Michael Bennett

American dancer and choreographer

Also known as: Michael Bennett DiFiglia

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History

Michael Bennett (born April 8, 1943, Buffalo, N.Y., U.S.—died July 2, 1987, Tucson, Ariz.) was an American dancer, choreographer, and stage musical director.

Quick Facts

Original name:: Michael Bennett DiFiglia

Born:: April 8, 1943, Buffalo, N.Y., U.S.

Died:: July 2, 1987, Tucson, Ariz. (aged 44)

Awards And Honors:: Tony Awards; Pulitzer Prize (1976)

Notable Works:: “Company”

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Bennett studied many styles of dance and began his career as a dancer in productions of West Side Story and Subways Are for Sleeping. His major contribution to the dance scene was as a choreographer-director of Broadway musicals, notably in Promises, Promises (1968), Coco (1969), Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Chorus Line (1975), and Dreamgirls (1981). His beginnings as a dancer were most strongly reflected in A Chorus Line, which was made for and about dancers. This musical was conceived, directed, choreographed, and coproduced by Bennett; it won nine Tony awards and the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for drama and became one of the longest-running musicals in the history of Broadway theatre. Bennett received eight Tony awards and several New York Drama Critic awards during his career.

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