Research Catalog

Title

Michael Bennett obituaries : television coverage from New York City and the nation, July 2, 3 and 5, 1987 [videorecording]

Publication

New York, 1987.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Papp, Joseph
• Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987
• Jacobs, Bernard B., 1916-1996
• Hamlisch, Marvin
• Lindstrom, Pia
• Smith, Liz, 1923-2017
• Loudon, Dorothy

Description

1 videocassette (VHS) (88 min.) : sd., col.; 1/2 in.

Summary

Discussion of the life, career and legacy of producer and choreographer Michael Bennett, who has died of complications from AIDS at the age of 44. A major figure in the performing arts, Bennett was best known for creating the long-running hit musical A chorus line, and for bringing the box office success Dreamgirls to Broadway. A memorial service for Bennett is planned for the Shubert Theater. Meanwhile, Bennett's colleagues gathered at the stage door of the Shubert Theater to mourn their loss, and Broadway lights were dimmed for one minute in Bennett's honor. Includes commentary by television journalists Liz Smith and Pia Lindstrom, and interview excerpts with Bennett and his various associates, including composer Marvin Hamlish, theater executive Bernard Jacobs, producer Joseph Papp, actress Dorothy Loudon and cast members from his various productions. The reports on Bennett are presented in conjunction with coverage of the rising toll of deaths from AIDS, a disease which claimed the lives of many in the artistic community.

Donor/Sponsor

Gift of the Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival.

Series Statement

Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival Moving Image Collection

Subjects

• Hamlisch, Marvin > Chorus line
• Theatrical productions > New York (State) > New York > 1961-1970
• Television
• Krieger, Henry > Dreamgirls
• Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987 > Influence
• Theatrical productions > New York (State) > New York > 1971-1980
• AIDS (Disease) and the arts > United States
• Choreographers > 20th century
• Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987 > Death and burial
• Musical theater > New York (State) > New York
• Theatrical producers and directors > 20th century
• Interviews
• Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987 > Friends and associates
• Papp, Joseph > Interviews
• Theatrical productions > New York (State) > New York > 1981-1990
• Hamlisch, Marvin > Interviews

Genre/Form

• Interviews.
• Television.

Note

• Preservation pending. Appointment and tape transfer required before viewing.
• No credits on tape; title supplied by cataloger.
• Dubbed compilation of segments taped off air.
• This video separated from the New York Shakespeare Festival collection, *T-Mss 1993-028.
• Compilation of news coverage of the death of producer, writer, director and choreographer Michael Bennett on July 2, 1987. Twenty-four segments from New York and the nation aired July 2, 3 and 5, 1987.
• Includes performance footage of A chorus line and Dreamgirls and various other footage and still photos from Bennett's career.

Biography (note)

• Born Michael Bennett Di Figlia in Buffalo, New York Michael Bennett (1943-1987) was a child prodigy of dance. He dropped out of high school at 15 to join the touring company of Jerome Robbin's West Side story. He made his Broadway debut as a dancer in Subways are for sleeping (1961) but soon recognized his greater talent for choreography. Bennett's first solo assignments as choreographer were A joyful noise (1966) and Henry, sweet Henry (1967). His first big hit was Promises, promises (1968). Working with Harold Prince on Stephen Sondheim's Company (1970) and Follies (1971), Bennett realized that he wanted to be a director, and got his chance when he was called in to save the show Seesaw (1973). A chorus line (1975), grew out of Bennett's idea to create a show about the lives of dancers, based on their experiences. After a few months at the Public Theater, A chorus line moved to Broadway where it remained at the Shubert Theater for the next 15 years. Indirectly, Bennett's greatest act of beneficence was to provide the New York Shakespeare Festival with the bulk of its income for many years. As one of the producers of A chorus line, the Public Theater earned approximately $38 million from the long-running production.

Contents

July 2, 1987: WOR-TV, News nine at noon, 12 noon -- WNBC-TV, Live at five, 5:00 p.m. -- WNBC-TV, News 4 New York, 6:00 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Channel 2 news, 5:00 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Channel 2 news, 6:00 p.m. -- WABC-TV, Eyewitness news, 5:00 p.m. -- WABC-TV, Eyewitness news, 6:00 p.m. -- WABC-TV, ANC NET, ABC world news, 6:30 p.m. -- WNBC-TV, NBC NET, Nightly news, 7:00 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Channel 2 news, 11:00 p.m. -- WNBC-TV, News 4 New York, 11:00 p.m. -- WABC-TV, Eyewitness news, 11:00 p.m. -- CNN-TV, Showbiz today, 6:30 p.m. -- CNN-TV, Prime news, 8:00 p.m. -- WOR-TV, Entertainment tonight, 7:30 p.m. -- WOR-TV, News Nine prime time, 8:00 p.m. -- WNYW-TV, Fox News at eleven, 7:00 p.m. -- WNYW-TV, Ten o'Clock news, 10:00 p.m. -- WPIX-TV, Action news, 7:30 p.m. -- WPIX-TV, NY tonight, 10:00 p.m. -- July 3, 1987: WCBS-TV, Channel 2 News, 12 noon -- WNBC-TV, News 4 New York, 6:00 p.m. -- WOR-TV, Entertainment tonight, 11:30 p.m. -- July 5, 1987: WOR-TV, Entertainment this week, 7:00 p.m.

Call Number

NCOX 5280

OCLC

NYPG05-F10220

Title

Michael Bennett obituaries : television coverage from New York City and the nation, July 2, 3 and 5, 1987 [videorecording]

Imprint

New York, 1987.

Series

Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival Moving Image Collection

Biography

Born Michael Bennett Di Figlia in Buffalo, New York Michael Bennett (1943-1987) was a child prodigy of dance. He dropped out of high school at 15 to join the touring company of Jerome Robbin's West Side story. He made his Broadway debut as a dancer in Subways are for sleeping (1961) but soon recognized his greater talent for choreography. Bennett's first solo assignments as choreographer were A joyful noise (1966) and Henry, sweet Henry (1967). His first big hit was Promises, promises (1968). Working with Harold Prince on Stephen Sondheim's Company (1970) and Follies (1971), Bennett realized that he wanted to be a director, and got his chance when he was called in to save the show Seesaw (1973). A chorus line (1975), grew out of Bennett's idea to create a show about the lives of dancers, based on their experiences. After a few months at the Public Theater, A chorus line moved to Broadway where it remained at the Shubert Theater for the next 15 years. Indirectly, Bennett's greatest act of beneficence was to provide the New York Shakespeare Festival with the bulk of its income for many years. As one of the producers of A chorus line, the Public Theater earned approximately $38 million from the long-running production.

Added Author

Papp, Joseph, interviewee.

Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987, interviewee.

Jacobs, Bernard B., 1916-1996, interviewee.

Hamlisch, Marvin, interviewee.

Lindstrom, Pia, reporter.

Smith, Liz, 1923-2017, reporter.

Loudon, Dorothy, interviewee.

Research Call Number

NCOX 5280