Gillian Lynne

Gillian Lynne, CBE (b. February 20, 1926, Bromley, Kent, England) is a British ballerina, dancer, actor, theatre director , television director and choreographer noted for her popular theatre choreography associated with the iconic musicals "Cats" and the longest running show in Broadway history "The Phantom of the Opera".

Early life and education

Lynne was a precocious dance talent from an early age, teaming with her childhood friend Beryl Grey while still at school and dancing to blot out the tragedy of the violent death (in a car crash) of her mother on July 8th 1939 in Coventry when Gillian was just 13 years old. [Recounted by Dame Beryl Grey in The Independent March 10 2002]

Lynne's gift for dancing was discovered by a doctor. Lynne had been underperforming at school, so her mother took her to the doctor and explained about her fidgeting and lack of focus. After hearing everything her mother said, the doctor told Lynne that he needed to talk to her mother privately for a moment. He turned on the radio and walked out. He then encouraged her mother to look at Lynne, who was dancing to the radio. The doctor noted that she was a dancer, and encouraged Lynne's mother to take her to dance school. [Recounted by Sir Ken Robinson in his TED talk, [http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/66 Do schools kill creativity?] (starting at 15:08 minutes)]

Dancing career

Sadler's Wells Ballet

While dancing for Molly Lake’s Company at the People's Palace she was spotted by Dame Ninette de Valois and asked to join Sadler's Wells Ballet during World War II. With the opening of the Royal Opera House after the War she received her first major solo in "Sleeping Beauty" on the night of her 20th birthday. She went on to become an admired dramatic ballerina in the soon to be re-named Royal Ballet, renowned for her Black Queen in de Valois’s "Checkmate", Queen of the Wilis in "Giselle" and in roles created for her by Frederick Ashton and Robert Helpmann.

West End Film and Television

Leaving Sadler's Wells Ballet in 1951 she was an instant success at the London Palladium as the star dancer and subsequently in the West End in such roles as Claudine in "Can Can" at the Coliseum Theatre and on film as Mariane in "The Master of Ballantrae", in which she was cast opposite Errol Flynn and directed by William Keighley and appeared as both dancer and actress on early British Television.

Choreography and Direction

In her long career as a choreographer and director, she has worked on many productions including those from the Royal Opera House, Royal Shakespeare Company and English National Opera as well as many West End and Broadway shows. She is perhaps best known for her work on the Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals "Cats"," The Phantom of the Opera" and "Aspects of Love". She is also a prolific television choreographer and director notably for "The Muppet Show" series and winning the 1987 BAFTA Huw Wheldon Award for her direction and choreography of "A Simple Man" starring Moira Shearer.

Recent productions

In 2005 she choreographed the Sherman Brothers' film musical, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" for the stage. It played in London, and later on Broadway, both times successfully. "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" brought Lynne back to the London Palladium after 50 years and she has also rehearsed Cast Changes for the show's National UK Tour. Lynne choreographed the 90 Minute Las Vegas Production of The Phantom of the Opera which opened in the Summer of 2006, directed "I Want to Teach the World to Sing!" Gala at Her Majesty's Theatre and musically staged The Imaginary Invalid starring René Auberjonois for the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington DC. in the Summer of 2008. Lynne is currently penning her keenly awaited autobiography. She has won numerous theatrical awards for her work, and she was made CBE in 1997.

Marriage

Gillian married the actor/singer Peter Land in 1980. Along with their other interests her production company Lean Two Productions continues to produce television, film and stage productions.

Major Stage Credits

*"Ballet Guild" - 1942-1944 - Soloist
*"Sadler's Wells Ballet" - 1944-1951 - Leading Soloist
*"London Palladium" - 1951-1954 - Star Dancer
*"Can Can" - 1954 - Claudine
*"New Cranks" - 1960 - Cast
*"Rose Marie" - 1960 - Wanda
*"England Our England" - 1960/61 - Stager
*"Puss in Boots" - 1962 - Queen of Catland
*"Collages" - 1963 - Conceived/Director/Choreographer/Performer
*"Round Leicester Square" - 1963 - Director
*"The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd" - 1965 - Choreographer
*"Pickwick" - 1965 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"The Matchgirls" - 1966 - Director/Choreographer
*"The Flying Dutchman" - 1966 - Choreographer
*"Bluebeard" - 1966 - Director/Choreographer
*"How Now Dow Jones" - 1967 - Choreographer
*"The Midsummer Marriage" - 1968 - Choreographer
*"The Trojans" - 1969 - Choreographer
*"Phil The Fluter" - 1969 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Love on the Dole" - 1970 - Director/Choreographer
*"Tonight At 8.30" - 1970/71 - Director
*"The Ambassador" - 1971 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Lillywhite Lies" - 1971 - Director
*"Liberty Ranch" - 1972 - Director/Choreographer
*"Once Upon A Time" - 1972 - Director/Choreographer
*"The Card" - 1973 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Hans Christian Andersen" - 1975 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"The Comedy of Errors" - 1976 - Musical Stager
*"A Midsummer Night's Dream" - 1977 - Co-Director
*"As You Like It" - 1977 - Musical Stager
*"The Way of the World" - 1978 - Choreographer
*"My Fair Lady" - 1978 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Thuis Best" - 1978 - Director/Choreographer
*"Parsifal" - 1979 - Choreographer
*"Once In A Lifetime" - 1979 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Songbook" - 1979 - Musical Stager
*"Jeeves Takes Charge" - 1980 - Director
*"Tomfoolery" - 1980 - Director/Choreographer
*"To Those Born Later" - 1981 - Director
*"Cats" - 1981 - Associate Director/Choreographer
*"La Ronde" - 1982 - Additional Director
*"Alone Plus One" - 1982 - Director/Performer
*"The Rehearsal" - 1983 - Director
*"The Phantom of the Opera" - 1986 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Cabaret" - 1986 - Director/Choreographer
*"Faust" - 1990 - Choreographer
*"Aspects Of Love" - 1990 - Choreographer
*"Dance For Life Gala" - 1991 - Director/Producer
*"Valentine's Day" - 1991 - Director/Choreographer
*"Pickwick" - 1993 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"That's What Friends Are For!" - 1996 - Director
*"Avow" - 1996 - Director
*"What The World Needs Now" - 1998 - Director/Choreographer
*"Gigi" - 1999 - Director/Choreographer
*"Richard Whittington" - 1999 - Director/Choreographer
*"The Secret Garden" - 2000 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" - 2005 - Musical Stager/Choreographer

Film Credits

*"The Master of Ballantrae" - 1953 - Actress/Choreographer
*"The Last Man To Hang" - 1956 - Actress
*"Make Mine A Million" - 1959 - Actress
*"Wonderful Life" - 1963/64 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Every Day's A Holiday" - 1964 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Three Hats For Lisa" - 1964 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Half a Sixpence" - 1967 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Mister Ten Per Cent" - 1967 - Choreographer
*"200 Motels" - 1971 - Musical Stager
*"Mr Love" - 1972 - Stager/Choreographer
*"Man Of La Mancha" - 1972 - Musical & Fight Stager
*"Under Milk Wood" - 1972 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"The Old Curiosity Shop" - 1974 - Musical Stager
*"Yentl" - 1982 - Musical Stager
*"European Vacation" - 1985 - Musical Stager/Choreographer
*"Cats" - 1997 - Musical Stager/Choreographer

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.gillianlynne.com/career.htm Biography on official site]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0528852/ Gillian Lynne on the IMDB]
*ibdb name|id=1284|name=Gillian Lynne
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZvgv6pfC4w Gillian Lynne and Dance]