- Nicholas Dante
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Nicholas Dante Born Conrado Morales
November 22, 1941
Manhattan, New York City New York, United StatesDied May 21, 1991 (aged 49)
Manhattan, New York City New York, United StatesNationality Puerto Rican-American Related to Mary Morales (mother) Information Magnum opus A Chorus Line Awards Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1976)
Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (1976)
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical (1976)Nicholas Dante (November 22, 1941[1] - May 21, 1991[2]) was an American dancer and writer, best known for the musical A Chorus Line.
Biography
Born Conrado Morales in New York City to Puerto Rican parents[3], Dante's early career was spent dancing in the chorus of Broadway musicals such as Applause and Ambassador. In 1974, he was approached by friend Michael Bennett who invited him to the sessions which led to the basis of material for the book of a musical about Broadway "gypsies," the dancers who serve as a backdrop for the leading performers. Eventually, collaborating with James Kirkwood, Jr., the result was A Chorus Line, which earned him the 1976 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Book of a Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In particular, the story of Paul, the homosexual Puerto Rican dancer whose early career consisted of working in a drag show, was based primarily on Dante. The actor who originated the role on the famous monologue, Sammy Williams, won a Best Featured Actor in a Musical award in 1976 for the role. Dante himself went on to play the role in later mountings of the show.
He also authored a screenplay, Fake Lady, and a stage musical based on the life of entertainer Al Jolson entitled Jolson Tonite, but never again achieved the success he did with A Chorus Line.
Dante died on May 21, 1991 from AIDS-related complications in New York City.[2]
References
- ^ Social Security Death Index Search
- ^ a b Nicholas Dante, 49; Dancer and a Writer Of 'A Chorus Line from New York Times, 22 May 1991
- ^ Crohn Schmitt, Natalie (1990). "Complicates". Northwestern University Press. ISBN 0810108364. http://books.google.com/books?id=GRL-8cD6n5oC&pg=PA85&dq=nicholas+dante+puerto&ei=Y8tBSq-zF6GeygTqyJhO.
Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1976–2000) - Michael Bennett / Nicholas Dante / James Kirkwood, Jr. / Marvin Hamlisch / Edward Kleban (1976)
- Michael Cristofer (1977)
- Donald L. Coburn (1978)
- Sam Shepard (1979)
- Lanford Wilson (1980)
- Beth Henley (1981)
- Charles Fuller (1982)
- Marsha Norman (1983)
- David Mamet (1984)
- James Lapine / Stephen Sondheim (1985)
- August Wilson (1987)
- Alfred Uhry (1988)
- Wendy Wasserstein (1989)
- August Wilson (1990)
- Neil Simon (1991)
- Robert Schenkkan (1992)
- Tony Kushner (1993)
- Edward Albee (1994)
- Horton Foote (1995)
- Jonathan Larson (1996)
- Paula Vogel (1998)
- Margaret Edson (1999)
- Donald Margulies (2000)
- Complete list
- (1918–1925)
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Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical (1976–2000) James Kirkwood/Nicholas Dante (1976) · Thomas Meehan (1977) · Hugh Wheeler (1979) · James Lapine (1984) · Jerry Colker (1985) · Rupert Holmes (1986) · L. Arthur Rose (1987) · James Lapine (1988) · Larry Gelbart (1990) · Marsha Norman (1991) · George C. Wolfe (1992) · James Lapine (1994) · Jonathan Larson (1996)
Complete list · (1970–1975) · (1976–2000) · (2001–2025) Categories:- 1942 births
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- American dramatists and playwrights
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