Company original, musical, drama, broadway opened in new york city apr 26, 1970 and played through jan 1, 1972. Bennett studied many styles of dance and began his career as a dancer in productions of west side story and subways are for sleeping. Author, playwright, director, actor, theatre critic and historian, his book. And in arlington, the revision is happening to the kickturn combinations that bennett and his co choreographer, bob avian, created for the original a chorus line, which ran on broadway for. Tony for choreography and nominations for book and direction. Michael bennett is credited as director, producer, performer, choreographer, writer, conception, production crew and assistant. Michael bennett american dancer and choreographer britannica.
From chorus boy to a chorus line, new book details. Bennett won seven tony awards for his choreography and direction of broadway shows, and was nominated for eleven more. During rehearsals in new york, i met a fellow castmate, michael bennett, a 17. On promises, promises he served as assistant choreographer to choreographer michael bennett. Served as assistant to choreographer to nowhere to go but up. In a career that spanned seven decades, avian appeared in, staged, produc. Michael bennett april 8, 1943 july 2, 1987 was an american musical theatre director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. He is known for his work on a chorus line 1985, a chorus line 2016 and a chorus line. Jan 22, 2021 in 1968 avian began a collaboration that would prove central to his legacy and broadway history. But the tour would prove even more momentous for one allencompassing reason. Still, this visit was easier than his last, 15 months ago. Choreographer michael bennett directs dancers in rehearsal. Next promises, promises1968 was a hit, and gave michael yet another nomination.
Oct 30, 2019 but now, by special permission of bennett s estate, the arlington, va. It is a fascinating, if somewhat gossipy and at times downright spiteful, account of the broadway choreographerdirector who created a chorus line a global success at age thirty, michael bennett created such blockbusters as seesaw, dreamgirls and the longest running musical in. Michael bennett theater 19431987, american musical theater director, writer, choreographer, and dancer mike bennett writer born 1962, british script writer, playwright and record producer michael bennett book series, a series of thriller books by bestselling author james patterson. A broadway choreographer s journey, cowritten with tom santopietro, he describes auditions for the numerous companies of a chorus line, the legendary musical he cochoreographed with his longtime professional partner michael bennett. A chorus line choreographer bob avian dead at 83 boston. Apr 04, 2021 michael bennett, original name michael bennett difiglia, born april 8, 1943, buffalo, n. Bennet welcomes bidens american jobs plan, applauds inclusion of his outdoor restoration proposal bennet, hickenlooper, bipartisan senators push for answers from investigation of space command move bennet, hickenlooper applaud bidens intent to nominate regina rodriguez to serve on u. Donna mckechnie, a star of the show who went on to marry bennett. Ken mandelbaum reveals the unique creative genius that shaped a chorus line and offers a fascinating account of a man and a career the likes of which broadway may never see again. Its important to michael that real experiences drive the debates in washington. American musical theater director and choreographer michael bennett was born michael difiglia in buffalo, new york in 1943. Who did he come friends with during nowhere to go but up. Inside a storied broadway legends life and his friends.
With a contemporary pop score by burt bacharach and hal david, a wisecracking book by neil simon and bennetts wellreceived production numbers, including turkey lurkey time, the show ran for 1,281 performances. Midway through bob avians easygoing, eminently readable new memoir, dancing man. A sad day for broadway as we mourn the passing of bob avian, twotime tony award winning choreographer. Michael bennett ngati pikiao, ngati whakaue is an awardwinning new. Oct 30, 2019 and in arlington, the revision is happening to the kickturn combinations that bennett and his co choreographer, bob avian, created for the original a chorus line, which ran on broadway for. A chorus line and the musicals of michael bennett by ken. Directorchoreographer michael bennett r, in leather and.
Bennett began his broadway career as a dancer and later found success as a choreographer and director. A chorus line and the musicals of michael bennett book. Smart and talented, he was soon eager to try his hand at choreography. Bennett studied many styles of dance and began his career as a dancer in. Avian taught the combinations and drilled the dancers in the fine points of the. Michael bennett interviewed by gene shalit, 1983 a chorus. The broadway production opened on april 4, 1971, directed by harold prince and michael bennett, and with choreography by bennett. He has been nominated for tony awards for directing and choreographing the drowsy chaperone 2006, the book of mormon 2011, something rotten. A calculating killer who calls himself the teacher is taking on new york city, killing the powerful and the arrogant.
The collaborative effort of the two brilliant writers paved the way for the creation of step on a crack michael bennett, book 1 where they introduce a new hero, michael bennett in a suspensethriller that happens in manhattan city. Jul 02, 2018 that number is all the evidence necessary that michael bennett was not your average everyday choreographer. Musical numbers for the original broadway production were choreographed by michael bennett. On this date 31 years ago, michael bennett died in tucson, arizona, from.
It is a fascinating, if somewhat gossipy and at times downright spiteful, account of the broadway choreographer director who created a chorus line. Without michael bennetts choreography, is it still a chorus. A broadway choreographer s journey, a memoir written with tom santopietro. The next year was coco1969, another hit and another tony nomination. Detective mike bennett takes on new yorks most terrifying epidemic in james pattersons gripping blockbuster novel. Bennett became a choreographer in 1966 with the shortlived a joyful noise, for which he earned his first tony nomination. Jan 25, 2021 michael bennett is six foot three, weighs 200 pounds, and is irish american. Oct 27, 1989 michael shawn recently left the aids unit of roosevelt hospital, where he learned that along with everything else, he now had liver cancer. In a rehearsal hall above its stages, jones and gardiner have prepared a chorus line destined to look like no other in the musicals storied history. I loved the adventure of traveling around the world, avian wrote in the 2020 book, dancing man. Michael bennett began work on two more projects, chess and scandal, but never finished. Michael bennett, the most influential theater director and. Avian shared a tony award with bennett for their work on a chorus line, the show that reinvented the broadway musical in the 1970s.
The death and life of michael bennett by ron fassler. He died on july 2, 1987 at his home in tuscon, the official cause being lymphoma, an aidsrelated form of cancer. Following several workshops and an offbroadway production, a chorus line opened at the shubert theatre on broadway july 25, 1975, directed by michael bennett and co. Michael bennett, american dancer, choreographer, and stage musical director. Its 30 years since director and choreographer michael bennett, the man behind broadway classic a chorus line, died aged 44. Director choreographer michael bennett r, in leather and playwright james kirkwood taking a break during a rehearsal for the broadway production of the musical a chorus line. Aids led to dismissal, choreographer says the new york times.
His new career began with a production called a joyful noise 1966. Jan 22, 2021 it was with bennett that avian enjoyed a long professional partnership, working as associate choreographer or assistant director on such bennett choreographed productions as a chorus line. Born michael bennett difiglia in buffalo, he started dance lessons when he was threeyears old. Michael bennett 19431987 was an american musical theatre director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. Bennett choreographed promises, promises, follies and company. A chorus line provides a glimpse into the personalities of the performers and the choreographer, as they describe the. Dec 26, 2019 the broadway dancer and choreographer created all of these alongside michael bennett as his associate choreographer, or, in the case of a chorus line, his co choreographer. He won seven tony awards for his choreography and direction of broadway shows and was nominated for an additional eleven. The death of director choreographer michael bennett from aids in 1987 left a noticeable gap in contemporary. How a chorus line creator michael bennett breathed life.
Bennett choreographed andre previn and alan jay lerners. Dancing man, a broadway choreographers journey, by bob avian with. Michael bennetts a chorus line is about 25 dancers desperately auditioning for. Michael bennett is credited as director, producer, performer, choreographer. Michael bennett theatre credits, news, bio and photos. Why the dancers who inspired a chorus line sold their. A chorus line choreographer bob avian dead at 83 fox. Apr 17, 2020 he met choreographer and director michael bennett in 1962 and over the next two decades they would collaborate on promises, promises, company and follies. Michael bennett was born on april 8, 1943 in buffalo, new york, usa as michael bennett difiglia. The cruelty was extensive, and not just in his professional life. I was handed this book to read by my dear friend and colleague, a relative of the late michael bennett. Haunted by guilt and shame, michael bennett is living with a fathers worst nightmare. Getty images a few years later, at 16, bennett heard that jerome robbins was auditioning dancers for a european company of west side story.
Upon his return to new york he found work dancing in several broadway shows as well as tv shows like the dean martin show. In 1963 michael bennett was dancing in meredith willsons heres love, and a year later in bajour. The man who was one singular sensation was gone at the age of 44. Choreographer michael bennett directs dancers in rehearsal for the gala performance number 3,389 of the stage production a chorus line new york public library digital collections. How a chorus line creator michael bennett breathed life back.
Bob avian will never forget the moment michael bennett told him. Michael bennett the official masterworks broadway site. Michael bennett april 8, 1943 july 2, 1987 was an american musical theater director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. Michael bennett ran off to join a european touring company of west side story after dropping out of high school. The death and life of michael bennett by ron fassler medium. Seesaw playbill march 1973, seesaw 1973 opened mar 18, 1973. Also, i dare you to try watching the clip again and not watch donna mckechnie. A chorus line and the musicals of michael bennett hardcover july 1, 1989. Broadway choreographer bob avian reveals 5 secrets from. Without michael bennetts choreography, is it still a. In 1984, he began work on scandal, with a book by treva silverman and songs by jimmy webb. Mar 28, 2017 its 30 years since director and choreographer michael bennett, the man behind broadway classic a chorus line, died aged 44. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. In 1965 and 66 he was a featured dancer on the nbc pop.
He lives in new york city with his 10 adopted kids who he cares for with the help of his au pair, mary catherine, and his grandfather seamus. Detective michael bennett and his family are ready to escape new york for a vacation in mainebut a shocking scene deep in the woods reveals a dark world of drugs and murder. He was a director, producer, writer, choreographer, and a dancer. Michael bennett bio, photos, theatre credits, stage history learn all about their career on stage. A chorus line 1985 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Feb 06, 2020 broadway director, producer and choreographer bob avian weighs in on the life and death of his colleague and friend michael bennett. It is a fascinating, if somewhat gossipy and at times downright spiteful, account of the broadway choreographerdirector who created a chorus line a global success at age thirty, michael bennett created such blockbusters as seesaw, dreamgirls and the longest running musical in history, a chorus line. Jan 22, 2021 bob avian, the tony awardwinning choreographer of a chorus line, died thursday of a heart attack. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Read other stories and share your own about health care, immigration, the. A chorus line is a musical with music by marvin hamlisch, lyrics by edward kleban, and a book by james kirkwood jr. Best nonfiction book at the ngaio marsh awards and best biographyhistory at the. Billy rose theatre division, the new york public library. A chorus line, the longest running show in broadway history, is the masterpiece of michael bennett, the brilliant director choreographer who died of aids. Broadway choreographer bob avian reveals 5 secrets from the. Michael would do anything anything to get a show on. He won for a chorus line in 1976, and is shown on the left with michael bennett after his.
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