SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS: DAY 27 - Michael Bennett: 'Turkey Lurkey Time', COCO & BALLROOM

As a super-special Spring extension of BroadwayWorld's SOUND OFF column, every day until the Tony Awards on June 12 we will be presenting a spectacular new entry in the SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2011 TONY AWARDS series featuring a particularly entertaining, interesting, relevant and exciting Tony Awards-related clip from the last sixty-three years of the ceremonies (and subsequent seasons on Broadway) with a rundown and commentary on the sights, sounds and showmanship on display in each carefully chosen selection - all, of course, coming in anticipation of Broadway's biggest night, which will be broadcast on CBS this year, as always. Once again this year, BroadwayWorld is the official home of the 2011 Tony Awards and we will also be featuring exclusive interviews, articles, photos, video content, interactive features and more in the coming days and weeks leading up to the event so be sure to check back daily for your theatre fix!

As we inch closer and closer to the Broadway's biggest night on Sunday, today we have the choreographic centerpiece of our extensive Tony Award countdown with a focus on the genius of Michael Bennett. While we have already featured his shows COMPANY, FOLLIES, A CHORUS LINE and DREAMGIRLS - and even took a look at the recent smash hit revival of PROMISES, PROMISES starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth - today's triple dose of clips (with a few surprises) is undoubtedly as close as one can get to theatrical crack cocaine: "Turkey Lurkey Time" from the original Broadway production of PROMISES, PROMISES, "Fifty Percent" from BALLROOM performed by Dorothy Loudon and - one of the most elaborate numbers in Tony Awards history - "Always Mademoiselle" from COCO starring Katharine Hepburn. So, see some of the reasons why these are the best of the best of Bennett and, therefore, the best of the best of Broadway right here!

The Music & The Mirror & Michael

Michael Bennett was simply one of the finest visual dramatists Broadway has, or ever will, know. He was simply one of a kind. The shows he choreographed and/or directed are among the finest American musicals of the latter half of the 20th century and his participation in them is no mere coincidence. He is an integral part of what made them so seamless - and so successful (if only artistically). Our features on COMPANY, FOLLIES, A CHORUS LINE and DREAMGIRLS were certainly strong first steps - or counts, as the case may be - to getting to know the world of Michael Bennett, but today's three clips and bonus will cement the notion that he was in the very top tier of director/choreographers.

So, without further ado, first, here is the original Broadway cast of Burt Bacharach/Hal David/Neil Simon's PROMISES, PROMISES performing "Turkey Lurkey Time" led by the original trio of Donna McKechnie, Margo Sappington and Baayork Lee. Breathless brilliance!

Now, here is the heartbreaking "Fifty Percent" from BALLROOM as performed by the musical's leading lady, Dorothy Loudon, on the 1979 Tony Awards.

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Next, here is the elaborate "Always Mademoiselle" sequence featuring dialogue, dance, music and more, from COCO by Andre Previn and Alan Jay Lerner, led by Katharine Hepburn, as performed on the 1970 Tony Awards.

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Lastly, check out the all-star dedication to Michael Bennett from the 1988 Tony Awards featuring Angela Lansbury singing "Broadway Baby" from FOLLIES, Donna McKechnie recreating "The Music & The Mirror" from A CHORUS LINE, as well as Sheryl Lee Ralph and LorEtta Devine (along with Terry Burrell) doing DREAMGIRLS, and much more!

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There will never be another Michael Bennett - he's the one!

That's all for today. Be sure to stay tuned to BroadwayWorld for all things Tony Awards and subscribe to this column to be the very first to check out the clips, commentary and take part in the conversation in our deluxe toast to the one and only Antoinette Perry every day until June 12 - and, especially, on that day! Until then...