Tony-winning choreographer Bob Avian died Jan. 21 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Born Robert Avedisian on Dec. 26, 1937, in New York, Avian earned his bachelor’s from Boston University and began his career as a dancer, making his Broadway debut in the 1960 revival of West Side Story. He followed that with ensemble roles in Nowhere to Go But Up (1962), Funny Girl (1964), and Cafe Crown (1964). He moved behind the scenes as assistant stage manager for I Do! I Do! (1966) and assistant choreographer of Promises, Promises (1969) for Michael Bennett, whom he had met during the 1959 European tour of West Side Story. Below are Julane Stites, Baayork Lee, and Donna McKechnie with the Promises, Promises ensemble in “Turkey Lurkey Time” at the 1969 Tonys.
For the next two decades, Avian worked on all of Bennett’s productions, including the musicals Coco (1969), Company (1970), Follies (1971), and Seesaw (1973). In 1976, he won his first Tony for co-choreographing A Chorus Line. Below is the original cast of A Chorus Line in “I Hope I Get It” at the 1976 Tony Awards.
Avian’s second Tony was for choreography of the 1979 musical Ballroom, for which he also was producer. He later produced the Broadway premiere of Dreamgirls (1981). Below are the original Dreamgirls performing the title song at the 1983 MDA Telethon.
For producer Cameron Mackintosh, Avian choreographed the London premiere of Follies as well as the London and Broadway productions of Miss Saigon, for which he earned a 1991 Tony nomination. His last Tony nomination was for the choreography of Sunset Boulevard (1995). Below is the cast of Miss Saigon at the 1991 Tony Awards.
His other London choreography credits include the West End premieres of Martin Guerre, for which he won an Olivier Award, and The Witches of Eastwick. Off-Broadway, he choreographed the revue Putting It Together, as well as the show’s 1999 Broadway transfer. Below is a medley from the Broadway cast of Putting It Together.
His most recent credits include directing the 2006 Broadway and 2013 London revivals of A Chorus Line. His final show was the 2017 Broadway revival of Miss Saigon. His memoir, Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographer’s Journey, was published last year.