8, 2023. A compact, slightly built man who rarely stopped moving and never ceased pouring out ideas, Mr. Bennett was a prolific and indefatigable creator of dazzling stage images. Privacy Policy and Along with his parents and his brother, Dr. Bennett is survived by his son, Austin; his daughter, Shelby Bennett; his sister, Veronica Bennett;and his girlfriend, Haley Hendrixson. One of Broadway's most sought-after show doctors, he took over the Cy Coleman-Dorothy Fields musical ''Seesaw,'' and changed every element from the choreography to the sets, costumes and lighting. Well, it's very interesting when you fall off that pedestal.'' Among his many credits are the multi-faceted stylings of his choreography for Follies (1971), that he co-directed with Harold Prince, and two shows he directed himself A Chorus Line (1975) and Dreamgirls (1980) which featured new levels of stagecraft and storytelling devices that dazzled critics and theatregoers alike. '', Mr. Bennett's talent emerged in the 1970's, first in his collaborations with Hal Prince and then on his own as director, choreographer and producer. But that success was relatively short-lived, when an original musical titled Scandal, one that Bennett had workshopped for over a year beginning in 1984, had its plug pulled by Bennett, prior to an announced Broadway opening, with little to no explanation. 1970 brought Company, where Bennett was able to work with collaborators who, like him, were at the top of their game: Stephen Sondheim, George Furth, Harold Prince and Boris Aronson. The Lummis Hamilton Funeral Home in Camp Point is handling the arrangements. MICHAEL BENNETT, THEATER INNOVATOR, DIES AT 44, https://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/03/obituaries/michael-bennett-theater-innovator-dies-at-44.html. [27] In the late 1970s, Sabine Cassel, the then-wife of French actor Jean-Pierre Cassel. The show proved to be a major disappointment, failing to win critical or popular acclaim (though he and Mr. Avian won Tony Awards for the choreography). Bennetts mysterious behavior reared its head a year later in 1986 when he dropped out of his next directing assignment, Andersson and Ulvaeuss Chess. Bennett received eight Tony awards and several New York Drama Critic awards during his career. Calcutta!, as well as Baayork Lee, who would go on to have a role in A Chorus Line, crafted to her specific talents (and life story), just like McKechnie. [33][34] Bennett's memorial service took place at the Shubert Theatre in New York City (the home at that time of A Chorus Line) on September 29, 1987.[35]. Turkey Lurkey Time was a high-voltage number that audiences remembered long after they left the theatre. Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application. ''A Chorus Line'' was a perfect synthesis of the heart-on-its-sleeve backstage shows of the 1930's and the cerebral concept musicals of the 70's. Police are asking anyone in the Oakview section of Drexel Hill near or off Bridge Street, or along the Baltimore Pike corridor in Clifton Heights, to contact them. He had provided me with so many memorable days and nights in the theatre that I felt like I had lost someone close to me. Bennett has actually developed 'A Chorus Line' out of six months' improvisation, teasing its myriad pieces into an ultimately miraculous pattern. His work was so much a part of the thrill I associate with what being in a theatre is all about. [16] The show was sexually daring, but the conservative climate and the growing AIDS panic made it unlikely commercial material. 'Company' Breakthrough. Legacy.com reports daily on death announcements in local communities nationwide. Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo. Praying for you all during this time. Updates? I will miss all the fun times at our birthday parties as kids, all the video games we had in common, and more recently, our trips to Lasertron. What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative? The 2008 feature-length documentary Every Little Step chronicles the casting process of the musical's 2006 revival, with re-created choreography by Bennett's long-time associate Baayork Lee, and, in the course of the film, the saga of the original production is re-told as well, through the use of old film clips and revealing interviews from the original collaborators, including Lee, Bob Avian (who was the show's original co-choreographer with Bennett and the director of the revival), composer Marvin Hamlisch and the original's leading lady, Donna McKechnie. His legacy includes the choreography for Follies (1971), that he also co-directed with Harold Prince, and two shows he directed himself A Chorus Line (1975) and Dreamgirls (1980) which featured new levels of stagecraft and storytelling devices that dazzled critics and theatregoers alike. About. Family and friends are mourning the sad loss of Michael Bennett, 58, of Malibu, tragically killed by a hit-and-run driver on Sunday, October 4th, on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Michael X. Bennett, 75, of Ecumenical Retirement Community, Harrisburg, died Saturday, December 12, 2020. 8 Apr, 2023. In 1967 and 1968 he assisted, without attribution, in choreographing ''How Now, Dow Jones'' on Broadway and ''Your Own Thing'' and ''By Jupiter'' Off Broadway. Service map data OpenStreetMap contributors. His father, Bob, was a farmer; his mother, Meredith (Arnold) Bennett, most recently helped manage her sons clinic. Michael Bennett (April 8, 1943 July 2, 1987) was an American musical theatre director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. Michael was such a great friend to our son Kyle and we have such wonderful memories. Wake to follow at a private location.Peanut was gone far too soon & will forever be missed. MICHAEL S. BENNETT, Ph.D., 58, of Hinckley, Oh, died May 8, 2003. October 4, 1947 October 29, 2022 Michael D. Bennett, 75, of Paloma, died at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, October 29, 2022, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy. No more Lubitsch pictures.. 110 East School St, Its headline: Michael Bennett, Theatre Innovator, Dies at 44. I had heard that he was dying, but nothing prepared me for seeing it in print; the finality of it. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. APRIL 29 MAX TO LA The Dallas Cowboys long ago identified TCU QB Max Duggan as the right guy to take a late-round flier on, with owner Jerry Jones saying he was the best quarterback at the Senior . Michael A. Bennett Jr.a.k.a Peanut, passed away at the age of 25, unexpectedly on Saturday March 04, 2023.Peanut is survived by his mother, Sheila R. Arnold, stepfather Michael S. Arnold and father Michael A. Bennett Sr., brothers Skylar, Cameron & Dax and sister Madison. Michael A. Bennett Jr. Obituary. Author, playwright, director, actor, theatre critic and historian, his book, Up in the Cheap Seats, is available at Amazon.com. 66-year-old Michael Roberts' death is being investigated as a homicide. In a 911 call just before 6 a.m., her mother Patsy Ramsey was inconsolable as she told the dispatcher that her daughter was missing and that she'd found a ransom note at the bottom of her stairs. Dr. Bennett worked closely with Ms. Cramer, the county official, and suggested to her last year that the town adopt a mask-wearing mandate after several Covid-related nursing home deaths. On Dec. 4, 1976, Mr. Bennett married Miss McKechnie, who had also won a Tony Award for her performance as Cassie in ''A Chorus Line.'' Anyone can read what you share. All his male collaborators mentioned above took home Tonys for Company, but not Bennett, whose crafty stylings were a bit too subtle for the average theatregoer. His beginnings as a dancer were most strongly reflected in A Chorus Line, which was made for and about dancers. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. The song also featured Margo Sappington, who would later choreograph the nude revue Oh! He was born May 21, 1983, in Low Moor, the son of the Eddie Dwight . But the idea did not advance. He also directed and co-choreographed Dreamgirls with Michael Peters. However, a few months later, voters remember Bennetts work and he received his first Tony nomination at age twenty-four. Legacy invites you to offer condolences and share memories of Michael in the Guest Book below. It puts to mind what was said between Billy Wilder and William Wyler upon leaving the funeral of their friend, the esteemed writer-director Ernst Lubitsch. Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. The show opened Dec. 1, 1968, and ran through June 26, 1971; it was Mr. Bennett's first hit and third Tony nomination. He will be remembered as a prominent businessman,. In his younger days, Bennett had a relationship with Larry Fuller, a dancer, choreographer and director. Dance Lessons at 3. It is sad to see him go and I will get to see him again someday. The dances in ''Company,'' ''Follies,'' ''A Chorus Line,'' ''Ballroom'' and ''Dreamgirls'' flowed seamlessly from the action of the plays and the motivations of their characters, and that seamlessness identified them as Mr. Bennett's unique creations. From the 1966 ''A Joyful Noise'' through the December 1981 opening of ''Dreamgirls,'' he received Tony Award nominations for every musical with which he was associated, and won eight. Well, no more Lubitsch, said Wilder. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. The show opened with what was, at the time, the largest advance sale in Broadway history, ran more than 300 performances and earned Mr. Bennett another Tony nomination. Bennett's 1987 death was a tragedy, but it opened the door for Avian's career as one of Broadway's top choreographers. Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love. Bennett's choreography also reveals the cost of the number to the people behind it.[22]. Read about others here. For other people named Michael Bennett, see, Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_High_School_(Buffalo,_New_York)), Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical, "WHY MICHAEL BENNETT HAS SAID GOODBYE, FOR NOW, TO BROADWAY (Published 1986)", "New Biography Presents the Soap-Opera Life Story of Michael Bennett", "A Long and Twisting Road Back to Broadway", "AIDS: Words From the Front--The Death of Rudolf Nureyev has Refocused Attention on AIDS in the Dance Profession", "From Friends and Associates, A Tribute to Michael Bennett", "Choreographer, Directors & Producers: Michael Bennett", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Bennett_(theater)&oldid=1152362228, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 19:46. Much has been written about A Chorus Line and how it not only changed the American musical, but changed the fortunes of the American Theatre. Exercising complete creative control was his goal, and he achieved it with A Chorus Line. ''I always thought I was prepared for success,'' Mr. Bennett said in an interview in The Times in October 1981. This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Bennett, whose original name was Michael Bennett DiFiglia, was born on April 8, 1943, in Buffalo, the son of a machinist and a secretary. Michael Bennett, the most influential theater director and choreographer of his generation and the creator of ''A Chorus Line,'' the longest-running show in Broadway history, died yesterday morning at his home in Tucson, Ariz. Instead, Bennett's choreography was motivated by the form of the musical involved, or the distinct characters interpreted. Also, I dare you to try watching this clip and NOT watch Donna McKechnie (p.s. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. Mr. Bennett thought of the studios -open, airy, sunlit, with comfortable greenrooms and showers for actors -as his gift to the community that had brought him artistic success and great fame. In the 21st century, it's not just urns and gravestones anymore. [32] He left a portion of his estate to fund research to fight the pandemic. He took over Seesaw, an ailing musical while in its 1973 try out, and managed the rare feat of successfully overhauling it (firing so many people in the process, that those left standing felt like wounded war vets). Act but faced resistance sometimes fierce to his calls from some townspeople. Corrections? Bennett has long been Mr. Robbins's heir apparent, as he has demonstrated in two previous 'Gypsy'-like backstage musicals, 'Follies' (which he staged with Harold Prince) and 'A Chorus Line.' Well, no more Lubitsch, said Wilder. He died alone in Tucson, refusing to see those he had once been close to; a sad and lonely end for a man who thrived on the company of his fellow showmen (and women), the only people with whom he felt most at home. Had he lived, today would mark Michael Bennett's 80th birthday. He started dance lessons at the age of 3 and by 12, he was versed in tap, ballet, modern and folk dancing. ''I think I am now the king of backstage musicals, and you know what? He was soon hospitalized in St. Louis and spent 50 days connected to a ventilator and an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a machine that acts as an artificial lung. He was the son of the late Angus and Betty (Smithers) Bennett. It's 30 years since director and choreographer Michael Bennett, the man behind Broadway classic A Chorus Line, died aged 44. His commercial luck changed with Neil Simon's ''Promises, Promises,'' a musical based on Billy Wilder's film ''The Apartment.'' Such a kind soul. Giving to charity is a meaningful way to honor someone who has died. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Mr. Bennett's death came four days after his landmark 1981 show, ''Dreamgirls,'' returned to Broadway in a stripped-down version that was almost as highly acclaimed as the original. Peanut was lucky enough to find love with Tiffany Minney, she loved Peanut for all that he was & would've been.He worked hard in high school to graduate & play the tenor saxophone, he loved computer & video games & watching scary movies.Funeral will be held on Friday March 24, 2023 from 2-5pm at Rochester Cremation, 1118 Long Pond Rd, Rochester NY 14626. [2][3] He studied dance and choreography in his teens and staged a number of shows in his local high school - Bennett High School in Buffalo, NY (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_High_School_(Buffalo,_New_York)) - before dropping out to accept the role of Baby John in the US and European tours of West Side Story. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). late last night has died. He died of Covid-19 on March 6, his former wife, Teresa Bennett, said. Bennett's use of [the plexiglass towers that dominated the set] was revolutionary. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. A head injury from a car accident when he was in high school changed Dr. Bennetts career path. Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you. Michael was a 1965 graduate of Central High School and served his country in the U.S. Air Force. However, it, too, was a commercial failure. [1] His father was Italian American and his mother was Jewish. [8] Bennett was invited to the sessions originally as an observer but soon took charge. Tune's production of the Gershwin musical ''My One and Only'' and James Lapine's production of Mr. Sondheim's ''Sunday in the Park With George,'' among others. FamilySearch. It changed the fortunes of Joe Papps Public Theatre as well, since by providing the workshops that made the show possible, it allowed the Public to share in A Chorus Lines profits, keeping it solvent for years to come. He was 52. Email me with comments or questions at Ron@ronfassler.org. These three shows alone put him in the top ranks of those who contributed invaluably to the 20th century American musical. As show doctor, he had contributed to Mr. In replacing the director Ed Sherin and choreographer Grover Dale, he asked for absolute control over the production as director and choreographer and received credit as "having written, directed, and choreographed" the show. Despite the precautions that Dr. Bennett took in treating infected patients, he nevertheless tested positive for the coronavirus in late December. In January 1986, Mr. Bennett withdrew from ''Chess,'' giving the first public indication that he was ill. During the next year and a half, he withheld the nature of his illness from all but his closest associates, telling others that he had a heart ailment. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Michael Bennett (Ottawa, Ontario), who passed away on January 12, 2023, at the age of 50, leaving to mourn family and friends. You have funeral questions, we have answers. Then in 1985, he unexpectedly pulled the plug on an original musical titled Scandal that he had been workshopping for four years. 3rd National Fentanyl Rally & Illicit Drug Campaign - Everyone Welcome, Orchestra Concordia Free Community Concert. Much more. RT @WAVY_News: UPDATE: @PortsmouthPD confirm one of two men shot on Portsmouth Blvd. He was a native of Zachary, LA and a. Visit our, To plant trees in memory, please visit the. ''When Broadway history is being made, you can feel it,'' Frank Rich, chief theater critic for The Times, wrote in his opening-night review. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. Miss McKechnie returned several times to the Broadway cast. Michael was employed as an over-the-road truck driver for many years. He began to alienate people left and right, some of them his closest associates. news. He faced bullying wherever he went. He added, He knew he faced serious risk from treating patients who refused to wear masks.. His Parents, Andrew and Jacqueline Bennett, Step-mother Noma Bennett, brothers Steve, Larry and several Aunts and Uncles. Omissions? Standard text messaging rates apply. But Mr. Bennett's next show, ''Dreamgirls,'' proved to be as electrifying to an increasingly moribund Broadway as ''A Chorus Line'' had been six years earlier. https://FamilySearch.org : 18 July 2022. Worse than that, Wyler replied. He would get a twinkle in his eyes and the adventure would begin. Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Police officers shot Detective Michael Bennett arrests an infamous Mexican crime lord in a deadly chase that leaves Bennett's lifelong friend Hughie McDonough dead. Family and friends are welcome to send flowers or leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. Mr. Bennett is survived by his mother, Helen, of Buffalo and a brother, Frank, a theatrical stage manager who lives in Manhattan.
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