Jerry Mitchell originated the Bares 23 years ago and serves as executive producer, but he doesn't direct or choreograph them any more. There have been many directors and choreographers over the years. Josh Rhodes and Lee Wilkins did it for three years or so--and with a lot of wit and flair and sexiness.
Wow PalJoey, this is wonderful and I really agree with your views with both "Lucy and Jessie" and "The Right Girl", it seemed so misguided in both numbers that Carlyle really put both Maxwell and Burnstein on such huge disadvantages in their respective numbers (only Burnstein's "Buddy's Blues" was well done in the entire Loveland sequence). Bennett was indeed a genius on how both numbers can work on not only from the actors level but to push it to grander heights. I wonder which choreographer today will get how this show works.
BTW, I don't think you were a broken record on your views and what you remember of the original production.