Theatre Register

Lester Wilson

Shows · Lester Wilson

Choreographer 1942–1993 On stage 1964

Lester Wilson (April 13, 1942 – February 14, 1993) was an African-American dancer, choreographer, and actor. Wilson attended the Juilliard School. Bob Fosse cast him in a 1963 revival of Pal Joey at the New York City Center. Wilson toured London with Sammy Davis Jr. in Golden Boy. In 1969, he was responsible with 24 of his dancers for the choreography of Johnny Hallyday's show at the Palais des Sports in Paris. Lester's best known choreography was the 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever for which he coached John Travolta. Wilson had choreographed for Diana Ross, Dalida, Gladys Knight, Billy Crystal, Liza Minnelli and Ann-Margret, in her Las Vegas stage spectaculars. He also choreographed the 199…

On stage 2 productions

1964 Anyone Can Whistle Majestic Theatre · Original · directed by Arthur Laurents 9 perf.
1964 Golden Boy Majestic Theatre · Revival · directed by Arthur Penn 569 perf.

Each row is a staging this name appears in the cast list of, read from the production record rather than from the person record. The person record names works instead, and a work cannot say which run somebody was in — that is how Elaine Stritch ends up filed under Show Boat 1927 when she was in the 1994 revival. No row here says what part was played, because no cast list records it.

Also credited on1 work

Grind

These come off the person record, which names a work and not a production. So we can say this name is attached to the work and we cannot say which staging, or in what capacity. For a composer or a writer that is the whole career we hold; there is no cast list to find them in.

In the literature3 passages

  • Larry Grossman was again called on by Prince to supply the music, with Ellen Fitzhugh writing the lyrics and Lester Wilson devising the choreography. Kanin spent the next two years rewriting and simplifying the complex love story, and working with her collaborators.ebooks/Ilson, Carol/Harold Prince_ A Director's Journey - Carol Ilson.txt
  • Lester Wilson's choreography was described by Jack Kroll in Newsweek as "a jagged blend of urban elegance, vulgarity and pathos ... the best in a Prince show since Michael Bennett struck out on his own;"110 he went on to say that the dances were "the cumbersome musical's best assets."111 Douglas Watt in the Daily News singled out Ben Vere…ebooks/Ilson, Carol/Harold Prince_ A Director's Journey - Carol Ilson.txt
  • GRIND Music by Lam Grossman; Lyrics, Ellen Fitzhugh; Book. Fay Kanin: Direccor. Harold Prince; Choreographer. Lester Wilson: Presented by Kenneth D Greenblatl. Nederiander. John J Pomerantz. Mary Lea Johnson. Martin Richards. James Harold Prince. Michael Frazier in association with Susan Madden Samson and Jonathan Farkas; Scenery, Clarke…theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1984-85 Season, v. 41 (Willis).txt

Passages naming this person, found by keyword across 178 books. A keyword match is not a biography, and a common name will pull in the wrong one.

What this page does not know

  • What this person played. No cast list we hold records a character against a performer.
  • Any portrait. 1,626 of 7,139 people have one, so this is the usual case rather than the exception.
  • Which of the credits above the roles on this record — choreographer — apply to. The roles sit on the person and never on a credit, so a director who also acted looks the same here as one who did not.

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