Peter Gennaro

Peter Gennaro (November 23, 1919 – September 28, 2000) was an American dancer and choreographer.

Biography

Gennaro was born in Metairie, Louisiana. He made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of ''Make Mine Manhattan'' in 1948. He followed this with ''Kiss Me, Kate'' (1948) and ''Guys and Dolls'' (1950). He first drew notice from theatergoers as a member of the trio that danced the Bob Fosse number "Steam Heat" in ''The Pajama Game'' (1954), and continued to hold their attention with the "Mu Cha Cha" number with Judy Holliday in '' Bells Are Ringing'' (1956). A year later, he broke out of the chorus line and into choreography when he collaborated with Jerome Robbins on ''West Side Story'', notably choreographing (without credit) a majority of the "America" and "Mambo" dance sequences.

In addition to his theater chores, Gennaro worked steadily in television, appearing in and/or choreographing such shows as ''Your Hit Parade'', ''The Polly Bergen Show'', Judy Garland's CBS variety program, and the Kraft Music Hall. With his dance troupe, he was a guest on Ed Sullivan's CBS Sunday night variety show dozens of times, and he was a member of the regular repertory company on the short-lived CBS variety show ''The Entertainers'' (1964–1965), one of the stars having been John Davidson. He also served for many years as choreographer for Radio City Music Hall, staging routines for The Rockettes.

He was inducted, posthumously, into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2002.

Personal life

His daughter, Liza, is also a dancer and choreographer and Dean of Musical Theatre at Manhattan School of Music, and his son Michael is the Executive Director for Trinity Repertory Company and has served as executive director of both the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Paper Mill Playhouse. The family lived for a time in Paramus, New Jersey up to 1972.Shanley, John P. "Gennaro Como's Dancing Master", ''The New York Times'', October 15, 1961. Gennaro died in New York City at the age of 80.

Stage productions

*1997 ''Annie'' (revival) (Choreography)
*1989 ''Threepenny Opera'' (Musical Staging)
*1983 ''Singin' in the Rain'' (London) (Choreography)
*1982 '' Little Me'' (revival) (Choreography)
*1980 ''West Side Story'' (revival) (Co-Choreography); ''One Night Stand'' (Choreography)
*1979 ''Carmelina'' (Choreography)
*1978 ''Bar Mitzvah Boy'' (London) (Choreography)
*1977 ''Annie'' (Choreography)
*1973 ''Irene'' (Choreography)
*1969 '' Jimmy!'' (Choreography)
*1964 ''Bajour'' (Choreography)
*1964 ''West Side Story'' (revival) (Co-Choreographer)
*1962 '' Mr. President'' (Choreography)
*1960 '' The Unsinkable Molly Brown'' (Choreography)
*1959 ''Fiorello!'' (Choreography)
*1957 ''West Side Story'' (Co-Choreography)
*1956 ''Bells Are Ringing'' (Performer)
*1954 ''The Pajama Game'' (Performer)
*1950 ''Guys and Dolls'' (Performer)
*1950 ''Arms and the Girl'' (Performer)
*1948 ''Kiss Me Kate'' (Performer)
*1948 ''Make Mine Manhattan'' (Performer)

Awards and nominations

;Awards
* 1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography – ''Annie''
* 1977 Tony Award for Best Choreography – ''Annie''
;Nominations
* 1960 Tony Award for Best Choreography – ''Fiorello!''
* 1965 Tony Award for Best Choreography – ''Bajour''
* 1973 Tony Award for Best Choreography – ''Irene''
* 1982 Tony Award for Best Choreography – ''Little Me''
* 1999 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Theatre Choreographer – ''Annie''

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gennaro, Peter
1919 births
2000 deaths
American choreographers
American male dancers
Drama Desk Award winners
Tony Award winners
People from Paramus, New Jersey
American people of Italian descent
Paramus High School alumni
20th-century American dancers