Tony winner Wayne Cilento restages iconic Broadway choreography for ADM21.
By Brandon Voss
Theater may be ephemeral, but American Dance Machine for the 21st Century aims to preserve iconic choreography from the 20th century’s most beloved musicals.
Directed by Wayne Cilento, who choreographed Broadway musicals like Wicked and Aida, a new ADM21 revue kicks off December 22 at the Joyce Theater, recreating about a dozen routines from classics like Grand Hotel and Oklahoma. “This is entertainment, as opposed to just an education,” Cilento says.
ADM21 will honor late bisexual choreographer Michael Bennett with a number from Promises, Promises and a montage from A Chorus Line. “You’ll see Michael’s genius,” says Cilento, a member of A Chorus Line’s original company.
Cilento will also recreate some of his own work from The Who’s Tommy, for which he won a Tony Award, and the 1995 revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. “We want to show the full scope of what a Broadway choreographer can do. It’s a challenge when you take these numbers out of context, but we really want to take the audience on a journey.”
Next, December 2015.