Jeff is a New York-based theatre director, choreographer, producer, and business owner.
With a particular expertise in the development of new theatrical works, Jeff’s creative work and business endeavors provide support for the artistic community around the globe.
BIO
Award-winning director, choreographer, producer, and entrepreneur with work on Broadway, TV/Film, special events and concerts around the world.
Jeff was the Resident Director (Associate) on the BROADWAY productions of Bullets Over Broadway (6 Tony Nominations), Big Fish, The Scottsboro Boys (12 Tony nominations), Hair (Tony-winner), Young Frankenstein, and Wicked's 5th Anniversary. On the WEST END, Jeff was Associate Director of Little Dancer. He was also the Director/Resident Director for the NATIONAL TOURS of Hairspray, Young Frankenstein, Bullets Over Broadway, and The Producers.
Jeff is currently developing The Roads to Loch Lomond (Neil Douglas Reilly, Maggie Herskowitz), In The Light (Michael Mott & Kate Mulley), Echo & Narcissus (David Christensen & Luke Holloway), Emergency (Jeff & Jacob Foy), The Gay Divorcee (Cole Porter Estate) , The 39 Widows, and The 1812 Project.
Directing: The Lost Colony (Waterside), Hairspray (NSMT), James Taylor at Carnegie Hall (Carnegie Hall), Chasing Rainbows (World Premiere), Fly More Than You Fall (World Premiere), Rockin’ Road to Dublin (National Tour), Christmas in Killarney (National Tour), Single Wide (NYMF), The Z Team (Off-Broadway), The Scottsboro Boys, Singin’ In The Rain, A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music (Phoenix Theatre), Big, Big Fish, (Milwaukee), Catch Me If You Can (New London Barn), Power Rangers: LIVE (Disney), and Gypsy (Best Direction). Film: Executive Producer -Best Documentary The Show Must Go On (Cannes), Director The Lost Colony. Special Events: Carnegie Hall (James Taylor, Bette Midler, Steve Martin, Sting, Tony Bennett, Barbara Cook, Dianne Reeves). New Victory Awards (Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, David Hyde Pierce, John Lithgow, Sarah Jessica Parker). Jeff was a show director for Disney Event Group, directing numerous special events at DisneyWorld and shows around the globe, including Magic Moments Parade (Brazil), Mickey Mouse Club: LIVE (India), The Power Rangers, The Magic Mirror (Mexico).
BUSINESS: Jeff is the Owner of multiple companies supporting the theatre community, including rehearsal space Open Jar Studios, Artistic Director of The Open Jar Institute, Founder of Stage Write Software, President of Stage Door Network, theatrical search-engine portal and Chair of The Stage Door Foundation.
Prior to directing, Jeff was an actor, most notably originating the role of Quasimodo in Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney/MGM Studios). As a Producer: Broadway Shark Tank, The Broadway Workroom, New Next Now, Artist in the Open Jar, The Contender.
TEDTalk:
Whiting was invited to give a TEDTalk on February 6, 2016 at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, where he spoke about his innovative philosophy of "Open Jar Thinking" with his talk entitled "Rising Beyond Limits with Open Jar Thinking."
BROADWAY PRODUCTIONS: Resident/Associate Director
PORTFOLIO: direction & choreography
BROADWAY | WEST END | OFF-BROADWAY | REGIONAL | NEW WORKS | SPECIAL EVENTS | DISNEY
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (BROADWAY)
BIG FISH (BROADWAY)
SCOTTSBORO BOYS (BROADWAY)
BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (BROADWAY)
WICKED (5TH ANNIVERSARY)
HAIR (BROADWAY)
LITTLE DANCER (WEST END)
THE LOST COLONY
HAIRSPRAY (NATIONAL TOUR)
THE PRODUCERS (NATIONAL TOUR)
THE ROADS TO LOCH LOMOND
HAPPINESS (LINCOLN CENTER)
JAMES TAYLOR (CARNEGIE HALL)
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (NATIONAL TOUR)
THE COTTAGE
THE Z TEAM (OFF-BROADWAY)
IN THE LIGHT (BROADWAY WORKROOM)
LOCH LOMOND
A CHORUS LINE (PHOENIX)
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (PHOENIX)
THE SOUND OF MUSIC (PHOENIX)
FLY MORE THAN YOU FALL (WORLD PREMIERE)
CHRISTMAS IN KILLARNEY (NATIONAL TOUR)
HAIRSPRAY (NORTH SHORE)
THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS (PHOENIX)
BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (NATIONAL TOUR)
GYPSY (CAPITOL THEATRE)
ROCKIN' ROAD TO DUBLIN (NATIOINAL TOUR)
CHASING RAINBOWS (REGIONAL PREMIERE)
TARANTELLA
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (OGUNQUIT)
DISNEY'S MICKEY'S MAGIC MIRROR (MEXICO)
DISNEY'S MAGIC MOMENTS (BRAZIL)
DISNEY'S GOLDEN MICKEYS (HONG KONG)
POWER RANGERS LIVE (BRAZIL)
DISNEY PARADE (BRAZIL)
HAIRSPRAY (BRAZIL)
MONSTER STOMP (BUSCH GARDENS)
SINGLE WIDE (OFF-BROADWAY)
BIG FISH (MILWAUKEE)
IN DEVELOPMENT
THE ROADS TO LOCH LOMOND:
Book & Lyrics by Maggie Herskowitz, Music by Neil Douglas Reilly
For centuries, the haunting Scottish ballad Loch Lomond has echoed across time, its lyrics telling a tale of love, loss, and sacrifice, yet few know the profound story behind the song. The Roads to Loch Lomond, a regional premiere musical, unveils this lost fable through a breathtaking Celtic-inspired score, following two brothers caught in the turmoil of the Jacobite rebellion—a fight for Scotland’s future that would change history. Experience the power of love, loyalty, and the struggle for freedom in this deeply moving new musical.
IN THE LIGHT:
Music & Lyrics by Michael Mott, Book by Kate Mulley and Nathan Wright, Based on a work by Justin Sylvestri and Michael Mott.
In The Light follows Dr. Johann Faustus, an astronomer, who is accused of blasphemy by the Holy Inquisition. Guided by a mysterious being called the Traveler, he flees to the small town of Hertz. There he meets a young scholarly woman named Gretchen, who shares his goals. Gretchen believes Doctor Faustus can use the town to begin a rebellion against the Inquisition. Together, they create a plan to resist its coming and to overthrow the power of the Church. As their plot proceeds, secrets Gretchen has hidden are discovered and Johann’s ambition is undermined by his own tormented mind. The Traveler urges the two forward and their dysfunctions entangle, leading to disaster for all.
ECHO & NARCISSUS:
Music & Lyrics by David Christensen and Luke Holloway, Choreography by Caterina Rago.
This dance-based piece is part-dance concert, part music concert, and visual illusions, re-telling the Greek tale of Narcissus and Echo through projection mapping and movement.
THE 39 WIDOWS:
Book and Concept by Tregoney Shepherd.
When a woman rediscovers relics from her past, she is suddenly thrust into vivid memories of her time spent amongst the infamous Widows of the Plaza Hotel. Manhattan’s most dazzling, outrageous and eccentric personalities of the Gilded Age. The stories blossom with hilarious and heartbreaking details, excavating layers of love, loss and joy among these extraordinary women that blended everyday life with high society theater.
THE GAY DIVORCEE:
Music & Lyrics by Cole Porter, Book by Robbie Cowan, Concept by Bradley Allan Zarr.
Loosely based on the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers film, this new Cole Porter musical, THE GAY DIVORCEE is set in a brand new 1928 where no one questions who you love:
He has fallen madly in love with a mysterious man.
She yearns for a divorce she cannot get.
A case of mistaken identity brings them together with a surprising twist that shocks them both.
Created in collaboration with the Cole Porter Trust, THE GAY DIVORCEE breathes new life into “Night and Day,” “Begin the Beguine” and many other hit Cole Porter songs, producing the perfect recipe for mix-ups, mayhem, and, of course, tap dancing!