orig. Michael Bennett Difiglia
born April 8, 1943, Buffalo, N.Y., U.S.
died July 2, 1987, Tucson, Ariz.
U.S. dancer, choreographer, and stage musical director.
He began dancing at age three and left high school to tour in a production of West Side Story . His major contribution to dance was as choreographer-director of Broadway musicals such as Promises, Promises (1968), Company (1970), Follies (1971), and Dreamgirls (1981). His most remarkable musical was A Chorus Line (1975, Pulitzer Prize), which he conceived, directed, and choreographed. Bennett personally received eight Tony awards during his career.