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Ann Reinking
Ann Reinking by Jack Mitchell.jpg
Reinking photographed by Jack Mitchell in 1981
Born (1949-11-10)November 10, 1949
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Died December 12, 2020(2020-12-12) (aged 71)
Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
  • choreographer
Years active 1962–2017
Spouse(s)
Larry Small
​
​
(m. 1970, divorced)​

Herbert Allen Jr.
​
​
(m. 1982; div. 1989)​

James Stuart
​
​
(m. 1989; div. 1991)​

Peter Talbert
​
​
(m. 1994)​
Partner(s) Bob Fosse (1972–1978)
Children 1

Ann Reinking (November 10, 1949 – December 12, 2020) was an amazing American dancer, actress, choreographer, and singer. She was best known for her work in musical theater, especially on Broadway. She starred in many famous shows like Coco (1969), Over Here! (1974), and Chicago (1977).

Ann Reinking won a special award called the Tony Award for Best Choreography for her work on the 1996 revival of Chicago. She not only choreographed the show but also played the main role of Roxie Hart. She also won the Olivier Award for her choreography in the 2000 London production of Fosse. Besides theater, she appeared in movies such as All That Jazz (1979), Annie (1982), and Micki & Maude (1984).

Ann Reinking's Early Life

Ann Reinking was born in Seattle, Washington, on November 10, 1949. Her mother, Frances, was a homemaker, and her father, Walter, was an engineer. She grew up in Bellevue.

From a young age, Ann loved ballet. She started taking lessons with famous ballet dancers in Seattle. When she was just 12 years old, she made her first professional stage appearance. She performed in a show called Giselle with the English Royal Ballet.

During her middle school and high school years, Ann spent her summers studying at the San Francisco Ballet. She even received a scholarship for this training. After finishing high school, she continued her dance studies. She took summer classes with the Joffrey Ballet at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington.

Ann Reinking's Career Highlights

When Ann Reinking was 18, she moved to New York City to pursue her dreams. She started as a dancer in the "corps de ballet" (a group of dancers) at the famous Radio City Music Hall. She also toured with the musical Fiddler on the Roof.

At age 19, she made her big debut on Broadway in the musical Cabaret. She continued to dance in the chorus of other Broadway shows like Coco (1969) and Pippin (1972).

While working on Pippin, she caught the eye of the show's director and choreographer, Bob Fosse. Ann became a student and close collaborator of Fosse. His unique, jazz-like dance style greatly influenced her own work.

In 1974, Ann became well-known for her role as Maggie in Over Here!. She won a Theatre World Award for this performance. The next year, she starred as Joan of Arc in Goodtime Charley. For this role, she was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

In 1977, Ann took over the lead role of Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. This show was directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse. In 1978, she appeared in Fosse's dance show Dancin', earning another Tony nomination.

Ann also appeared in several movies. She played Katie Jagger in Fosse's film All That Jazz (1979). This role was loosely based on her own life and relationship with Fosse. She also played Grace Farrell in Annie (1982) and Micki Salinger in Micki & Maude (1984). Later, in 2019, an FX mini-series called Fosse/Verdon showed Ann's life and her work with Fosse.

In 1986, Ann returned to Broadway in a successful revival of Fosse's Sweet Charity. She also founded the Broadway Theater Project in 1994. This program helps connect young theater students with experienced professionals.

Ann had mostly stopped performing by 1996. But then she was asked to choreograph a special concert version of Chicago. The producers wanted the choreography to be "in the style of Bob Fosse." When they couldn't find the right actress for Roxie Hart, Ann agreed to play the role herself, almost 20 years after her first time.

This concert version of Chicago was a huge success! It soon moved to Broadway with Ann and the original cast. This revival of Chicago became the longest-running American musical on Broadway. Ann won a Tony Award for Best Choreography for her amazing work on the show. She also recreated her choreography for the London production of Chicago in 1997.

In 1998, Ann helped create, direct, and choreograph a show called Fosse. This show celebrated Bob Fosse's incredible dance style. For her work on the London production of Fosse, Ann won the 2001 Olivier Award for Best Theatre Choreographer.

In 2001, Florida State University gave Ann an honorary doctorate for her contributions to the arts. She also helped judge dance competitions for young people in New York City. She even appeared in the 2005 documentary film Mad Hot Ballroom, which was about these competitions.

Ann continued to create new works. She collaborated with composer Bruce Wolosoff and Thodos Dance Chicago to create the ballet The Devil in the White City in 2011. She also worked with Wolosoff again in 2013 on A Light in the Dark. This ballet was inspired by the lives of Helen Keller and Ann Sullivan.

Ann Reinking's Personal Life

Ann Reinking was married four times. Her first marriage was to Broadway actor Larry Small in 1972. She later married investment banker Herbert Allen Jr. from 1982 to 1989. In 1989, she married businessman James Stuart, and they had a son named Christopher. Her last marriage was to sportswriter Peter Talbert in 1994. She was also a stepmother to his four children.

Ann retired from performing in 2017. She lived in Paradise Valley, Arizona.

Ann's son, Christopher, has a condition called Marfan syndrome. Ann worked closely with the Marfan Foundation to help raise awareness about this disease. She even produced a documentary in 2009 called In My Hands: A Story of Marfan Syndrome.

Ann Reinking's Death

Ann Reinking passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 12, 2020. She was 71 years old. She was visiting her family in Seattle at the time.

After her death, the Ambassador Theatre in New York City honored her. This theater is where the current revival of Chicago is performed. They put up a special "In Memoriam" poster of Ann in her costume as Roxie Hart from the 1996 opening cast.

Awards and Recognition

Ann Reinking received many awards and nominations throughout her career for her incredible talent in dancing, acting, and choreography.

  • 1974:
    • Theatre World Award for Over Here! (Won)
    • Clarence Derwent Award for Over Here! (Won)
    • Outer Critics Circle Award for Over Here! (Won)
  • 1975:
    • Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Goodtime Charley (Nominated)
    • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical for Goodtime Charley (Nominated)
  • 1978:
    • Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Dancin' (Nominated)
  • 1997:
  • 1998:
  • 1999:
    • Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical for Fosse (Nominated)
    • Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Choreography for Fosse (Nominated)
    • Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical for Fosse (Nominated)
    • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical for Fosse (Nominated)
  • 2001:

See also

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