Joe Layton

Born Joseph Lichtman in Brooklyn, Layton began his career as a dancer in Wonderful Town (1953), and he appeared uncredited in the ensemble cast of the original live TV production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella (1957) starring Julie Andrews.{{cite book |last1=Shulman |first1=Arthur |last2=Youman |first2=Roger |title=How Sweet It Was — Television: A Pictorial Commentary |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/History-of-Telecasting/How-Sweet-it-Was-Shulman-1966.pdf |year=1966 |publisher=Bonanza Books, a division of Crown Publishers, Inc., by arrangement with Shorecrest, Inc. |location=New York |oclc=36258864 |chapter=Chapter V — They Called Them Spectaculars |isbn=978-0517081358 |quote= }} (Book has page numbers) However, from the start, his primary interest was in musical staging. In addition to his many legitimate theatre credits, he conceived and directed Broadway concerts for Bette Midler (1975), Diana Ross (1976), Cher (1979), and Harry Connick Jr. (1990). He choreographed the Broadway version of The Sound of Music with Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel.

Joe Layton won the Tony Award for Best Choreography for No Strings (1962), starring Diahann Carroll, and for George M! (1968), starring Joel Grey.

In 1965, Layton won an Emmy Award for his work on My Name Is Barbra, the television special that introduced the public to the more sophisticated side of Barbra Streisand. It was his first of four collaborations with the star; the others were Color Me Barbra (1966), The Belle of 14th Street (1967) and Barbra Streisand ... And Other Musical Instruments (1973).

He also directed and/or produced specials for Paul Lynde, Hal Linden, Richard Pryor, and Olivia Newton-John.

Layton broke into films as the dance director for Thoroughly Modern Millie in 1967. He executive produced the first film version of Annie (1982) and reunited with Midler to choreograph For the Boys (1991).

Layton directed the 1972 West End and 1973 Los Angeles productions of Scarlett, the musical stage adaptation of Gone with the Wind, and the 1985 world première of the Jule Styne musical Pieces of Eight in Edmonton.

In 1976, Layton collaborated with Diana Ross for her one-woman international concert tour, An Evening with Diana Ross, for which the singer won a Special Event Tony Award for the concert's performance at The Palace Theater.{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/production/an-evening-with-diana-ross-palace-theatre-vault-0000009163|title=An Evening with Diana Ross Broadway @ Palace Theatre - Tickets and Discounts}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/XvamSHzyJQE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190902014407/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvamSHzyJQE&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvamSHzyJQE| title = Diana Ross - Receiving Special Tony Award - 31th Annual Tony Awards 1977 | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

Joe Layton also choreographed a ballet for The Royal Ballet, London titled "Grand Tour" which received critical acclaim as well as a warm reception from the audiences around the UK. In 1984, Layton was one of the three choreographers credited with staging the dances for the Opening ("How the West Was Won" sequence) and Closing (the break-dances in "All Night Long") ceremonies of the 23rd Summer Olympiad of Los Angeles. He was also the Director of Paul Green's symphonic outdoor drama, "The Lost Colony" from 1964-1984.

In 1985, Layton directed and choreographed a Michael Edgley revival production of Aloha: A Musical of the Islands by Eaton "Bob" Magoon[https://www.mtishows.com/people/eaton-magoonjr 'Eaton Magoon, Jr.']. Music Theatre International. (USA)[https://www.discogs.com/artist/963674-Eaton-Magoon-Jr 'Eaton Magoon, Jr.']. Discogs.[http://www.playbill.com/person/eaton-magoon-jr-vault-0000006113 'Eaton Magoon, Jr.']. Playbill. (New York, USA). and Sir Robert Helpmann at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland,[https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/42379/his-majestys-theatre-1988 His Majesty's Theatre] Auckland (New Zealand), starring Derek Metzger from the Hamilton world première production,Day, Paul. (19 October 1981). 'Hamilton Says Aloha To Musical'. The New Zealand HeraldCryer, Max. (25 October 1981). 'Hamilton produces ambitious musical' and 'Kitsch Aloha goes down a real treat'. Page 9. New Zealand Times(27 October 1981). 'Author full of praise' (Sir Robert Helpmann). Waikato Times, New Zealand with Hollywood actress Patricia Morison. Derek Williams was the orchestrator and musical director for both productions.'The Arts'. (12 June 1985). 'Teacher Continues Aloha Association'. Page 24. The Daily Post (Rotorua, New Zealand) Despite being well reviewed however,Kwok, E.D. (15 July 1985). 'NZ-US Talent Blends Well in Aloha.The New Zealand Herald houses for the Aloha revival didn't measure up to those for the première production and it finished early, destined for Honolulu, Hawaii with Layton again as Director, playing at the purpose built Aloha Showroom(16 February 1991). [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/663655604 Aloha: A Musical of the Islands]. WorldCat until the Gulf War destroyed its tourist patronage.

From 1989, in preparation for the Aloha production, Layton had moved to live with Magoon in Honolulu where he also directed a revival production of Magoon's 13 Daughters at the Hawaii Theatre.Harada, Wayne. (12 July 1989). "Updating a Tale of '13 Daughters'" . Pages B1-B2. The Honolulu Advertiser. (Hawaii, USA). During this period, Layton was suffering from AIDS, from which he eventually died in 1994 at his home Key West, Florida, aged 63.Riedel, Michael. (January 13, 1999). [https://nypost.com/1999/01/13/the-death-of-the-superstar-choreographer/ 'The Death of the Superstar Choreographer']. New York Post

He was married to actress Evelyn Russell in 1959; she predeceased him in February 1976.[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0751140/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Evelyn Russell] IMDb They had a son, Jeb James Layton.[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/02/06/archives/evelyn-russell-dies-at-49-stage-and-screen-actress.html&usg "Evelyn Russell Dies at 49, Stage and Screen Actress"] The New York Times, February 6, 1976[http://archives.nypl.org/the/18398 "Joe Layton papers"] New York Public Library, accessed February 7, 2019

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-break}}

• Once Upon a Mattress (1959)
• The Sound of Music (1959)
• Tenderloin (1960)
• Greenwillow (1960)
• Sail Away (1961)
• No Strings (1962)
• The Girl Who Came to Supper (1963)
• Drat! The Cat! (1965)
• Sherry! (1967)
• George M! (1968)
• Dear World (1969)
• Two by Two (1970)
• An Evening with Diana Ross (stage show) (1975-1977)
• Platinum (1978)
• Barnum (1980)
• Bring Back Birdie (1981)
• The Three Musketeers (1984)
• Aloha: A Musical of the Islands (1985 and 1991)
• 13 Daughters (1989)

{{Col-break}}

• Once Upon a Mattress (1964)
• My Name Is Barbra (1965)
• Color Me Barbra (1966)
• The Belle of 14th Street (1967)
• Androcles and the Lion (1967)
• The Littlest Angel (1969)
• A Special Olivia Newton-John (1976)
• An Evening with Diana Ross (1977)
• The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour (1978)
• Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
• Paul Lynde at the Movies (1979)
• The Hal Linden Special (1979)

• Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)
• Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip (1982)
• Annie (1982)
• For the Boys (1991)

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;Awards

• 1962 Tony Award for Best Choreography – No Strings{{cite book |editor1-first=Mike |editor1-last=Kaplan |title=Variety Presents the Complete Book of Major U.S. Show Business Awards |year=1985 |publisher=Garland Publishing, Inc. |location=New York |isbn=0-8240-8919-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/varietypresentsc00kapl/page/282 282] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/varietypresentsc00kapl/page/282 }}
• 1965 Emmy Award for Conception, Choreography and Staging - My Name Is Barbra (TV)Kaplan, p. 119
• 1969 Tony Award for Best Choreography – George M!Kaplan, p. 288

;Nominations

• 1960 Tony Award for Best Choreography – GreenwillowKaplan, p. 280
• 1962 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – No StringsKaplan, p. 281
• 1966 Emmy Award - Musical Program - Color Me Barbra (TV)Kaplan, p. 120
• 1973 Emmy Award - Special - Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music - Barbra Streisand ... And Other Musical Instruments (TV)Kaplan, p. 161
• 1980 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Barnum
• 1980 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – Barnum
• 1980 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography – Barnum
• 1980 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical – Barnum

{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|493615}}
• {{IBDB name}}
• {{iobdb name|9225}}
• [http://archives.nypl.org/the/18398 Joe Layton papers, 1931-1992], held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts

{{TonyAward Choreography 1947-1975}}

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Category:1931 births

Category:1994 deaths

Category:American theatre directors

Category:American television directors

Category:American choreographers

Category:Musical theatre choreographers

Category:Tony Award winners

Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners