Bennett, Michael (1943-1987), was a leading American choreographer (creator of dances) and director of Broadway musical comedies. His most important achievement was the development of the musical A Chorus Line, which won the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for drama. The musical deals with the hopes and struggles of a group of professional dancers as they audition for a new show. Bennett created A Chorus Line out of the personal and professional experiences of actual dancers. He also directed the show and was co-choreographer. The musical opened in 1975 and ran for 6,137 performances, a Broadway record later broken by Cats.
Bennett was born in Buffalo, New York. His real name was Michael Di Figlia. He began his career dancing in Broadway musicals in the early 1960’s. Bennett created the dances for two unsuccessful musicals, A Joyful Noise (1966) and Henry, Sweet Henry (1968), before choreographing his first hit, Promises, Promises (1968). Bennett directed and choreographed the hit musicals Follies (1971), Dreamgirls (1981), and My One and Only (1983). He also choreographed Company (1970).
