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Wayne CilentoAmerican director, choreographer, actor and dancer
Date of Birth: 28.08.1949
Country:  USA |
Content:
Early Life
Michael Chiklis was born in the Bronx, New York, and raised in a Westchester County suburb. While briefly attending a dance class at age seven or eight, Chiklis panicked and did not return. Inspired by the original Broadway production of "Cabaret," he auditioned for high school musicals, landed lead roles, and began taking dance classes twice a week. He pursued dance in college at SUNY Brockport '72, where he met his mentor, Bill Glassman of the American Ballet Theatre.
A Chorus Line and Broadway Career
As an original cast member of Broadway's "A Chorus Line," Chiklis portrayed the role of Mike, a short, athletic, and aggressive dancer based on his own personality. He introduced the song "I Can Do That," though it was actually the backstory of another performer, Sammy Williams. A featured performer in the groundbreaking show, he gained significant attention. During its development, Chiklis played the role of "Zack," a one-man vignette about an insecure dancer. He also appeared as a backup dancer for Cassie's nightclub performance, which was later cut.
Chiklis received a Theatre World Award for the show's ensemble in 1976. After the ill-fated "The Act" with Liza Minnelli, he returned in Bob Fosse's dance revue "Dancin'." He earned his first Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his role. He appeared in Fosse's "Big Deal" and Frank Loesser's "Perfectly Frank," and starred in the national tour of Jack Cole's musical "Jack." He also had a small film role in "Annie" alongside Ann Reinking and Pamela Blair.
Directorial and Choreographic Career
Chiklis began directing and choreographing in the early 1980s. His concert stage and television credits include Alicia Keys, Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Donna Summer, the Jonas Brothers, and Pete Townshend. Music videos for Billy Joel's "Keeping the Faith" and Barry Manilow's "Read 'em and Weep" were followed by a PBS special, "Spirit: A Journey in Dance, Drums and Song," and dozens of commercials for which he received two Clio Awards.
He ventured into full-scale musicals with Jerry Herman's revue "Jerry's Girls" (starring Chita Rivera) and "The Kid," which earned him a second Tony nomination. His choreographic profile rose to new heights when he won the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for "The Who's Tommy" in 1993. He replicated the success in London in 1996, receiving a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
Recreating the Fosse style in the 1995 revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and "Sweet Charity," Chiklis choreographed two of the biggest hits of the 2000s: "Aida" and "Wicked." He directed the hip-hop musical "Holler If Ya Hear Me" featuring the music of Tupac Shakur and led the 2015-16 season of American Dance Machine at the Joyce Theater.
In 2023, he directed and choreographed the first Broadway revival of "Dance at the End of the Line," receiving positive reviews and seven Chita Rivera Awards nominations for his dancers.
Personal Life
Chiklis resides in Mamaroneck, New York, with his wife, Kathy. They have three sons: Brian, Keith, and Doug.
