Jerry Lewis Telethon Choreographer Receives Emmy Nomination
TUCSON, Ariz., July 27, 1998 -- Anita Mann, one of the nation's most prolific and honored choreographers for stage, screen and television, has been nominated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for "Best Choreography" for the opening number of the 1997 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.
It's the first time the Muscular Dystrophy Association's 21½-hour annual special has been nominated for an Emmy Award. The innovative opening featured more than 40 of the nation's top dancers from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. The Academy has previously recognized Mann as one of the country's top five contemporary choreographers; with an Emmy Award for best choreography for the 1995 Miss America Pageant; with an Emmy nomination for "The Muppets Go Hollywood;" and with two Emmy nominations for the television series "Solid Gold."
"Anita has been making Telethon magic for eight years," said Jerry Lewis, MDA national chairman. "Her creativity and enthusiasm bring out the best in dancers of all ages, and her productions have made our show openings electric. 'My kids' are very lucky that she's committed to MDA's lifesaving mission."
The Emmy-nominated Telethon segment included dance legends Michael Callan and Carol Lawrence, perhaps best known for their starring roles in the original Broadway production of "West Side Story," as well as Fayard Nicholas of "The Nicholas Brothers" dance team. Collectively, one or more members of "The Old Folks" troupe opening the 1997 Telethon performed in or choreographed almost every Broadway musical, more than 200 Hollywood musicals and over 3,000 TV shows.
Mann is currently developing a big swing opening for the 1998 Telethon that will feature 20 of the nation's leading dance teams. Broadcast by 200 television stations and transmitted live on the Internet for the first time this year, the Telethon will be watched by a television audience of some 75 million.
They'll be joined by a large international audience, as tens of millions will be able to use the World Wide Web to see and hear the show live online at the MDA home page, mdausa.org.
Born and raised in Detroit, Mann danced in the film "Bye, Bye Birdie" while in high school and was then cast in "Spin Out," the first of several Elvis Presley films she did. Renowned choreographer Jack Baker hired her to help him choreograph "Here's Lucy" and "The Lucille Ball Show," and Mann danced on many television variety shows including "Shindig," "Hullabaloo," "The Carol Burnett Show," "The Danny Thomas Show" and "The Jerry Lewis Comedy Show."
Mann next became a frequent choreographer for network television, working on series including "Solid Gold," "The Jacksons," "The Cher Show," "Sha Na Na," "The Glen Campbell Show" and "The Bobby Darin Show." She also choreographed television specials, including "The 47th Annual Academy Awards," "The People's Choice Awards," "Super Night at The Super Bowl," "The Grammy Hall of Fame," "The Golden Globe Awards," programs for Doug Henning, Bobby Rydell and Jim Henson's Muppets, as well as the made-for-television movies "The Barbary Coast," "The Pirate" and "Valentino."
Her many live show credits include "Tap Girls," "Showtime America," "Red, Hot and Blue," "Sesame Street Live," "The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and "Blast From the Past," one of the longest running and most critically acclaimed cabaret shows in history. She's also directed three fitness videos for Jane Fonda, and music videos for Ozzy Osbourne and the Pointer Sisters. The cast of "Tap Girls" will perform at the 1998 MDA Telethon.
MDA was the first voluntary health agency honored by the American Medical Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award "for significant and lasting contributions to the health and welfare of humanity." Consistently recognized for its efficiency, MDA annually funds 400 research teams seeking treatments and cures for muscle-wasting diseases, and maintains more than 230 hospital-affiliated clinics that offer myriad services to families affected by these progressive conditions.
1997 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon "Old Folks" Opening Show Cast: Diane Arnold · Dee Baker · Mark Breaux · Sharon Brooks · Michael Callan · Kevin Carlisle · Judith Cassmore · Roy Clark · De-An Cotner · Grover Dale · Margie Duncan · Randy Doney · Bonnie Evans · Lesley Evans · Larry Fuller · John Frayer · Maria Henley · Maureen Hopkins · Rita Hyde · Carl Jablonski · Carol Lawrence · Sylvia Lewis · Jack Mattis · Stan Mazin · Deloris Nemiro · Fayard Nicholas · Roy Palmer · Pam Parker · Marianna Pecora · Lisa Pharren · Alex Plasschaert · George Reeder · Alex Romero · Sandy Rovetta · Dom Salinaro · Carol Sharpley · Sharon Shore · Joe Tremaine · Jerry Trent · Gina Trikonis
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