Ron Field (October 18, 1933 – February 6, 1989) was an American choreographer, dancer, and director.

Life and career

Field was born in

New York City, New York New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harb ...

where he made his Broadway debut as a child in '' Lady in the Dark'' (1941) with

Gertrude Lawrence Gertrude Lawrence (4 July 1898 – 6 September 1952) was an English actress, singer, dancer and musical comedy performer known for her stage appearances in the West End of London and on Broadway in New York. Early life Lawrence was born in 1 ...

. He later danced in the ensembles of '' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'' (1949), '' Kismet'' (1954), and '' The Boy Friend'' (1955) before deciding to concentrate on choreography. His first two efforts '' Nowhere But Up'' (1962) and '' Cafe Crown'' (1964) were unsuccessful, but in 1966 he won his first

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

for his dazzling work in the hit ''

Cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...

'', the first of several noteworthy successes. During rehearsals for

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...

's trouble-plagued '' Merrily We Roll Along'' in 1981, Field was dismissed from the creative team. It wasn't until a revival of ''Cabaret'' in 1987 that he would have another Broadway success. In addition to his work on Broadway, Field staged such diverse projects as

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nightclub acts, the 44th Annual

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telecast in 1972, ''

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'' (a 1976 TV special starring

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), a

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concert and television special with

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in 1977, the opening ceremonies for the 1984

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, and an acclaimed revival of ''

Kiss Me, Kate ''Kiss Me, Kate'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Bella and Samuel Spewack. The story involves the production of a musical version of William Shakespeare's ''The Taming of the Shrew'' and the conflict on and off- ...

'' in

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's West End. He also choreographed

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's ''

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'' (1977). On February 6, 1989, Field died in New York City at the age of fifty-five. Though obituaries at the time said his "cause of death was brain lesions and neurological impairments," it was common at the time for survivors of public figures to euphemize

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or provide only the symptoms and not the overarching cause in obituaries due to rampant stigma. Sources since have confirmed Field did die of AIDS.Gold, Sylviane
"On Broadway: Dancing Days"
''Dance Magazine'', June 28, 2011

Stage credits

*1987 ''Cabaret'' (Choreography) *1986 '' Rags'' (Choreography) *1980 ''Perfectly Frank'' (Choreography) *1978 '' King of Hearts'' (Choreography and Direction) *1971 '' On the Town'' (Choreography and Direction) *1970 '' Applause'' (Choreography and Direction) *1968 '' Zorba'' (Choreography) *1966 ''Cabaret'' (Choreography) *1964 ''Cafe Crown'' (Choreography) *1962 ''Nowhere to Go But Up'' (Choreography)

Awards and nominations

;Awards *1967 Tony Award for Best Choreography – ''Cabaret'' *1970 Tony Award for Best Choreography – ''Applause'' *1970 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – ''Applause'' *1977 Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography – ''America Salutes Richard Rodgers: The Sound of His Music'' *1978 Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography – ''The Sentry Collection Presents Ben Vereen: His Roots'' ;Nominations *1969 Tony Award for Best Choreography – ''Zorba'' *1973 Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Comedy, Variety or Music – ''Once Upon a Mattress'' *1980 Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography – ''Baryshnikov on Broadway'' *1987 Tony Award for Best Choreography – ''Rags''

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Field, Ron 1934 births 1989 deaths American musical theatre directors American choreographers Drama Desk Award winners Musical theatre choreographers Primetime Emmy Award winners Tony Award winners