Ann Reinking, Tony Winner and Star of Broadway’s ‘Chicago,’ Dies at 71
She was not on the list.
Tony Award-winning Broadway legend Ann Reinking, an actor, dancer and choreographer, died on Saturday night in Washington, her sister-in-law Dahrla King told Variety. She was 71.
“The world and our family have lost a vibrant, amazing talent and beautiful soul. Ann was the heart of our family and the life of the party,” her family said in a statement on Monday. “She was visiting our brother in Washington state when she went to sleep and never woke up. We will miss her more than we can say. Heaven has the best choreographer available now. I’m sure they are dancing up a storm up there! Annie, we will love and miss you always!!!”
News of the actor’s death was first announced Monday on Facebook by dancer and choreographer Christopher Dean, who teaches Reinking’s niece.
“The lights on Broadway are forever more dim this morning and there is one less star in the sky,” he wrote. “The good news is that heaven has the very best choreographer on earth now.”
The star got her acting start in a Seattle Opera House production of “Bye Bye Birdie” in 1965. She soon found her way onto the Broadway stage when she was cast in the ensemble for the 1969 production of “Cabaret.”
She is perhaps best known for playing Roxie Hart in 1977’s “Chicago,” replacing Gwen Verdon. She reprised the part when she returned for the 1996 revival of the famed production.
“The hope is that in rediscovering ‘Chicago,’ audiences will rediscover what theater was,” Reinking told The New York Times at the time of the show’s revival. “It was sophisticated, complicated, adult.”
Reinking’s other Broadway roles include “Sweet Charity,”
“Over Here!” and “Goodtime Charley.”
In Bob Fosse’s 1979 autobiographical film “All That Jazz,” Reinking played a fictionalized version of herself, as the main character’s girlfriend and one of his muses. Reinking, who was with Fosse for years, was played by Margaret Qualley in FX’s 2019 limited series “Fosse/Verdon.”
“I really did watch her [on video] in the back of a minivan on my way to dance countless times,” Qualley said of Reinking in a 2019 interview with IndieWire. “I was really nervous because I wanted to do right by her. I looked up to her for so long, was so familiar with her. More than anything, I wanted her to like it.”
Reinking choreographed for theater as well. Her work on the later “Chicago” ultimately earned her a Tony Award for best choreography.
Reinking was also the co-creator, co-director and co-choreographer for “Fosse,” a musical meant to showcase Fosse’s choreography. She created the project alongside Richard Maltby Jr. and Chet Walker. The musical was Reinking’s final bow on Broadway, as she served as a replacement ensemble member in 2001.
She is survived by her husband, Peter Talbert, and her son Chris.
Many members of the theater community and Hollywood who knew Reinking paid tribute to the actor on social media Monday.
“Ann Reinking was a goddess to share the stage with and be inspired by,” said actor Joel Grey in a statement to Variety. “We did two Broadway shows together, joyfully – ‘Goodtime Charley’ in 1975 and ‘Chicago’ in 1996. She will remain a unique star and a loving friend for the ages. I’m heartbroken!”
Billy Eichner, star of “Billy on the Street,” voiced his appreciation for her work in a Twitter post. “One of the most mesmerizing people I’ve ever seen on stage,” he dubbed Reinking based on her successful run on the “Chicago” revival.
Credits
Filmography Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1976 Ellery Queen Lorelie Farnsworth TV-series episode
1977 The Andros Targets Laura Harper TV-series episode
1978 Movie Movie Troubles Moran
1979 All That Jazz Kate Jagger
1982 Annie Grace Farrell
1984 Micki & Maude Micki Salinger
1987 The Cosby Show Jill Kelly TV-series episode
Broadway Theater Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1969 Cabaret Ensemble
1969 Coco Ensemble
1971 Wild and Wonderful Ensemble
1972 Pippin Ensemble, Catherine understudy
1974 Over Here! Maggie
1975 Goodtime Charley Joan of Arc
1976 A Chorus Line Cassie Ferguson (replacement)
1977 Chicago Roxie Hart (replacement)
1978 Dancin' Ensemble
1986 Sweet Charity Charity Hope Valentine (replacement)
1992 Tommy Tune Tonite! "Choreographic contributions by Ann Reinking"
1996 Chicago Roxie Hart "Choreographed in the style of Bob Fosse by Ann Reinking"
2001 Fosse Ensemble (replacement) "Conceived, co-directed and co-choreographed by Ann Reinking"
2003 The Look of Love "Conceived and co-choreographed by Ann Reinking"
2011 An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin "Choreographed by Ann Reinking"
Other Theater Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1965 Bye Bye Birdie Ensemble Seattle Opera House
1968 Fiddler on the Roof Ensemble Broadway National Tour
1975 Girl Crazy Molly Gray The Muny
1976 A Chorus Line Cassie Ferguson Broadway National Tour
1982 The Unsinkable Molly Brown Molly Brown The Muny
1988 Pal Joey Melba Snyder; Choreographer Goodman Theatre
1991 Bye Bye Birdie Rose Alvarez Broadway National Tour
1996 Applause Broadway National Tour; "Choreographed by Ann Reinking"
1999 Chicago Roxie Hart (replacement) Broadway National Tour; "Choreographed in the style of Bob Fosse by Ann Reinking"
1999 Fosse Ensemble (replacement) "Conceived, co-directed and co-choreographed by Ann Reinking"
2001 The Visit Goodman Theatre; "Choreographed by Ann Reinking"
2003 No Strings New York City Center; "Choreographed by Ann Reinking"
2004 Here Lies Jenny Zipper Theatre; "Choreographed by Ann Reinking"
2008 Chicago Broadway National Tour; "Choreographed in the style of Bob Fosse by Ann Reinking"
2018 Théâtre Mogador; "Choreographed in the style of Bob Fosse by Ann Reinking"
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