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See also: Category:Ballets by Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins

Robbins in Three virgins and a devil, photo by Carl Van Vechten, 1941
Born Jerome Rabinowitz
October 11, 1918(1918-10-11)
New York City, New York
Died July 29, 1998 (aged 79)
New York City, New York

Jerome Robbins (October 11, 1918 - July 29, 1998) was an American award-winning film director and choreographer whose work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater. Carl Van Vechten ( June 17, 1880 &ndash December 21, 1964) was an American Writer and Photographer who was a Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The City of New York Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The City of New York Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the See also, Choreography (literally "dance-writing" from the Greek words "χορεία" (circular dance see chorea) and "γραφή" Among the numerous stage productions he worked on were On the Town, High Button Shoes, The King And I, The Pajama Game, Bells Are Ringing, West Side Story, Gypsy: A Musical Fable and Fiddler on the Roof. On the Town is a musical with music by Leonard Bernstein and book and Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, based High Button Shoes is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Sammy Cahn and book by George Abbott and Stephen Longstreet The King and I is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The Pajama Game is a musical based on the novel 7-1/2 Cents by Richard Bissell. This article is about the stage musical For the 1960 film see Bells Are Ringing Bells Are Ringing is a musical with West Side Story is a musical by Arthur Laurents (book Leonard Bernstein (music and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics Gypsy is a 1959 musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set

Contents

Biography

Early life

Robbins was born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz, exactly one month before the end of World War I, in the Jewish Maternity Hospital in the heart of Manhattan’s Lower East Side – a neighborhood populated by many immigrants. The Lower East Side is a Neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. The Rabinowitz family lived in a large apartment house at 51 East 97th at the northeast corner of Madison Avenue. Known as "Jerry" to those close to him, Robbins was given a middle name that reflected his parents' patriotic enthusiasm for the then-president. Rabinowitz, however, translates to “son of a rabbi”, a name Robbins never liked, since it marked him as the son of an immigrant.

In the early 1920s, the Rabinowitz family moved to Weehawken, New Jersey. 10 years earlier, Fred and Adele Astaire had lived there briefly as children, only a block away from one of Robbins’ boyhood homes. His father and uncle opened the “Comfort Corset Company,” a unique venture for the family, which had many show business connections, including vaudeville performers and theater owners.

Robbins began college studying chemistry at New York University (NYU) but dropped out after a year for financial reasons and to pursue dance. Chemistry (from Egyptian kēme (chem meaning "earth") is the Science concerned with the composition structure and properties New York University ( NYU) is a private, Nonsectarian, Coeducational Research University in New York City. He studied at the New Dance League, learning ballet with Ella Daganova, Antony Tudor and Eugene Loring; modern dance; Spanish dancing with the famed Helen Veola; folk dance with Yeichi Nimura; and dance composition with Bessie Schoenberg. Antony Tudor ( 4 April 1908 - 19 April 1987) born William Cook, highly influential twentieth-century English Ballet Eugene Loring (August 2 1911-August 30 1982 American ballet and other dance-forms dancer choreographer and teacher and administrator

Career

1930s and 40s

By 1939, Robbins was dancing in the chorus of such Broadway shows as Great Lady, The Straw Hat Revue and Keep off the Grass, which George Balanchine choreographed. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located See also List of ballets by George Balanchine, George Balanchine (January 22 1904 &ndash April 30 1983 born Giorgi Melitonis dze Balanchivadze Robbins was also dancing and choreographing at Camp Tamiment in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. The Pocono Mountains region is a mountainous region of about 2400 square miles (6200 km² located in northeastern Pennsylvania. Here he choreographed many dramatic pieces with controversial ideas about race, lynching, and war. But in 1940, he turned his back (albeit temporarily) on the theater and joined Ballet Theatre (later known as American Ballet Theatre). See also American Ballet Theatre, based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century From 1941 through 1944, Robbins was a soloist with the company, gaining notice for his Hermes in Helen of Troy, the Moor in Petrouchka and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. Hermes ( Greek,, ˈhɝmiːz in Greek mythology, is the Olympian god of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them of Shepherds and This article is about the mythological figure Helen of Troy For other uses see Helen (disambiguation and Helen of Troy (disambiguation. Petrouchka or Petrushka ( Pétrouchka; Петрушка) is a Ballet with music by the Russian Composer Benvolio Montague is a fictional character in William Shakespeare 's Drama Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the

At this time, Broadway dance was changing. Agnes de Mille had brought not just ballet to Oklahoma! but had also made dance an integral part of the drama of the musical. Agnes George de Mille ( September 18, 1905 &ndash October 7, 1993) was an American Dancer and Choreographer Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. Challenged, Robbins choreographed and performed in Fancy Free, a ballet about sailors at liberty, at the Metropolitan Opera as part of the Ballet Theatre season in 1944. See also List of New York City Ballet repertory, NYCB 2008 Spring Repertory Fancy Free is a ballet by Jerome Robbins, subsequently The Metropolitan Opera Association of New York City, founded in April 1880 is a major presenter of all types of opera including Grand Opera. The inspiration for Fancy Free came from Paul Cadmus' 1934 painting called The Fleet's In![1] which is part of the Sailor Trilogy. Paul Cadmus ( December 17, 1904 - December 12, 1999) was an artist born in New York City. Robbins was recommended for a ballet based on the art work by his friend Mary Hunter Wolf. Mary Hunter Wolf (1905?&ndash November 3 2000) born Mary Hunter, was an American Theater director and producer. Distancing himself from the implicit homosexuality of that depiction, an element of controversy, Robbins said in an interview with The Christian Science Monitor, "After seeing. The Christian Science Monitor (CSM is an international Newspaper published daily Monday through Friday . . Fleet's In, which I inwardly rejected though it gave me the idea of doing the ballet, I watched sailors, and girls, too, all over town. " He went on to say "I wanted to show that the boys in the service are healthy, vital boys: there is nothing sordid or morbid about them. " Oliver Smith, set designer and collaborator on Fancy Free, knew Leonard Bernstein and eventually Robbins and Bernstein met to work on the music. Oliver Smith ( February 13 1918 - January 23 1994) was one of the most distinguished and prolific Tony Award -winning Scenic designers WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section --> WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes This would be the first of several collaborative efforts. Fancy Free was a great success.

Later that year, Robbins conceived and choreographed On the Town (1944), a musical partly inspired by Fancy Free, which effectively launched his Broadway career. On the Town is a musical with music by Leonard Bernstein and book and Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, based Once again Bernstein wrote the music and Smith designed the sets. The book and lyrics were by a team that Robbins would work with again, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Betty Comden ( May 3 1917 November 23 2006) along with Adolph Green (1914 2002 was one-half of the musical duo Comden and Green Adolph Green ( December 2, 1914 October 23, 2002) was an American Lyricist and Playwright who with long-time His next musical was Billion Dollar Baby (1945). For the similarly-named Alice Cooper album see Billion Dollar Babies. Two years later, he received plaudits for his hilarious Keystone Kops ballet in High Button Shoes (1947). The Keystone Cops was a series of Silent film comedies featuring a totally incompetent group of Policemen produced by Mack Sennett for his High Button Shoes is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Sammy Cahn and book by George Abbott and Stephen Longstreet

1950s

During this period, Robbins continued to create dances for the Ballet Theatre, alternating between musicals and ballet for the better part of the next two decades. Barely a year went by without a new Robbins ballet and a new Robbins musical. With George Balanchine he choreographed Jones Beach at the City Center Theater in 1950, and directed and choreographed Irving Berlin's Call Me Madam, starring Ethel Merman. See also List of ballets by George Balanchine, George Balanchine (January 22 1904 &ndash April 30 1983 born Giorgi Melitonis dze Balanchivadze New York City Center, historically known as City Center of Music and Drama, and also known as New York City Center 55th Street Theater, is a 2750-seat Moorish Irving Berlin (11 May 1888 &ndash 22 September 1989 was a Russian-born American Composer and Lyricist, and one of the most prolific American songwriters Call Me Madam is a musical with a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. Ethel Merman ( January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American Actress and Singer for Musical

In 1951, Robbins created the now-celebrated dance sequences in Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King & I (including the March of the Siamese Children, the ballet The Small House of Uncle Thomas and the "Shall We Dance?" polka between the two leads). Richard Rodgers (1902 &ndash 1979 and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895 &ndash 1960 were a well-known American songwriting duo The King and I is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. That same year, he created The Cage for the New York City Ballet, with which he was now associated. New York State Theater by David Shankbonejpg|thumb|300px| New York State Theater]] New York City Ballet ( NYCB) is a Ballet company founded in 1948 by He also performed, uncredited, show doctoring on the musicals A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1951); Wish You Were Here (1952); and Wonderful Town (1953). A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a musical with a book by George Abbott and Betty Smith, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and music by Arthur Wish You Were Here is a musical with a book by Arthur Kober and Joshua Logan and music and lyrics by Harold Rome.

Robbins collaborated with George Abbott on The Pajama Game (1954), which launched the career of Shirley MacLaine, worked on the 1955 Mary Martin vehicle, Peter Pan (recreated for the small screen in 1955, 1956 and 1960) and directed and co-choreographed (with Bob Fosse) Bells Are Ringing (1956), starring Judy Holliday. George Francis Abbott ( June 25, 1887 - January 31, 1995) was an American Theater producer and director, Playwright The Pajama Game is a musical based on the novel 7-1/2 Cents by Richard Bissell. Shirley MacLaine (born April 24, 1934) is an American Academy Award -winning Film and Theater Actress, well-known Mary Virginia Martin ( December 1, 1913 – November 3, 1990) was an American Tony Award -winning star of stage film Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J Robert Louis “Bob” Fosse ( June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American Musical theater Choreographer and Judy Holliday (June 21 1921 – June 7 1965 was an American Academy - and Tony Award -winning Actress. In 1957, he conceived, choreographed and directed a show that some feel is his crowning achievement: West Side Story. West Side Story is a musical by Arthur Laurents (book Leonard Bernstein (music and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics

West Side Story is a contemporary version of Romeo and Juliet, set in Hell's Kitchen. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West, is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City that includes roughly the area between The musical marked the first collaboration between Robbins and Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the lyrics. Stephen Joshua Sondheim (born March 22 1930 is an American musical and film composer and lyricist winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards (seven The two, along with book writer Arthur Laurents and composer Leonard Bernstein, worked well together, only disagreeing on minor issues such as whether the lead character Maria should die. Arthur Laurents (born July 14, 1918) is an American Playwright, Novelist, Screenwriter, Librettist and To help the young cast grow into their roles, Robbins did not allow those playing members of opposite gangs (Jets and Sharks) to mix during the rehearsal process. The original Broadway production featured Carol Lawrence as Maria, Larry Kert as Tony and Chita Rivera as Anita. Carol Lawrence (born September 5 1932, Melrose Park Illinois) is a Musical theater Actress, who has also made many appearances on Larry Kert ( December 5, 1930 - June 5, 1991) was an American actor singer and dancer Chita Rivera (born on January 23, 1933) is an American actress Dancer, and Singer best known for her roles in Musical theater Although it opened to good reviews, it was overshadowed by Meredith Willson's The Music Man at that year's Tony Awards. Robert Meredith Willson ( 18 May 1902 – 15 June 1984) was an American composer songwriter conductor and playwright The Music Man is a musical with book music and lyrics by Meredith Willson. West Side Story did, however, earn Robbins his second Tony Award for choreography, and is now hailed as a groundbreaking classic. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented

The streak of hits continued with Gypsy (1959), starring Ethel Merman. Gypsy is a 1959 musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Ethel Merman ( January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American Actress and Singer for Musical Robbins re-teamed with Sondheim and Laurents, and the music was by Jule Styne. Jule Styne ( December 31, 1905 &ndash September 20, 1994) was a British -born American Songwriter especially The musical is based--loosely--on the life of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. Gypsy Rose Lee (also known as Rose Louise Hovick and Louise Hovick) (born January 8 1911 &ndash April 26 1970) was

House Un-American Activities Committee

While Robbins' career seemed to be a charmed one, it was not without a period of difficulty. In the early 1950s, he was called to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), suspected of Communist sympathies. The House Committee on Un-American Activities ( HUAC or HCUA 1938–1975 was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. Robbins named names along with Sterling Hayden, Burl Ives, Elia Kazan and Lela Rogers (mother of Ginger Rogers). Sterling Hayden ( March 26, 1916 – May 23, 1986) was an American Actor and Author. Burl Icle Ivanhoe Ives ( 14 June 1909 &ndash 14 April 1995) was an Academy Award winning American actor and acclaimed Elia Mother, ( Greek: Ηλίας Καζάν September 7 1909 &ndash September 28 2003) was a Greek - American Ginger Rogers ( July 16, 1911 &ndash April 25, 1995) was an Academy Award -winning American film and stage actress Because he cooperated with HUAC, Robbins' career did not visibly suffer and he was not blacklisted. Robbins named more names than any other HUAC witness. However, he suffered remorse throughout his life about his betrayal of onetime friends. [1]

1960s

In 1962, Robbins tried his hand at a straight play, directing Arthur Kopit's unconventional Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad. Arthur Lee Kopit (born May 10, 1937, New York City) is an American playwright Oh Dad Poor Dad Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad A Pseudoclassical Tragifarce in a Bastard French Tradition was the first play written by Arthur L The production ran over a year off-Broadway and was transferred to Broadway for a short run in 1963,

Robbins was still highly sought after as a show doctor. Off-Broadway plays or musicals are performed in New York City. He took over the direction of two troubled productions during this period and helped turn them into smashes. In 1962, he saved A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962), a musical farce starring Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, David Burns and John Carradine. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Samuel Joel “Zero” Mostel ( February 28 1915 – September 8 1977) was an American Actor of stage and Jack Gilford ( July 25, 1908  &ndash June 4, 1990 was an Academy Award - and Tony Award -nominated and Daytime Emmy Award David Burns may refer to David Burns (actor (1901-1971 American actor David Burns (basketball, American basketball player John Carradine ( February 5, 1906 &ndash November 27, 1988) was an American Actor, perhaps best known for his roles in The production, with book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, and songs by Stephen Sondheim, was not working. Burt Shevelove ( September 19 1915 - April 8 1982) was an American musical theater playwright lyricist librettist and director Larry Simon Gelbart (born February 25, 1928) is an American Comedy Writer and playwright with over sixty years of credits Robbins staged an entirely new opening number which explained to the audience what was to follow, and the show played beautifully from then on. In 1964 he took on a floundering Funny Girl and devised a show that ran 1348 performances. Funny Girl is a musical with a book by Isobel Lennart, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Bob Merrill. The musical helped turn lead Barbra Streisand into a superstar. Barbra Streisand (ˈstraɪsænd "STRY-sand" born April 24 1942 is an American Singer, Film and Theatre Actress

That same year, Robbins won matching Tony Awards for his direction and choreography in Fiddler on the Roof (1964). The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set The show starred Zero Mostel as Tevye and ran for 3242 performances, setting the record (since surpassed) for longest-running Broadway musical. Tevye the dairyman ( Yiddish טבֿיה דער מילכיקער Tevye der milkhiker) is the protagonist of several of Sholem Aleichem 's stories Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Musical theatre is a form of Theatre combining Music, Songs spoken Dialogue and Dance. The plot, about Jews living in Russia near the beginning of the 20th century, is based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem. Sholem Aleichem (שלום־עליכם Шолом-Алейхем &ndash May 13, 1916) was the Pen name of Sholem Naumovich Rabinovich the popular The subject matter allowed Robbins to return to his religious roots.

1970s and 80s

Never deserting the ballet, he continued to choreograph and stage productions for both the Joffrey Ballet and the New York City Ballet into the 1970s. Ballet is a formalized form of Dance with its origins in the French court further developed in France and Russia as a Concert dance The Joffrey Ballet is a dance company founded in 1956 From 1995 to 2004 the company was known as The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. New York State Theater by David Shankbonejpg|thumb|300px| New York State Theater]] New York City Ballet ( NYCB) is a Ballet company founded in 1948 by

Robbins became ballet master of the New York City Ballet in 1972 and worked almost exclusively in classical dance throughout the next decade, pausing only to stage revivals of West Side Story (1980) and Fiddler on the Roof (198). New York State Theater by David Shankbonejpg|thumb|300px| New York State Theater]] New York City Ballet ( NYCB) is a Ballet company founded in 1948 by West Side Story is a musical by Arthur Laurents (book Leonard Bernstein (music and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set In 1981, his Chamber Dance Company toured the People's Republic of China. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES

The 1980s saw an increased presence on TV as NBC aired Live From Studio 8H: An Evening of Jerome Robbins' Ballets with Members of the New York City Ballet, and a retrospective of Robbins' choreography aired on PBS in a 1986 installment of Dance in America. The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's The Public Broadcasting Service ( PBS) is a Non-profit Public broadcasting Television service with 354 member TV stations in the The latter led to his creating the anthology show Jerome Robbins' Broadway in 1989 which recreated the most successful production numbers from his 50-plus year career. Jerome Robbins' Broadway is an anthology comprising musical numbers from earlier shows that were either directed or choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Starring Jason Alexander as the narrator, the show included stagings of cut numbers like Irving Berlin's Mr. Jason Alexander (born September 23 1959 as Jay Scott Greenspan) is an American television cinema and Musical theatre comedic actor best known for his role Irving Berlin (11 May 1888 &ndash 22 September 1989 was a Russian-born American Composer and Lyricist, and one of the most prolific American songwriters Monotony and well-known ones like the "Tradition" number from Fiddler on the Roof. Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set For his efforts, he earned a fifth Tony Award. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented

Private life

Following a bicycle accident in 1990 and heart-valve surgery in 1994; in 1996 he began showing signs of a form of Parkinson’s disease and his hearing was quickly getting worse. However, he insisted on staging Les Noces for City Ballet in 1998. It was the last thing he did. He suffered a massive stroke two months later, and he died at his home in New York on July 29, 1998. On the evening of his death, the lights of Broadway were dimmed for a moment in tribute. In the more than sixty years in which he had been active in the theater, he had transformed it.

Notable awards

On screen, Robbins recreated his stage dances for The King and I (1956) and shared the Best Director Oscar with Robert Wise for the film version of West Side Story (1961). The King and I is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. Robert Wise ( September 10, 1914 &ndash September 14, 2005) was an American sound effects editor film editor and Academy West Side Story is a 1961 film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. In fact, Robbins was one of only six directors who won the Academy Award for Best Director for a film debut. The Academy Award for Achievement in Directing (Best Director is one of the Awards of Merit presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS to That same year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored him with a special award for his choreographic achievements on film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ( AMPAS) is a professional honorary organization ostensibly dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of Motion By the end of his life in 1998, he would be awarded 5 Tony Awards, 2 Academy Awards, a Kennedy Center Honor, the National Medal of the Arts, the French Legion of Honor, three Honorary Doctorates, and an Honorary Membership in the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.

Broadway productions

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ Amanda Vaill, Somewhere: The Life of Jerome Robbins. New York: Broadway, 2006

External links


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