September 23, 2003
Flatt’s
Choreography to be Commemorated
EVANSTON, Ill.
--- The life and work of renowned choreographer Ernie Flatt,
a four-time Emmy Award-winning choreographer who had
a 40-year long career in film, television and on stage, will be
celebrated during “Flatt Out!” The special Northwestern
University fall dance event at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, will be
held at the Josephine Louis Theatre, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
campus.
Early in his
career, Flatt assisted choreographers Gene Kelly, Eugene Loring
and Bob Alton. He danced in many films and musicals
including “Singing in the Rain,” “No Business
Like Show Business, and “An American in Paris.” During
the course of his career, he was nominated for six Tony Awards.
The Oct. 4
program will include recreations of original choreography that
Flatt conceived for television and theatre. These recreations
will be choreographed and danced by Northwestern’s Lara Teeter,
assistant professor of theatre, and artistic director of Light
Opera Works in Evanston.
Dances also
will be performed by Northwestern Music Theatre and Dance Program
students with special guest appearances by Carl Jablonski
and Bobbi Bates – two original members of the Ernie Flatt
Dancers on “The Carol Burnett Show.”
The evening
will feature dances that were originally performed on “The Gary Moore Show” as well as video montages
of Flatt’s career, and live tributes from some of Chicago’s
most respected choreographers.
The Oct. 4 dance program will be directed by Dominic Missimi,
professor of theatre, and director of the Northwestern University
Music Theatre Program.
On Broadway,
Flatt choreographed “Once Upon a Mattress,” “Annie
Get Your Gun,” and “Lorelei,” in addition to
Broadway revivals including “Oklahoma!” In his later
career, Flatt returned to Broadway to choreograph “Honky
Tonk Nights,” “Durante,” and “Sugar Babies.”
For three
decades he was the leading choreographer on television. In addition
to “The Carol Burnett Show” and “The
Gary Moore Show,” his works were performed on “Hit
Parade.” Flatt also choreographed numerous television specials
including “Carol and Julie at Carnegie Hall,” featuring
Carol Burnett and Julie Andrews. Flatt died in 1995.
The Oct. 4 gala evening of dance is part of a larger effort to
preserve the important work of Ernie Flatt as a choreographer in
the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
“Flatt Out!” will
be presented with the support of the Northwestern University
Alumnae Board, the Center for Interdisciplinary
Research in the Arts, School of Communication, department of theatre,
and the Theatre and Interpretation Center, with special thanks
to Carol Burnett and Whacko, Inc.
All tickets are $25. To order tickets, call the Theatre and Interpretation
Center Box Office at (847) 491-7282. |