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The Original A-Rab, Director/Choreographer/Producer David Winters Has Passed On

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David Winters produced and directed over 80 feature films and over 200 television shows and TV movies. He is nothing short of an icon in the entertainment industry. He was instrumental in my friend Marya Coburn’s life. She met him at 17 and he was a gentleman to her. She then met him in Hollywood at 19 and he helped her get into the Elvis Presley movie “Stay Away Joe”. Though in contact with her, she reconnected with him this January when he wrote a book called “Tough Guys Do Dance”.

This florida based American English actor Choreographer, dancer, writer, filmmaker and director has passed away but his work in the legendary Broadway show and film West Side Story inspired millions of boys and men alike to embrace the art of dance.

Marya Coburn, David Winters
Marya Coburn, David Winters

He received two Emmy Awards Nomination, a Peabody Awards, a Christopher Award, and many more.

He associated with some of the biggest names in show business like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand and Michael Jackson, to name a few.

David was the first tap dancer to be recorded, first dance choreographer to be nominated in the history of the Emmys in the Special Classification of Individual Achievements category, before the Outstanding Achievement in Choreography category was created. He began acting in commercials, which led him to over 15 television shows by the time he was 17. He started acting in films, but he gained attention by playing Baby John in West Side Story, and Yonkers in Gypsy, in the original productions.

In 1961, he appeared as A-Rab in the movie version of West Side Story. The film was the highest grossing motion picture of that year, winning 10 Oscars.

David Winters

He was the dance choreographer for two major releases the concert film T.A.M.I. Show, showcasing all the major rock and R&B acts of the time The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Rolling Stones, The Supremes, and many more. He also choreographed Viva Las Vegas starring Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret. He worked three other Presley films and four more with Ann-Margret. He also produced, directed, and choreographed star-studded TV specials for Ann-Margret. In Ann-Margret: From Hollywood with Love, he received his second Emmy nomination for dance choreography.

From 1965, he was seen regularly with his dance troupe on major TV shows such as Shindig! and Hullabaloo.

In 1966, he got his first producer credit in the TV movie Lucy in London, which starred Lucille Ball.

In 1967, he received what he has called his biggest honor, his Emmy nomination for the choreography of the TV movie Movin’ with Nancy. He was nominated for a special Emmy. 

He directed two episodes of the hit show The Monkees, Raquel!, starring Raquel Welch, Once Upon a Wheel, starring Paul Newman, The Special London Bridge Special, starring Tom Jones, The Carpenters, and Rudolf Nureyev; Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (nominated for three Emmys) and Timex All-Star Swing Festival (which won the Peabody Award and a Christopher Award for Winters as its producer.

Winters directed the concert film Alice Cooper: Welcome to My Nightmare. That same year he produced Linda Lovelace for President, with his then-girlfriend. He choreograph A Star Is Born (1976), starring Barbra Streisand, as well as the Donny & Mary, the TV movie Star Wars Holiday Special, and the film Roller Boogie.

Marya Coburn, David Winters
Marya Coburn, David Winters

David had been sick for awhile. Rest in peace.

Suzanna, co-owns and publishes the newspaper Times Square Chronicles or T2C. At one point a working actress, she has performed in numerous productions in film, TV, cabaret, opera and theatre. She has performed at The New Orleans Jazz festival, The United Nations and Carnegie Hall. She has a screenplay and a TV show in the works, which she developed with her mentor and friend the late Arthur Herzog. She is a proud member of the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle and was a nominator. Email: suzanna@t2conline.com

Dance

Tiler Peck, Melissa Manchester, Melissa Errico, Lisa Fischer and More In Song, Dance, Spoken Word

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In honor of Women’s History Month, The Cooper Union is organizing a series of talks, exhibitions, and programs, culminating on Saturday, March 18 with a star-studded evening featuring headliners from across the worlds of dance, music, and theatre.

Song, Dance, Spoken Word is an exhilarating celebration that includes powerful performances by New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck; singer-songwriter Melissa Manchester; Tony Award-nominated Broadway actress Melissa Errico; Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Lisa Fischer; comedian and The Cooper Union alumna Alice Wetterlund; groundbreaking performance ensemble Urban Bush Women; and American tap dancer and choreographer Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, among many others.

Tickets are $15 and you could get them here.

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Dance

Great Performances 50th Anniversary Concert Special With Sutton Foster, Chita Rivera and More

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Great Performances will continue its 50th anniversary season on PBS with Great Performances at 50: Celebrating Broadway’s Best, a celebration of Broadway in the past 50 years hosted by two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster performed from Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater.

The performance will be staged by Tony-winning director-choreographer Warren Carlyle, with Patrick Vaccariello (The Music Man) as music director and written b Tony Awards veteran Dave Boone.

The star-studded show will be taped live from Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater on March 23. The special will premier Friday, May 12 on PBS and include performances by André de Shields, Robyn Hurder, Jane Krakowski, Norm Lewis, Donna McKechnie, Betty Buckley, Jessie Mueller, Chita Rivera, Vanessa Williams and many more.

This special concert will be followed by the Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park production of Richard III starring Danai Gurira on Friday, May 19th..

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Art

Events In March Bring Out The Green

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Artechouse Magentaverse, Kid’s Night on Broadway, 20 at 20 Off-Broadway, Hip-Hop: Conscious, Unconscious, Fresh, Fly, and Fabulous: Fifty Years of Hip Hop Style, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Pink Pier at Watermark, Orchid Show and the Macy’s Flower Show. Plus Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Joel and John Mayer are performing.

3/1: Karen’s Diner opens until the end of the year. With 14 locations across Australia, the UK and USA! It’s an absurd, unique environment full of laughs, banter and top-notch American diner style grub!

3/2-5: Outsider Art Fair at Metropolitan Pavilion with 64 international exhibitors

3/3 – 4/23: Acclaimed artist Lily Kwong will design the Orchid Show‘s 20th year. The design is inspired by her ancestral connections to the natural world and will feature thousands of orchids in a meditative and captivating display. Visitors will be able to reconnect with nature while experiencing the picture-perfect beauty of the orchids. On select nights, adults can experience the exhibition through Orchid Nights, with music, cash bars, and food available for purchase.

3/3 – 4: Jerry Seinfeld at the Beacon Theatre

3/3 – 19: New York International Children’s Film Festival was first established in 1997 to promote passionate cinematic works for ages between 3 and 18. This popular event showcases 100 animated, live-action short and long films. The film festival is then followed by filmmaker Q&As, workshops, voting, and more. Not only is this a great source of entertainment for youngsters, but it’s an ideal event to expand their learning with tours and thought-provoking sessions.

3/15: John Mayer @ MSG

3/16-24: Celebrate Asian culture during New York’s annual Asia Week. Over a 1-week span throughout the city’s metropolitan areas, the event features scheduled Asian art exhibits, auctions, special events, and talks from international artists and specialists.


3/17: St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of NYC’s longest-standing traditions; in fact, it is the world’s oldest and largest parade, dating back to 1762. In current years, the parade has proceeded up 5th avenue to pass in front of the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where the city’s Archbishop watches. The celebration is free for the public to attend.

3/17 – 5/9: Museum of Failure at 220 36th Street in Industry City

3/20 -4/9: 20at20 is your chance to see the Best of Off-Broadway for only $20!

3/21: Kids Night on Broadway. Kids go FREE to over 20 Broadway shows, when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Kids dine free at many Times Square restaurants, and parents get discounted parking rates.

3/26: Billy Joel @ MSG

3/26 -4/10: Macy Flower Show. Dive into the vibrant colors of deep-sea florals and stunning marine life at our upcoming Flower Show, “Voyage to Oceanum.” Visitors to Macy’s will embark upon an exciting under-the-ocean odyssey, discovering long-lost treasures and breathtaking aquatic beauty along the way.

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