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Bob Avian
Bob Avian
Born	26 December 1937
Died	21 January 2021 (aged 83)

Robert Avedisian (December 26, 1937 – January 21, 2021), professionally known as Bob Avian, was an American choreographer, theatrical producer and director.^[1]

Biography

Born in New York City to an Armenian family^[2] in December 1937, Avian spent his early career dividing his time between dancing in such Broadway shows as West Side Story, Funny Girl, and Henry, Sweet Henry and working as a production assistant on projects like I Do! I Do! and Twigs. He first met Michael Bennett when they both appeared in the European tour of West Side Story in 1959, and over the course of the next two decades the two collaborated on Promises, Promises, Coco, Company, Follies, Seesaw, God's Favorite, A Chorus Line, Ballroom, and Dreamgirls, Avian's first credit as a solo producer. Additional Broadway credits include Putting It Together, Nowhere to Go But Up and the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line, which he directed.

In London's West End, Avian choreographed Follies, Martin Guerre, The Witches of Eastwick, Miss Saigon, and Sunset Boulevard, repeating the assignment for the Broadway productions of the latter two. He also staged Hey, Mr. Producer!, the Cameron Mackintosh tribute.

Personal

Avian was openly gay and survived by his husband Peter Pileski, and his sister, Laura Nabedian.^[3]

Awards and nominations

Awards

1976 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography – A Chorus Line
1976 Tony Award for Best Choreography – A Chorus Line
1979 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography – Ballroom
1979 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Ballroom
1997 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Choreography – Martin Guerre

Nominations

1979 Tony Award for Best Musical – Ballroom
1982 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical – Dreamgirls
1982 Tony Award for Best Musical – Dreamgirls
1991 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Miss Saigon
1995 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Sunset Boulevard

References

^ Genzlinger, Neil (2021-01-22). "Bob Avian, Choreographer of Broadway Smashes, Dies at 83". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
^ "Bob Avian: Armenian Boys Dance". Equality Armenia. Archived from the original on 2021-01-30. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
^ "Tony award-winning Broadway choreographer Bob Avian dies aged 83". the Guardian. 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-01-22.

"Bob Avian Biography". filmreference. 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
Kelly, Kevin(1990),One Singular Sensation: The Michael Bennett Story, Zebra, ISBN 0-8217-3310-9
Mandelbaum, Ken (1990), A Chorus Line and the Musicals of Michael Bennett, St. Martins Press, ISBN 0-312-04280-9
Stevens, Gary (2000), The Longest Line: Broadway's Most Singular Sensation: A Chorus Line, Applause Books, ISBN 1-55783-221-8
Flinn, Denny Martin (1989), What They Did for Love: The Untold Story Behind the Making of "A Chorus Line", Bantam, ISBN 0-553-34593-1
Viagas, Robert (1990), On the Line - The Creation of A Chorus Line, Limelight Editions, ISBN 0-87910-336-1