Tony Stevens (May 2, 1948 â€" July 12, 2011), born Anthony Pusateri,
was an American choreographer, dancer, and director who worked with,
danced with, and directed many of Broadway and Hollywood's
theatre-centric actors and actresses, including Chita Rivera, Martin
Short, Robert Redford, and Gene Kelly.Stevens was born in Herculaneum,
Missouri to a factory worker father and a mother who owned and
operated a small town general store. He debuted on Broadway in 1969,
dancing in The Fig Leaves Are Falling (book and lyrics by Allan
Sherman and music by Albert Hague). This was followed by roles in the
1970s productions of Billy, Jimmy, The Boy Friend, On the Town,
Seesaw, and Irene, in addition to the 1973 benefit concert Sondheim: A
Musical Tribute. Stevens also went on to perform with Chita Rivera and
Christopher Chadman in Rivera's acclaimed nightclub act Chita Plus
Two, which he also choreographed.As his career as a Broadway gypsy
took off, Stevens transitioned into a choreographer, assisting Peter
Gennaro on Irene and co-choreographing the short-lived rock musical
Rockabye Hamlet with Gower Champion. In 1975, Stevens had the honor of
assisting Bob Fosse on the musical Chicago, which starred Gwen Verdon
and Chita Rivera, who would become a lifelong friend and frequent
collaborator with Stevens. Additional choreography credits include the
short-lived Broadway musical Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You
Ever Forget It) and the Frank Loesser revue Perfectly Frank on
Broadway in 1980.Perhaps Stevens' greatest contribution to musical
theatre history, however, was his decision to organize a series of
tape sessions among Broadway dancers with Michon Peacock, which would
eventually become the internationally acclaimed musical A Chorus Line.
Originally conceived as a way to create a resident company of dancers
who would create their own productions, Stevens and Peacock initially
arranged the first tape session, inviting a group of seasoned Broadway
dancers and Broadway director/choreographer Michael Bennett to "talk
about life and what it means to be a dancer." As these initial talks
developed into A Chorus Line, many of Stevens' stories and anecdotes
made their way into the show's script. Stevens participated in the
first workshop of the show at the Public Theater, where he played the
role of Larry, before ultimately leaving the show to work on Chicago.
was an American choreographer, dancer, and director who worked with,
danced with, and directed many of Broadway and Hollywood's
theatre-centric actors and actresses, including Chita Rivera, Martin
Short, Robert Redford, and Gene Kelly.Stevens was born in Herculaneum,
Missouri to a factory worker father and a mother who owned and
operated a small town general store. He debuted on Broadway in 1969,
dancing in The Fig Leaves Are Falling (book and lyrics by Allan
Sherman and music by Albert Hague). This was followed by roles in the
1970s productions of Billy, Jimmy, The Boy Friend, On the Town,
Seesaw, and Irene, in addition to the 1973 benefit concert Sondheim: A
Musical Tribute. Stevens also went on to perform with Chita Rivera and
Christopher Chadman in Rivera's acclaimed nightclub act Chita Plus
Two, which he also choreographed.As his career as a Broadway gypsy
took off, Stevens transitioned into a choreographer, assisting Peter
Gennaro on Irene and co-choreographing the short-lived rock musical
Rockabye Hamlet with Gower Champion. In 1975, Stevens had the honor of
assisting Bob Fosse on the musical Chicago, which starred Gwen Verdon
and Chita Rivera, who would become a lifelong friend and frequent
collaborator with Stevens. Additional choreography credits include the
short-lived Broadway musical Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You
Ever Forget It) and the Frank Loesser revue Perfectly Frank on
Broadway in 1980.Perhaps Stevens' greatest contribution to musical
theatre history, however, was his decision to organize a series of
tape sessions among Broadway dancers with Michon Peacock, which would
eventually become the internationally acclaimed musical A Chorus Line.
Originally conceived as a way to create a resident company of dancers
who would create their own productions, Stevens and Peacock initially
arranged the first tape session, inviting a group of seasoned Broadway
dancers and Broadway director/choreographer Michael Bennett to "talk
about life and what it means to be a dancer." As these initial talks
developed into A Chorus Line, many of Stevens' stories and anecdotes
made their way into the show's script. Stevens participated in the
first workshop of the show at the Public Theater, where he played the
role of Larry, before ultimately leaving the show to work on Chicago.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.