Baayork Lee

Baayork Lee made her Broadway debut at age five as Princess Yaowlak in the original production of The King and I in 1951. She later appeared in Flower Drum Song and danced in the original production of The Nutcracker. While attending New York’s High School for Performing Arts, she met future collaborator Michael Bennett. Her early Broadway credits included Mr. President (1962), Here's Love (1963), Golden Boy (1964), A Joyful Noise (1966), Henry, Sweet Henry (1967), and Promises, Promises (1968). On Promises, Promises, she served as dance captain and later recreated the choreography for touring productions.

In 1973, Lee appeared in Seesaw, assisted with choreography, and performed opposite Tommy Tune. That same year, she traveled to Israel for the filming of Jesus Christ Superstar directed by Norman Jewison. In 1975, she participated in the workshops that developed A Chorus Line, with the character Connie Wong based partly on her life. She starred in the original Broadway production as Connie and served as dance captain, earning a 1976 Theatre World Award alongside the ensemble cast. In 1990, she co-authored the book On the Line: The Creation of A Chorus Line with Thommie Walsh and Robert Viagas.
Beginning in the 1970s, Lee expanded into choreography and directing, starting with a production of Where's Charley? in New Jersey. She later directed or choreographed national and international productions of The King and I, Carmen Jones, Bombay Dreams, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Porgy and Bess, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Barnum. She also served as associate choreographer for Tommy Tune and choreographed productions for the Washington National Opera at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Her Broadway choreography credits included My One and Only and Marilyn!.
Lee directed and choreographed the 2006 Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, which was documented in the 2008 film Every Little Step. In 2018, she choreographed the New York City Center gala production of A Chorus Line, and in 2019 she directed and choreographed South Pacific for City Springs Theatre Company.
In addition to her stage work, Lee became a talent scout for Tokyo Disneyland, opened a musical theatre school in Seoul, and co-founded the National Asian Artists Project. She received the Theatre World Award for A Chorus Line in 1976, the Paul Robeson Citation Award from the Actors’ Equity Foundation in 2014, and the Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award in 2017 for her contributions to theatre education and charitable work.
Over the past several years, Lee has developed a recurring relationship with City Springs Theatre Company in Sandy Springs, Georgia. She directed and choreographed South Pacific there in 2019, then returned in 2022 to direct and choreograph A Chorus Line as part of the company's PNC Bank season — a production that earned nominations for BroadwayWorld Atlanta Awards for Best Musical and Best Choreography.
This past July, she directed the A Chorus Line 50th Anniversary Concert at the Shubert Theatre for the Entertainment Community Fund, appearing alongside original cast members including Donna McKechnie.