Michael Bennett (Choreographer)

[On_Avenue_Payt]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 2:52pm

So for my dance class I'm writing a paper about Michael Bennett. The paper is going fine, it's easy enough... but I feel like it's missing something.

Because I'm so young, I never got the opportunity to see his work in person. I was wondering if there was anyone on here who did (or knows someone who did) and would be willing to talk about your opinions (good or bad) on it?!

Even if you haven't... if anyone has any kind of opinions, I'd love a fresh perspective.

Thanks in advance!

[ABB2357]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 2:57pm

I'm not old enough either, but there are a number of clips on YouTube (some good quality, others not so much) of FOLLIES, DREAMGIRLS, A CHORUS LINE, and of course the great "Turkey Lurkey Time" video from PROMISES PROMISES.

I also highly recommend you check out this panel, which Dancers Over 40 hosted a while back. It's several parts and features a lot of detail and insight from performers who worked with him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDYxqZN8BoU Updated On: 4/27/11 at 02:57 PM

[egghumor]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 3:21pm

I'm so glad to read about your paper. Michael bennett's work as a director and choreographer was hands down, the most exciting I ever saw in teh theater. I was very lucky to see his work in the original Broadway productions of COMPANY, FOLLIES, SEESAW (attended opening night), A CHORUS LINE, BALLROOM, and DREAMGIRLS. I moight be able to offer you some useful memories of what I saw, if you're interested in corresponding with me. If you will provide email or some type of contact info, I will get in touch. Just let me know... all the best.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 5:52pm

I have posted a lot here about his work on Company, Follies, and Chorus Line. I'm running out now but if you use the BWW search for those show titles and my name as poster, you'll come up with the threads. When I get home later, I'll look myself and post them if you can't find them. (The BWW search is not always easy.)

Meanwhile, here are four download links:


Follies in Miniature

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=M23T9W3A


Follies Original Cast

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=86EMLTJZ


A Joyful Noise

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=LP7XAG03


You're Gonna Love Tomorrow/Love Will See Us Through

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7D5P4ZZQ

LINKS FIXED

Updated On: 4/28/11 at 05:52 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 5:57pm

Michael Bennett is my personal theater God. Good luck on your paper. I'm sure it's going to be great!

[ABB2357]

Posted: 4/27/11 at 6:16pm

PalJoey, it looks like the same link is posted twice for JOYFUL NOISE and the FOLLIES original cast footage. Do you have another link for FOLLIES? Thanks!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 7:27am

Links fixed.


Here is the old Follies thread:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=982568&dt=179&boardid=1



Here is a subsequent one:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?boardid=1&boardname=bway&thread=1017727#4030584


And here is the "Listening to A Chorus Line OCR" thread

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=904547&boardid=2


And here is a more recent Chorus Line thread:

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1019267&boardid=1

[WestVillage]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 10:45am

If you haven't already, you should read the books about Michael and ACL, to learn about his tactics in getting the performances he wanted. He had no issue with bringing actors to tears, and saying "now that's the performance I want." It has been said that when stage managers of ACL thought the show was getting sloppy, they would spray Michael's cologne in the wings, so the cast would think he was watching, and they would clean up their act.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 10:59am

And he would frequently visit the show during a long run or a company on tour, fire some of the dancers to shake everybody up, then rehire them for the same show or another.

There was a symposium at Dancers Over 40 that reunited many of the "Michael dancers" from his shows. Here's their preview:

http://youtu.be/MgxhtvFnDJ0

And they put the symposium up on YouTube in 15 parts. Here's Part One--you should watch them all:

http://youtu.be/WDYxqZN8BoU

Updated On: 4/28/11 at 10:59 AM

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 12:49pm

You need to see the documentary (it's on DVD) EVERY LITTLE STEP about A Chorus Line. You'll get to hear some comments and thoughs by the man himself.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 12:57pm

Quick question PalJoey, the dancer hosting the symposium, was he a "Jet" in the film version of WEST SIDE STORY?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/28/11 at 3:44pm

The dancer hosting the symposium is Harvey Evans, who was Mouthpiece in the film version of West Side Story.




He was also in the dancing chorus of Judy Garland's television series, and the original Broadway casts of New Girl in Town, Redhead, Anyone Can Whistle and Applause and a million other Broadway musicals, like Hello, Dolly.

Here he is in the 1971 TV production of Dames at Sea with Ann Miller, Anne Meara and Ann-Margret:





He was also Young Buddy in the original cast of Follies.



Here he is dancing the original Michael Bennett staging of "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow"/"Love Will See Us Through" with Virginia Sandifur, Marti Rolph and Kurt Peterson:

https://www.megavideo.com/?d=7D5P4ZZQ