Donald Saddler
Donald Edward Saddler | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 24, 1918 |
| Died | November 1, 2014(aged 96) |
| Occupation(s) | Choreographer,dancer |
Donald Edward Saddler(January 24, 1918 – November 1, 2014) was an Americanchoreographer,dancer,andtheatre director.
Biography[edit]
Born inVan Nuys, California,Saddler studied dance at an early age to regain his strength after a bout ofscarlet fever.He spent his school vacations at theMGMstudios, eventually dancing in the chorus of movie musicals such asThe Great Ziegfeld(1936),Rosalie(1937),Broadway Melody of 1938(1937),Babes in Arms(1939), andThe Wizard of Oz(1939).
Saddler was an original member of theAmerican Ballet Theatre,appearing inGiselle,Pillar of Fire,andFancy Freebefore heading overseas to serve inWorld War II.When he returned, he decided to forego ballet in favor ofBroadwaymusicals,appearing inHigh Button Shoes(1947) and two 1950revues,Dance Me a SongandBless You All,before winning his first assignment as a choreographer forWonderful Townin 1953, for which he won theTony Award for Best Choreography.
In 1958, Saddler won critical acclaim for his choreography for aJacob's Pillow Dance Festival"dance drama" adaptation ofSherwood Anderson'sWinesburg, Ohio,in which he also performed.
Saddler has directedTogether on Broadway:Mary MartinandEthel Merman,George Abbott:Celebration,andI Hear Music ofFrank Loesserand Friends,a concert featuring the composer's widow,Jo Sullivan.He won another Tony for his choreography of the 1971 revival ofNo, No, Nanetteand earned other nominations and awards during his extensive career as a Broadway choreographer. Saddler directed the 1988 Broadway reunion of prima ballerinaCynthia GregoryanddanseurFernando Bujones.
His choreographic work for feature films includesApril in Paris,Young at Heart,By the Light of the Silvery Moon,andRadio Days.Fortelevisionhe staged the dance routines forVerna: U.S.O. Girl,a presentation of thePBSseriesGreat PerformancesstarringSissy SpacekandWilliam Hurt.In 2001, at the age of 81, Saddler was featured in the Broadway revival ofFollies,performing theadagiowith fellow dance veteranMarge Champion.Champion and Saddler remained friends after the production and became the subjects of a short film,Keep Dancing,about the two dancers leading meaningful lives at age 90.[1]
In 2004, Saddler directed a staged reading ofOnly a Kingdomat The John Drew Theater of Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY. Among the well-known performers in the cast were Kaitlin Hopkins,George S. Irving,Dina Merrill,Marni NixonandJo Ann Worley.He died at the age of 96 on November 1, 2014.[2]
Stage credits[edit]
- 1953:Shangri-La
- 1961:Milk and Honey
- 1971:No, No, Nanette
- 1973:Much Ado About Nothing
- 1974:Good News
- 1975:Rodgers & Hart:A Musical Revue
- 1976:The Robber Bridegroom
- 1979:The Grand Tour
- 1980:Happy New Year
- 1983:On Your Toes
- 1987:Teddy & Alice
- 1993:My Fair Lady
- 2000:Follies
Awards and nominations[edit]
- Awards
- 1953 Tony Award for Best Choreographer –Wonderful Town
- 1971 Tony Award for Best Choreography –No, No, Nanette
- 1971 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography –No, No, Nanette
- 1984Dance MagazineLifetime Achievement Award
- 2006 Capezio Dance Lifetime Achievement Award
- Nominations
- 1975 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography –Good News
- 1973 Tony Award for Best Choreography –Much Ado About Nothing
- 1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography –The Robber Bridegroom
- 1983Drama Desk Awardfor Outstanding Choreography –On Your Toes
- 1983 Tony Award for Best Choreography –On Your Toes
References[edit]
- ^Gans, Andrew."Keep DancingFilm, About Marge Champion and Donald Saddler, Available for Free Streaming ",Playbill,29 January 2016
- ^Weber, Bruce (November 4, 2014)."Donald Saddler, Dancer, and a Choreographer on Broadway, Dies at 96".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 5,2014.
- Time writers (21 July 1958)."Terrible Town".Time.Archived fromthe originalon April 30, 2009.Retrieved2008-08-13.
External links[edit]
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