Difference between revisions of "Wally Green"

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[[Wally Green]] (19**-). Director and choreographer of musicals.
 
  
Also worked in the USA.
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Wally Green was a South African-born dancer and choreographer who, at one stage, partnered [[Juliet Prowse]].  He became a choreographer in London and then went to Hollywood, where he worked on several Billy Wilder films: ''Some Like It Hot'' (1959), ''Irma la Douce'' (1963), ''Kiss Me, Stupid'' (1964) and ''The Fortune Cookie'' (1966).  He also did some choreography for television, including two episodes of the series ''Mr. Ed'' and the television version of ''Johnny Belinda'' (Paul Bogart/1967).  In addition he was the dance director for ''Brigadoon'', staged by the Conejo Choraliers at the California Lutheran College. Most interestingly, during this time he was also the Chief Instructor of the Pink Pussycat College of Striptease on Santa Monica Boulevard.  On 22 July 1963 he appeared on the television game show ''To Tell the Truth'' on which the panel members had to guess who of three participants was the real Wally Green (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5TbkgkpJ-4)
  
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance==
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Shortly after his return to South Africa he directed the movie ''[[Lindie]]'' (1971) for [[Tommie Meyer]] and resumed his career as choreographer.  He created dance numbers for a number of musical shows and also became the head choreographer for [[SABC]] Television.  In this capacity he directed the early morning exercise programme ''[[Body Beat]]'', while the [[Wally Green Dance Studio]] trained local dancers for the medium.  He worked on [[Alan Nathanson]]’s television movie ''[[Ducktails]]'' (1977), as well as on [[Gray Hofmeyr]]’s [[Leon Schuster]] film ''[[Sweet ‘n Short]]'' (1991). 
He was the choreographer on productions of ''[[Divorce Me Darling]]'', ''[[African Odyssey]]'', ''[[The Gondoliers]]'', ''[[Oh What a Lovely War!]]''.  
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'''Choreography for the Theatre'''
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1977 – ''[[African Odyssey]]'' (Directed by [[Victor Ntoni]] & [[Michele Maxwell]] for the [[Market Theatre]]), 1980 – ''[[Oh What a Lovely War!]]'' (Directed by [[Geoffrey Sutherland]] for [[PACT]]), 1987 – ''[[Guys and Dolls]]'' (Directed by [[Celeste Litkie]] for the [[Wits Drama Department]]), 1991 – ''[[The Gondoliers]]'' (Directed by [[Conrad Haikes]] for the [[Wits Drama Department]]), ''[[Divorce Me, Darling!]]'' (''Wits Drama Department'').  [[The Wally Green Barn Dancers]] took part in a [[TRUK]] Country Concert at the [[State Theatre]] in Pretoria.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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[[SACD]] 1974.
 
[[SACD]] 1974.
  
 
''[[Speak]]'', 1(1):20, 1977.
 
''[[Speak]]'', 1(1):20, 1977.
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The Decatur Daily Review, 13 January 1963
  
 
Programme of Wits student production of ''The Gondoliers'' in 1991.
 
Programme of Wits student production of ''The Gondoliers'' in 1991.
  
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https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3667530/?ref_=nv_sr_2
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== Return to ==
  
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities G]]
 
Return to [[ESAT Personalities G]]
  
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Personalities|South African Theatre Personalities]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 20:13, 29 April 2018

Wally Green was a South African-born dancer and choreographer who, at one stage, partnered Juliet Prowse. He became a choreographer in London and then went to Hollywood, where he worked on several Billy Wilder films: Some Like It Hot (1959), Irma la Douce (1963), Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) and The Fortune Cookie (1966). He also did some choreography for television, including two episodes of the series Mr. Ed and the television version of Johnny Belinda (Paul Bogart/1967). In addition he was the dance director for Brigadoon, staged by the Conejo Choraliers at the California Lutheran College. Most interestingly, during this time he was also the Chief Instructor of the Pink Pussycat College of Striptease on Santa Monica Boulevard. On 22 July 1963 he appeared on the television game show To Tell the Truth on which the panel members had to guess who of three participants was the real Wally Green (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5TbkgkpJ-4)

Shortly after his return to South Africa he directed the movie Lindie (1971) for Tommie Meyer and resumed his career as choreographer. He created dance numbers for a number of musical shows and also became the head choreographer for SABC Television. In this capacity he directed the early morning exercise programme Body Beat, while the Wally Green Dance Studio trained local dancers for the medium. He worked on Alan Nathanson’s television movie Ducktails (1977), as well as on Gray Hofmeyr’s Leon Schuster film Sweet ‘n Short (1991).

Choreography for the Theatre

1977 – African Odyssey (Directed by Victor Ntoni & Michele Maxwell for the Market Theatre), 1980 – Oh What a Lovely War! (Directed by Geoffrey Sutherland for PACT), 1987 – Guys and Dolls (Directed by Celeste Litkie for the Wits Drama Department), 1991 – The Gondoliers (Directed by Conrad Haikes for the Wits Drama Department), Divorce Me, Darling! (Wits Drama Department). The Wally Green Barn Dancers took part in a TRUK Country Concert at the State Theatre in Pretoria.

Sources

SACD 1974.

Speak, 1(1):20, 1977.

The Decatur Daily Review, 13 January 1963

Programme of Wits student production of The Gondoliers in 1991.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3667530/?ref_=nv_sr_2

Return to

Return to ESAT Personalities G

Return to South African Theatre Personalities

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page