I Hate Wayne Cilento.

The choreography from "AIDA" has quite a few dances where it seems like he said "Okay, Ensemble...run around a few times and then do any type of leap or jump that you want and then fall to the floor and run around and then scream and go touch Aida." Highly disappointing.

And "SWEET CHARITY" should never be done without the original Fosse choreography.

But, if you watch those Broadway dvd's from PBS with the bonus feature of the "Making Of WICKED" extra segment, it shows a number cut from the show that was ultimately replaced by the song "Dancing Through Life." In my opinion, the choreography in this production number was brilliant. I'm sad it hasn't been seen on the stage in full production since the Cali version. And Wayne Cilento will tell you himself he did nothing more in "WICKED" than "musical staging."

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Hate is such a ugly word. Dislike his work or coregraphy if you like.. but hating the man? Yikes. I am not a fan of his work.. But Glebb; from what I understand from a lot of folks that have seen Charity this week is that yes the coreography is uninspired but that the audience is eating the show up and loving it.

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Updated On: 4/24/05 at 11:30 AM

Don't rag on Wayne Cilento. He comes from one of the hottest spots for Modern Dance in the late 60's early 70's, SUNY Brockport.

My father who took classes with Wayne in college said watching AIDA was like being back in one of their Modern classes from Brockport.

As far as Wicked goes. Cilento did what he could. It's hard to end a number when the song itself has no 'button'.

Haven't seen Charity so I can't speak. But Wayne Cilento is a giant talent and an amazing dancer.

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Updated On: 4/24/05 at 11:36 AM

Exactly, musical theatre is NOT modern dance and Cilento treats it like that (Wicked is full of modern dance infusion). Modern dance can be used sparingly, but come on Cilento. I just find his work really really bland and very pedestrian. I don't hate him, BUT I have to admit, when I see his name underneath choreography, I dread what I am about to see.

Well, the way Cilento choreographs is that he will at points have the cast make up their own dance. He will tell them OK, do what you want here.... And thats from an Aida cast member.