The Choreography of Onna White

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 3:12pm

She was kind of an unsung genius, partly because she used simple, accessible steps and formations and partly (I think) because she was a woman in a man's field. But she was nominated for 8 Tonys, and her staging of musicals like The Music Man, Mame and 1776 were integral to the success of those shows.



She also choreographed the film versions of Bye, Bye Birdie and Oliver (though not the original shows), and both of those films included musical numbers that are still exciting. (She received a special Oscar for her work on Oliver.)

Here's a good quality video of her original staging of the title song from "Mame," from a London TV broadcast that included the number with Ginger Rogers and the whole cast.

Watch how Onna White uses very simple, very basic steps at first--swaying and small movements--you almost think it looks amateur! And then watch how she builds the number to an overwhelming climax of joyousness:

https://youtu.be/m4qyRaHYeus

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 3:57pm

Thanks for finding that, joey. I prefer Lansbury to Rogers as Mame but that promenade down the diagonal line of kneeling men still gives me goose bumps. (It's filmed from an unfortunate angle which doesn't do it justice in this clip.)

You are so right about how the choreography builds. Such a contrast from some of today's shows where the cast jumps around like marionettes every time the music plays.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 4:20pm

I wish there were a clip that clear with Lansbury!

[nealb1]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 4:38pm

Great clip. Thanks so much for posting.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 4:50pm

And then, of course, there is the title song from I Had a Ball, featuring the indomitable Karen Morrow:



Karen Morrow 'I Had a Ball'

Updated On: 8/21/11 at 04:50 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 5:18pm

The entire "Consider Yourelf" sequence from Oliver (with Spanish subtitles):

http://youtu.be/e0gNMQsImoQ

No wonder she won a special Oscar!

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 5:36pm

I agree about the Lansbury clip. The b&w clip at You Tube is almost impossible to make out.

If only somebody had thought to make a film version with Lansbury as soon as the show closed on Broadway...

[egghumor]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 5:41pm

A thousand thanks to you, Joey, and a thousand hallelujahs to Karen Morrow and the I Had a Ball company! I've loved that title song on the cast album for the better part of my life and to finally see it staged was beyond thrilling! It was also great to hear the dance music that was cut from the cast album up until Morocco's belly dance sequence. Yes indeed, Onna White's work is spectacular in its simple approach, a simmering pot that finally boils over with joy. And what can we say about the miracle named Morrow? A top-drawer talent whose starring role sadly never materialized. Thank God we have this record (despite the crude condition). When I see some of the production-sanctioned clips from shows these days, and I express disappointment (or flat-out dislike) naturally, I get the "you haven't seen the show" retort from fans, but this I Had a Ball video proves you didn't have to see the show to comprehend how exciting it must have been in the theater. Eat your heart out Rob Ashford!
Updated On: 8/21/11 at 05:41 PM

[ABB2357]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 7:03pm

I can't believe no one's mentioned "Shipoopi" yet!
Family Guy / Music Man comparison

[Skip2]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 8:00pm

And then there's Ann Margrock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIPGTGXsNF0

(One of my all time faves)

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 8:18pm

That whole 7:49 sequence is always as much fun as it was the first time.

I love the way Onna makes mini-climaxes--there are like little one-act plays going on in the sequences within the sequence. like the Kim-Hugo drama and Bobby Rydell's "ring-a-ding drummer" sequence.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 8:28pm

This is a wonderful, informative thread! Thanks PalJoey! That Mame video is thrilling!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 1:48am

Absolutely amazing thread!!! Onna White was a gifted choreographer! As always Pal Joey knows all!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 2:33am

Onna also choreographed the (very) short lived 1989 arena tour "The Wizard of Oz Live!", produced, adapted and directed by Michael Grilikhes.

Sadly, I have never found video from the production and only a few small black and white photos, but I would KILL for the souvenir program or any other scraps from the show. The show cost $7.5 million, had a cast of 42 and 5 dogs playing Toto on a massive thrust stage with a full sized, flying house and light up yellow brick road and featured prerecorded dialogue as well as the actual musical tracks / voices of the 1939 film cast...

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1989-04-20/lifestyle/8904210347_1_wizard-of-oz-play-the-wizard-wicked-witch

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/54172/WIZARD-OF-OZ-LIVE-IS-FUN-TO-WATCH--ESPECIALLY-IF-YOURE-40-ROWS-UP.html

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-03-24/news/8903290546_1_wizard-movie-emerald-city

http://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/24/theater/review-theater-dorothy-and-her-dotty-disciples-off-again-for-oz.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

(I wonder where out there the souvenir program can be found.. I constantly look!)

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 5:54am

Onna White was a marvel.I first saw her choreography in 1959's TAKE ME ALONG, a wonderful gentle musical except for Jackie Gleason's hijinks. I wish I had seen I HAD A BALL(my computer would not download the link to YOU TUBE). That show is one of my guilty pleasures with its over the top brassiness.And Karren Morrow is something else!

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 5:55am

Bump

Updated On: 8/22/11 at 05:55 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 11:19am

If the "I Had a Ball" link doesn't play for you, you can download the file here and watch it on your computer:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=VAV63K8W

It's a Windows Media file. If you're on a Mac, I can convert it to a Quicktime file later on today.

You can find it on YouTube, but the sound and the video don't sync, which is annoying.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 12:11pm

Thanks, Pal Joey. I have an apple Ipad so I will need your help.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 12:23pm

How is her first name pronounced?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 12:44pm

Like the "on a" in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 1:00pm

Thanks.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 4:39pm

Onna White is my favorite choreographer. I was introduced to her, when I saw TAKE ME ALONG, then HALF A SIXPENCE. To me, nobody comes close to her combination of ability and versatility.

[whitesnow]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 7:27pm

A thousand thanks to you, Joey, and a thousand hallelujahs to Karen Morrow and the I Had a Ball company! I've loved that title song on the cast album for the better part of my life and to finally see it staged was beyond thrilling! It was also great to hear the dance music that was cut from the cast album up until Morocco's belly dance sequence. Yes indeed, Onna White's work is spectacular in its simple approach, a simmering pot that finally boils over with joy. And what can we say about the miracle named Morrow? A top-drawer talent whose starring role sadly never materialized. Thank God we have this record (despite the crude condition). When I see some of the production-sanctioned clips from shows these days, and I express disappointment (or flat-out dislike) naturally, I get the "you haven't seen the show" retort from fans, but this I Had a Ball video proves you didn't have to see the show to comprehend how exciting it must have been in the theater. Eat your heart out Rob Ashford!



Read more: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1035889&dt=21&boardid=1#ixzz1Vnrug0I0

[egghumor]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 7:45pm

what the... is up, whitey?

[morosco]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 8:14pm

At Onna White's memorial service (Sept. 11, 2005) Karen Morrow tells a very funny story about White's interaction with actress Luba Lisa during rehearsals of "I Had A Ball". Then Karen sings the title song.


Karen Morrow at Onna White Memorial