
TONY Award-winning Broadway legend Ann Reinking, an actor, dancer and choreographer, died Saturday night in Washington, her sister-in-law Dahrla King told Variety. She was 71. “She was visiting our brother in Washington state when she went to sleep and never woke up. We will miss her more than we can say. Heaven has the best choreographer available now. I’m sure they are dancing up a storm up there! Annie, we will love and miss you always!!!” her family said in a statement Monday. News of the actor’s death was first announced Monday on Facebook by dancer and choreographer Christopher Dean, who teaches Reinking’s niece. “The lights on Broadway are forever more dim this morning and there is one less star in the sky,” he wrote. “The good news is that heaven has the very best choreographer on earth now.” The star got her acting start in a Seattle Opera House production of “Bye Bye Birdie” in 1965. She soon found her way onto the Broadway stage when she was cast in the ensemble for the 1969 production of “Cabaret.” She is perhaps best known for playing Roxie Hart in 1977’s “Chicago,” replacing Gwen Verdon. She reprised the part when she returned for the 1996 revival of the famed production. Reinking’s other Broadway roles include “Sweet Charity,” “Over Here!” and “Goodtime Charley.” In Bob Fosse’s 1979 autobiographical film “All That Jazz,” Reinking played a fictionalized version of herself, as the main character’s girlfriend and one of his muses. Reinking choreographed for theater as well. Her work on the later “Chicago” ultimately earned her a Tony Award for best choreography. Reinking was also the co-creator, co-director and co-choreographer for “Fosse,” a musical meant to showcase Fosse’s choreography. The musical was Reinking’s final bow on Broadway. She is survived by her husband, Peter Talbert, and her son Chris. (SD-Agencies) |