Research Catalog

Title

Michael Bennett : selected television coverage, Sept 29, 1983 and July 2 and 3, 1987 [videorecording]

Publication

New York, 1983 and 1987.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Papp, Joseph
• Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987
• Hamlisch, Marvin
• Loudon, Dorothy

Description

1 videocassette (30 min). : sd., col.; 3/4 in. (U-matic)

Summary

• Segments one through four contain coverage the 3389th performance of the Broadway musical A chorus line. Discussion includes the history of the show and its newly attained status as the longest running show on Broadway, and its creator, Michael Bennett. Includes interview excerpts with Bennett and dancers, and footage of rehearsals and performances.
• Segments five through eight cover Bennett's death at the age of 44 on July 2, 1988 of complications from AIDS. Bennett is among a growing number in the arts community who have died from AIDS. Discussion includes the life, career and legacy of Bennett, who is best-known for creating the long-running musical A chorus line and for bringing the successful show Dreamgirls to Broadway. Includes interview excerpts with Bennett and with colleagues Marvin Hamlisch, actress Dorothy Loudon and producer/director Joseph Papp. Features performance excerpts from Bennett's various productions and other related photos and footage.

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

Alternative Title

Selected T.V. coverage of Michael Bennett NYSF viewing copy

Subject

• Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987 > Death and burial
• Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987 > Friends and associates
• Bennett, Michael, 1943-1987 > Influence
• Papp, Joseph > Interviews
• Hamlisch, Marvin
• Hamlisch, Marvin > Interviews
• Krieger, Henry
• Theatrical producers and directors
• Choreographers
• Theatrical productions > New York (State) > New York > 1981-1990
• AIDS (Disease) and the arts > United States

Genre/Form

• Interviews.
• Television.

Note

• No credits on tape; title supplied by cataloger.
• Dubbed compilation of segments taped off air.
• Some of the segments covering Michael Bennett's death are also found on NCOX 5280.
• This video separated from the New York Shakespeare Festival collection, *T-Mss 1993-028.
• Preservation pending. Appointment and tape transfer required prior to viewing.
• Compilation of television coverage related to the Broadway producer, director and choreographer Michael Bennett. Eight segments from New York and elsewhere in the nation aired Sept. 29, 1983 and July 2 and 3, 1987.

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 facility 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 rework 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 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

September 29, 1983: WNBC-TV, Today show, 8:00 a.m. -- WCBS-TV, CBS network news, 7:00 p.m. -- WNBC-TV, NBC nightly news, 7:00 p.m. -- WABC-TV, Entertainment tonight, 7:30 p.m. -- July 2, 1987: WCBS-TV, Channel 2 news, 6:00 p.m. -- WCBS-TV, Channel 2 news, 11:00 p.m. -- WOR-TV, Entertainment tonight, 7:30 p.m. -- July 3, 1987: WOR-TV, Entertainment tonight, 11:30 p.m.

Call Number

NCOX 5281

OCLC

NYPG05-F10364

Title

Michael Bennett : selected television coverage, Sept 29, 1983 and July 2 and 3, 1987 [videorecording]

Imprint

New York, 1983 and 1987.

Country of Producing Entity

U.S.

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 facility 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 rework 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 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.

Hamlisch, Marvin, interviewee.

Loudon, Dorothy, interviewee.

Research Call Number

NCOX 5281