| Ann Reinking | |
|---|---|
Ann Reinking by Jack Mitchell |
|
| Born | November 10, 1949 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, dancer, choreographer |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse | Larry Small (1970) Herbert A. Allen (1982-1989) James Stuart (1989-1991) Peter Talbert (1991-present) |
Ann Reinking (born November 10, 1949) is an American actress, dancer, and choreographer. She has worked extensively in musical theatre, both as a dancer and choreographer, as well as appearing in film.
Contents |
Reinking was born in Seattle, Washington where she originally trained as a ballet dancer. She studied with Marian and Illaria Ladre, a professional ballet couple who had danced for years with the Ballets Russes which later became the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.[1]
After working as a chorus girl in Coco, Wild and Wonderful, and Pippin, Reinking came to critical notice in the role of Maggie in Over Here! (Theatre World Award).
Reinking went on to originate roles in Goodtime Charley (for which she received Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations for Best Actress in a Musical) and Bob Fosse's Dancin' (Tony nomination). She also took over leads in A Chorus Line (1976), Chicago in 1977, and Sweet Charity (1986).[2]
After retiring from performing, Reinking returned to the stage as Roxie Hart in the revival of Chicago in 1996.[3] In 1996, she was asked to create the choreography ("in the style of Bob Fosse") for an all-star four-night-only concert staging of Chicago for City Center's annual Encores! Concert Series. When the producers could not obtain a suitable actress for the role of Roxie Hart, Reinking agreed to reprise the role again after almost 20 years. This concert staging of Chicago was a hit, and a few months later the production (in its concert staging presentation) was produced on Broadway, along with its cast: Reinking, Bebe Neuwirth, Joel Grey, James Naughton and Marcia Lewis.[4][5] In November 2009 the revival celebrated its 13th year on Broadway. The revival of Chicago won numerous Tony Awards, and Reinking won the Tony Award for Choreography. She recreated her choreography for the 1997 London transfer of Chicago which starred Ute Lemper and Ruthie Henshall.
In 1998 she co-created, co-directed and co-choreographed the revue Fosse, for which she received a Tony Award co-nomination for Best Direction of a Musical.[6][7]
In 1979 Reinking appeared in Bob Fosse's semi-autobiographical film All That Jazz, in a role loosely based on her own life and relationship with Fosse. In the film, Reinking starred opposite (actress) Leland Palmer, Jessica Lange, Ben Vereen, John Lithgow, and Roy Scheider as Joe Gideon (Bob Fosse).[3][4]
She later starred in films such as Annie (as Grace Farrell) and Micki + Maude (as Micki). In 1987 she guest starred on an episode of the top-rated NBC sitcom The Cosby Show.
She founded the Broadway Theater Project, a Florida training program connecting students with seasoned theater professionals.[8] In 1995 she choreographed the ABC television movie version of the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie,[9][10] and continues to choreograph for regional theatre, television, film, etc. In May 2005, the documentary film Mad Hot Ballroom was released, in which Reinking was featured as one of the enthusiastic judges of the annual New York City public school dance competition for inner-city youth.[11]
Reinking is perhaps best known for popularizing the dance step that would later be known as "raising the roof." Reinking insisted on including the step in the choreography for the musical number "We've Got Annie" in the 1982 screen adaptation of Annie, describing the step as "the expression of pure joy."
She was both a protégé and romantically involved with Bob Fosse for 6 years in the 1970s, having separated romantically by 1978.[12][4]
Reinking lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her fourth husband Peter Talbert and her son.[1][13] She recently completed production of the documentary "In My Hands: A Story of Marfan Syndrome," and she continues to works closely with the National Marfan Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of Marfan Syndrome, which has affected her son.[14]
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
||||||||