Salute to American musical theatre

Press, 12 April 1982, Page 10

Salute to American musical theatre

Mikhail Baryshnikov bounces into the world of Broadway's musical theatre as though he had been born and brought up there, in "Baryshnikov on Broadway." on Two this afternoon. Starring with Baryshnikov are Nell. Carter, the cast of "A Chorus Line" and Liza Minnelli.. In an .hour-long salute to the American musical theatre, the show begins with an "Oklahoma'." ballet suite to celebrate that show's revolutionary integration of dance into the musical-com-edv storyline. Other Broadway hits such as "Cabaret." "The King And I" and "Guys and Dolls" feature, concluding with the Broadway theatres ultimate salute to its dancers. "A Chorus Line.’’ Along the way. Baryshnikov , explores many dance techniques and styles, including comic, tap. the Charleston and the production number "Show Stoppers." written especially for Baryshnikov and Liza' Minnelli. Hailed as the greatest male classical dancer in the

world today. Mikhail, born in Latvia jin ’ 1948. began his study otf ballet at the age of 12. Al 19. he was accepted as a pupil at the famous Kirov Ballet I School where, after three I years of study, he enteretl'the Kirov Company, not asiis usual—as a member of the* Corps de Ballet—but as a .‘soloist. In 1970. on tour with the Kirov On London, he savoured his first triumphs in the Western world and had his first/glimpses of the new chortrjgraphic approaches being; developed outside the Soviet Union. While on tour in Canada', in J 974 with the Bolshoi Ballet, he decided to seek broader artistic horizons, and he walked out of his hotel room and into a new world of .'dance. Since then his impact on American audiences has been little short of electrifying. In the! years following, his career has been, notable for. firsit. the amount of work he has; undertaken and. second, ther unparalleled variety of the* roles and projects he has chosen. e

Baryshnikov won an Academy Award nomination for his" motion picture acting debut in "The . Turning Point." and has appeared frequently on television. His love for Broadway musicals began as a young'boy in his native Riga." Latvia. He had an appetite for American films of the thirties and forties that was insatiable. Going to Broadway to work was fun for “Misha" despite the contrast between performing classical ballet and contemporary dance. "A ballet dancer works alone." he says. "His only communication is with a mirror. Broadway people work together. they're like a family, doing for each other and for their show. It's, as you say. all for one and one’ for all. It's wonderful!" Baryshnikov and Minnelli have long admired each other's work, and they both share a passion for' Fred Astaire. Liza grew up watching her father work with Astaire, while "Misha would queue for hours to .see his movies, some of them 10 and 12 times.