Michael Bennett American Director and Choreographer Katy Akridge Musical Theatre Choreography Research

Career Highlights Began career as an actor and dancer. He played Baby John in the original production and tour of West Side Story. Best known for his work in the original production of Marvin Hamlisch and Edward Kleban’s A Chorus Line in 1976, which he directed and co- choreographed with Bob Avian. He received the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography (the show itself won 9 total Tony Awards and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama). He was also involved with the movie adaption of the musical but left due to creative differences. He also directed and co-choreographed the original production Dreamgirls with Bob Avian in 1981.

Dreamgirls 1981

A Chorus Line 1976

Other Work A Joyful Noise (1966) Henry, Sweet Henry (1967) Promises, Promises (1968) Original productions of Stephen Sondheim’s Company and Follies, both co-directed with Hal Prince

AIDS Activism Bennett battled with AIDS ― an autoimmune disorder that was seen as a “gay disease” ― towards the end of his career. There was a prominent AIDS epidemic in the Broadway community in the 1980s. Although homosexuality and bisexuality was stigmatized even further because of the AIDS epidemic, many gay and lesbian artists found success and safe environment on stage. Bennett was openly bisexual. He died of AIDS-related lymphoma in at the age of 44 in 1987.

Style Many of his shows feature ensemble choreography that derive from some type of performance, like in Dreamgirls or the audition-format style of A Chorus Line. He took into consideration the context of each number and worked a lot of characterization and nuances of each character and the setting they were in into his work. Although the casts would be one big ensemble working together at times, there were distinct characters that were able to develop through his choreography and direction.

Clip ― “I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line Start at 0:45! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zQIZjCaOB8

Bibliography Broadway Masterworks. "Michael Bennett." The Official Masterworks Broadway Site. Masterworks, n.d. Web. 10 May 2017. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Michael Bennett: American Dancer and Choreographer." Brittanica. N.p., 2017. Web. May 2017.