Gillian Lynne Passes Away: Choreographer of 'Cats' fame dies at age 92
Updated 18:51, 06-Jul-2018
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Choreographer Gillian Lynne, who worked closely for many years with composer Andrew Lloyd Webber on some of his most famous works, has passed away in London. Her husband, actor Peter Land, said on Twitter that she died Sunday night at the Princess Grace Hospital. She was 92.
Gillian Lynne's many credits included the phenomenally successful "Cats" and "Phantom of the Opera."
TREVOR NUNN DIRECTOR "So, in the words of T.S. Eliot and we have to remind ourselves of these words, every end is a new beginning, and translated into Broadway terms, that is another opening, another show."
Lynne's career began with dancing as a leading soloist with Sadler's Wells Ballet in 1944, and continued for decades as she moved into directing and choreography. She directed many productions in London's West End and on Broadway in New York.
She worked on TV specials for performers from a variety of musical genres, including Ray Charles, Perry Como and Petula Clark. She received many honors for her decades of theatrical work and was made a dame in 2014.
She said her longevity was due to her love for her job and she had no musical talent of her own. She said she had stopped taking piano lessons when she was a girl because a mean piano teacher smacked her for playing poorly.
Last month, Lloyd Webber renamed his New London Theatre The Gillian Lynne Theatre, making it the first in London's theater district named after a woman.