NAME: Bennett, Michael (born Michael DiFiglia)

BIRTH DATE/LOCATION:
8 April 1943, Buffalo, New York

DEATH DATE/LOCATION:
2 July 1987, at home, Tucson, Arizona, age 44

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Photo: Francois Cillon

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  • identification & bio
  • key contact
  • human repositories
  • video documentation
  • photographic documentation
    		•
  • movement notation
  • production materials
  • oral history
  • personal papers
  • immediate needs
    		•
  • other relevant information
  • overview of works
  • bibliography
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    IDENTIFICATION AND BIO:
    A master of theatrical jazz who, in the year 2000, was named one of America's 100 irreplaceable dance treasures by the Dance Heritage Coalition, Michael Bennett conceived, directed, choreographed, and co-produced A Chorus Line (1975), the longest-running show on Broadway, with Joe Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival. Bennett was considered one of the most important theater directors and choreographers ever to tackle the Broadway stage (winning nine Tony Awards over his career). He began dancing at age three and embarked on his professional dance career at the age of sixteen when he joined a touring production of West Side Story, just prior to his high school graduation. In 1961, he moved to New York City to dance chorus roles, and by 1968 he was assisting Broadway and off-Broadway choreographers. After earning two Tony nominations, Bennett choreographed Previn and Lerner's musical Coco starring Katharine Hepburn. Despite another Tony nomination, the show was considered a "commercial failure." Bennett nonetheless went on to collaborate on Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's Company. Later in his career, Bennett founded his own production company, Plum Productions, and in 1974 he turned to Hamlisch, Kleban, Kirkwood and Dante as the development team for A Chorus Line. In 1977, Bennett bought the building at 890 Broadway for rehearsal space, but sold it just prior to his death in 1987. Bennett died of AIDS-related causes.

    KEY CONTACT PERSON(S)/EXECUTOR OF ESTATE:
    Survived by his mother, Helen, of Buffalo and brother, Frank.

    John F. Breglio, Esq., attorney and friend
    c/o Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
    1285 Ave. of the Americas
    New York, NY 10019
    212-373-3391
    212-373-2092 (fax)
    jbreglio@paulweiss.com

    Bob Avian, choreographic assistant and partner

    HUMAN REPOSITORIES OF THE WORK
    (name and contact info, relationship to the artist and the work, assessment):
    Bob Avian (see above)

    VIDEO DOCUMENTATION
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    The film of A Chorus Line is widely available on video.

    According to John Breglio, Bennett's attorney, the Theater Collection of the New York Public Library holds videotapes of just two Broadway versions of A Chorus Line and one of Dreamgirls. According to Larry Billman, Bennett's "brilliance was not to be captured on film." Bennett ultimately decided not to direct the film of A Chorus Line. The musical film version was directed by Sir Richard Attenborough for Universal Pictures.

    PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTATION
    (location, format, condition, assessment):
    Per Breglio, all photographs are held by Bob Avian.

    MOVEMENT NOTATION
    (location, type [including notes taken by dancers], assessment):
    Per Breglio, none available.

    PRODUCTION MATERIALS
    (scores, sound recordings, set/costume designs):
    None identified.

    ORAL HISTORY:
    None identified.

    PERSONAL PAPERS
    (location of newspaper clippings, printed programs, press releases, notes, files, diaries; assessment):
    All personal papers were left to Bennett's professional partner, Bob Avian, who created choreography with Bennett throughout his career.

    IMMEDIATE NEEDS
    (archival assistance? storage? other?):
    Search for executor.

    OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION:
    Beginning with A Joyful Noise (1966), his solo choreographic debut at the Mark Hellinger, to Dreamgirls (1981), Bennett received Tony nominations for every musical with which he was connected. Among those nominations, Bennett received nine Tonys.

    He received a Dance Magazine Award in 1976 and was elected to the Theater Hall of Fame in 1986.

    LIST OR OVERVIEW OF WORKS
    (title, premiere date, music, production notes, performers):
    This information is from Billman (see below), augmented by Breglio:

    A Joyful Noise (c. 1966)—Tony nomination

    How Now, Dow Jones (c. 1967)—assisted choreographer

    Your Own Thing (c. 1967)—assisted choreographer

    By Jupiter (c. 1967)—assisted choreographer

    Henry, Sweet Henry (23 October 1967 premiere)—choreography earned Bennett a second Tony nomination

    Promises, Promises (1 December 1968-26 June 1971)—musical by Neil Simon—Tony nomination

    Coco (1969)—Tony nomination

    Company (1970)—Tony nomination for choreography

    Follies (4 April 1971)—choreographer and co-director of Sondheim's musical

    Twigs (1971)—directed non-musical

    Seesaw (March 1973)—directed and choreographed Coleman-Fields musical, starring Tommy Tune

    A Chorus Line (21 May 1975)—conceived, directed, choreographed, and co-produced the longest-running musical in Broadway history, a Pulitzer Prize winner

    Ballroom (1978)—produced, directed, and choreographed for Broadway

    Scandal (1984 began work)—never completed, music by Jimmy Webb

    BIBLIOGRAPHY:

    • Barnes, Clive. 1987. "Michael Bennett—An Appreciation." Dance Magazine (October): 32.
    • Billman, Larry. 1997. Film Choreographers and Dance Directors: An Illustrated Biographical Encyclopedia, with a History and Filmographies, 1893 through 1995. Jefferson, N.Carolina: McFarland & Co.: 232.
    • Dance USA. 1987. "Obituaries: Michael Bennett." (July): 13.
    • Gerard, Jeremy. 1987. "Michael Bennett, Theater Innovator, Dies at 44." New York Times (3 July).
    • Stuart, Otis. 1987. "Michael Bennett 1943-1987." Dance Magazine (October): 33.
         		 
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