Director, Choreographer, Performer and Author Margery Beddow Passes Away On 1/3/2010

Director, choreographer, performer and author, Margery Beddow, died Sunday, January 3rd at her home in NYC. She was last seen in the movies DOUBT and THE ENCHANTED for which she also performed in the 2008 Academy Awards. Ms Beddow danced in the original Mel Brooks movie THE PRODUCERS with Zero Mostel and again in Mr. Brooks' musical film version of the same movie. Ms Beddow began her career as a Prima Ballerina of The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She, later danced with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet and from there went to Broadway to become one of the original Bob Fosse dancers and performers. She danced in such shows as REDHEAD, LITTLE ME opposite Sid Caesar, TAKE ME ALONG, ULYSESS IN NIGHT TOWN with Zero Mostel, FIORELLO! and SHOWBOAT.

Because of her long working relationship with Bob Fosse and having been Gwen Verdon's understudy, (eventually playing her roles across the country,) she was granted permission to write Bob Fosse's Broadway, now in it's fourth printing.

As a choreographer, she created the Broadway shows WIND IN THE WILLOWS and DEAR OSCAR, as well as choreographing touring companies of CAN-CAN with Yvonne De Carlo, PAJAMA GAME with John Raitt, THE OLYMPIAD, DAMN YANKEES and a Cole Porter revue called COLE. Most recently, in New York, she directed and staged BROADWAY BY THE YEAR at Town Hall and NOEL COWARD AND HIS LADIES starring Steve Ross for Lyrics and Lyricists. She was Director/Choreographer on innumerable Industrial shows and Cabaret Acts.

In Dec. 2009, Ms. Beddow received the Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement from Dancers Over Forty.

Margery is survived by her daughter, Pamela Jeanette Saunders, nieces Laura Parry and Margery Parry Colucci, and her sons A.J. and Chris Colucci, nephews David and Daniel Parry and his sons Joseph, Samuel and Austin. A memorial is planned in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to Dancers Over Forty at P.O. Box 237098, New York, New York, 10023.