Donald Saddler
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Donald Saddler (born January 24, 1920) is a Tony Award-winning American choreographer, dancer, and theatre director.
Born in Van Nuys, California, Saddler studied dance at an early age to regain his strength after a bout of scarlet fever. He spent his school vacations at the MGM studios, eventually dancing in the chorus of movie musicals such as Rosalie (1937).
Saddler was an original member of the American Ballet Theatre, appearing in Gizelle, Pillar of Fire, and Fancy Free before heading overseas to serve in World War II. When he returned, he decided to forego ballet in favor of Broadway musicals, appearing in High Button Shoes (1947) and two 1950 revues, Dance Me a Song and Bless You All, before winning his first assignment as a choreographer for Wonderful Town in 1953.
In 1958, Saddler won critical acclaim for his choreography for a Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival "dance drama" adaptation of Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, in which he also performed [1].
Sadler has directed Together on Broadway: Mary Martin and Ethel Merman, George Abbott: Celebration, and I Hear Music of Frank Loesser and Friends, a concert featuring the composer's widow, Jo Sullivan.
His choreographic work for feature films includes April in Paris, Young at Heart, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, and Radio Days. For television he staged the dance routines for Verna: U.S.O. Girl, a presentation of the PBS series Great Performances starring Sissy Spacek and William Hurt.
In 2001, at the age of 81, Saddler was featured in the Broadway revival of Follies, performing the adagio with fellow dance veteran Marge Champion.
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[edit] Additional Broadway credits
- 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
[edit] Awards and nominations
- 2006 Capezio Dance Award for Lifetime Achievement (winner)
- 1984 Dance Magazine Award for Lifetime Achievement (winner)
- 1983 Tony Award for Best Choreography (On Your Toes, nominee)
- 1983 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (On Your Toes, nominee)
- 1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (The Robber Bridegroom, nominee)
- 1975 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (Good News, nominee)
- 1973 Tony Award for Best Choreography (Much Ado About Nothing, nominee)
- 1971 Tony Award for Best Choreography (No, No, Nanette, winner)
- 1971 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (No, No, Nanette, winner)
- 1953 Tony Award for Best Choreographer (Wonderful Town, winner)
