Chita Rivera on the Death of Tony Stevens
By: Robert Diamond Jul. 13, 2011
BroadwayWorld.com shared the sad news last night, July 12th that Tony Stevens, performer, director and choreographer had passed away at 63. We just received a statement from Chita Rivera on his passing which reads that "A huge part of me has left...gone to light the heavens for us as he did on earth. I carry Tony with me. I always have and always will. My god how I will miss him."
Tony Stevens, a brilliant choreographer and director, worked with Chita Rivera on her original nightclub act with Christopher Chadman; CHICAGO and more recently her autobiographical Broadway musical THE DANCER'S LIFE as well as staging her first appearance at Feinstein's. But more than this... he was one of her best friends. Chita was able to see him and say goodbye the night before he died.
Tony Stevens performed in nine Broadway shows from Hello Dolly to Seesaw. Movie choreography includes "The Great Gatsby" with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" with Bert Reynolds, "She's Having a Baby" with Kevin Bacon, "Johnny Dangerously" with Michael Keaton and "Where the Boys Are" with Lisa Hartman. Creator of the workshop that became A Chorus Line, his Broadway choreographer credits include: Gower Champion's Rockabye Hamlet and Annie Get Your Gun, he was Assistant Choreographer on Chicago (Fosse original production), Perfect Frank, Wind in the Willows with Nathan Lane.
His television choreography credits include specials for Mary Tyler Moore, Cheryl Ladd, Disneyland's 30th Anniversary, and the People's Choice Awards. Tony's regional choreography credits include over 10 original shows and 30 revivals. Among his favorite director and choreographer credits are for the National tours of Dreamgirls 1997 and 1998, and the 20th Anniversary Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. Off-Broadway Tony choreographed Zombie Prom, The Body Shop, and directed and choreographed Sheba. He has also directed and choreographed for famous nightclub acts such as Chita Rivera, Bernadette Peters, Dolly Parton,Liza Minelli, Bette Midler, Debbie Shapiro, and Jane Powell. He is also proud to have choreographed for Gene Kelly.
Tony received a Lucille Lortel nomination for best choreography, The Complete Works of Shakespeare, recreated Bob Fosse's original choreography for Chita; A Dancers Life on Broadway, staged numbers for Martin Short and Nathan Lane on "LATE NIGHT with David Letterman," and was recently developing the new musical La Familglia.
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