Playwright, Director & Dancer Joel Paley Passes Away at 69
Paley earned accolades for with Ruthless! The Musical, for which he wrote the award-winning book and lyrics
By: Chloe Rabinowitz Jan. 21, 2025
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The New York Times has reported that dancer, playwright and director Joel Paley passed away at age 69 on January 11th.
Paley earned accolades for Ruthless! The Musical, for which he wrote the award-winning book and lyrics. He also directed the original production at the Player's Theatre, as well as in L.A., South Beach, and the 2015 Off-Broadway production, which played at St. Luke's Theatre.
RUTHLESS! first appeared Off-Broadway in 1992, winning both the Drama Desk Award for Best Lyrics and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. The production featured Britney Spears, Natalie Portman and Laura Bell Bundy in the role of Tina.
Paley was an original member of the Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, dancing as Bertha Vinayshinski.
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