Biographies: Ann Reinking

Writers use superlatives to describe the talents of Tony award winner Ann Reinking: Time Magazine, “Terpsiglorious”; Newsweek, “Her choreography steals the show, refashioning the dance vocabulary into a unique string of hormonal showstoppers”; The New York Times, “Ms. Reinking is responsible for the breeziest dancing Broadway has seen in years.”

One of seven children, Ann grew up in Seattle, Washington. She was in the sixth grade when she first saw a classmate dance. She started ballet lessons and persuaded her parents to install a barre in her room so she could practice at home.

The work paid off. As a teenager, she won a Ford Foundation scholarship to study with the San Francisco School of Ballet as well as scholarships to study with Robert Joffrey for two consecutive summers. Upon completing high school, she moved to New York where her first job was with the Corps de Ballet at the Radio City Music Hall.

Ann went on to Broadway, films and television, earning numerous accolades for her work including Tony nominations for her leading performance in Dancin’ and as best actress in Goodtime Charley with Joel Grey. Her astonishing number of awards includes the Theatre World Award for her work as Maggie in Over Here and the Clarence Derwent Award. In 1997, Ms. Reinking won the Tony Award, the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award and the Astaire Award for her choreography for the ENCORES production of Chicago. In 1999, FOSSE, which Ann directed and co-choreographed, won a Tony award for best musical.

Her film debut was as Troubles Moran in Movie, Movie directed by Stanley Donen. She then starred in All That Jazz directed by Bob Fosse, Annie directed by John Huston and in Blake Edwards’ Micki and Maude.

Ann divides her time between family (husband and son) in New York and Tampa where she is Artistic Director of the Broadway Theatre Project, a program that brings together working professionals with gifted young people. “Musical theatre is an American art form which must be kept alive,” says Reinking.

Credits include TV commercials; original ballets: While My Guitar Gently Weeps for Harrison Tribute by American Ballet Theatre, Ritmo y Ruido and Slices for Ballet Hispanico, Legends for the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Suite Kander for Missouri State Ballet. (Choreography) Bye Bye Birdie with Jason Alexander-ABC-TV; national tour of revival of Applause; The Visit -Goodman Theatre; Chicago, currently in its sixth year on Broadway; directed, co-choreographed Fosse; directed, and No Strings -Encores; choreographed Tonight at 8:30 – Williamstown Theatre Festival. choreographed The Look of Love for Roundabout Theatre, on Broadway; upcoming: The Visit for The Public Theatre, spring, 2004.