on Broadway” and many international institutions.

The FWD MGMT team are thrilled to collaborate with Nicholas as he brings his experience and expertise back to Australian stages and screens!