Bob Avian
Bob Avian | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 December 1937  |
| Died | 21 January 2021 (aged 83) |
Robert Avedisian (December 26, 1937 – January 21, 2021), professionally known as Bob Avian, was an American choreographer, theatrical producer and director.[1]
Biography
[edit]Born in New York City to an Armenian family[2] in December 1937, Avian spent his early career dividing his time between dancing in such Broadway shows as West Side Story, Funny Girl, and Henry, Sweet Henry and working as a production assistant on projects like I Do! I Do! and Twigs. He first met Michael Bennett when they both appeared in the European tour of West Side Story in 1959, and over the course of the next two decades the two collaborated on Promises, Promises, Coco, Company, Follies, Seesaw, God's Favorite, A Chorus Line, Ballroom, and Dreamgirls, Avian's first credit as a solo producer. Additional Broadway credits include Putting It Together, Nowhere to Go But Up and the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line, which he directed.
In London's West End, Avian choreographed Follies, Martin Guerre, The Witches of Eastwick, Miss Saigon, and Sunset Boulevard, repeating the assignment for the Broadway productions of the latter two. He also staged Hey, Mr. Producer!, the Cameron Mackintosh tribute.
Personal
[edit]Avian was openly gay and survived by his husband Peter Pileski, and his sister, Laura Nabedian.[3]
Awards and nominations
[edit]- Awards
- 1976 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography – A Chorus Line
- 1976 Tony Award for Best Choreography – A Chorus Line
- 1979 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography – Ballroom
- 1979 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Ballroom
- 1997 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Choreography – Martin Guerre
- Nominations
- 1979 Tony Award for Best Musical – Ballroom
- 1982 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical – Dreamgirls
- 1982 Tony Award for Best Musical – Dreamgirls
- 1991 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Miss Saigon
- 1995 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Sunset Boulevard
References
[edit]- ^ Genzlinger, Neil (2021-01-22). "Bob Avian, Choreographer of Broadway Smashes, Dies at 83". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ "Bob Avian: Armenian Boys Dance". Equality Armenia. Archived from the original on 2021-01-30. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
- ^ "Tony award-winning Broadway choreographer Bob Avian dies aged 83". the Guardian. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
- "Bob Avian Biography". filmreference. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- Kelly, Kevin(1990),One Singular Sensation: The Michael Bennett Story, Zebra, ISBN 0-8217-3310-9
- Mandelbaum, Ken (1990), A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett, St. Martins Press, ISBN 0-312-04280-9
- Stevens, Gary (2000), The Longest Line: Broadway's Most Singular Sensation: A Chorus Line, Applause Books, ISBN 1-55783-221-8
- Flinn, Denny Martin (1989), What They Did for Love: The Untold Story Behind the Making of "A Chorus Line", Bantam, ISBN 0-553-34593-1
- Viagas, Robert (1990), On the Line - The Creation of A Chorus Line, Limelight Editions, ISBN 0-87910-336-1
External links
[edit]- Bob Avian at the Internet Broadway Database
- Bob Avian at IMDb
- 1937 births
- 2021 deaths
- American theatre directors
- American choreographers
- American theatre managers and producers
- American male dancers
- American people of Armenian descent
- Drama Desk Award winners
- Film directors from New York City
- Tony Award winners
- LGBTQ people from New York (state)
- LGBTQ theatre directors
- Musical theatre choreographers
- 21st-century American LGBTQ people