#1
Posted: 8/21/11 at 3:12pm
She was kind of an unsung genius, partly because she used simple, accessible steps and formations and partly (I think) because she was a woman in a man's field. But she was nominated for 8 Tonys, and her staging of musicals like The Music Man, Mame and 1776 were integral to the success of those shows.
She also choreographed the film versions of Bye, Bye Birdie and Oliver (though not the original shows), and both of those films included musical numbers that are still exciting. (She received a special Oscar for her work on Oliver.)
Here's a good quality video of her original staging of the title song from "Mame," from a London TV broadcast that included the number with Ginger Rogers and the whole cast.
Watch how Onna White uses very simple, very basic steps at first--swaying and small movements--you almost think it looks amateur! And then watch how she builds the number to an overwhelming climax of joyousness:
https://youtu.be/m4qyRaHYeus
She also choreographed the film versions of Bye, Bye Birdie and Oliver (though not the original shows), and both of those films included musical numbers that are still exciting. (She received a special Oscar for her work on Oliver.)
Here's a good quality video of her original staging of the title song from "Mame," from a London TV broadcast that included the number with Ginger Rogers and the whole cast.
Watch how Onna White uses very simple, very basic steps at first--swaying and small movements--you almost think it looks amateur! And then watch how she builds the number to an overwhelming climax of joyousness:
https://youtu.be/m4qyRaHYeus
