Gail Benedict
Director/Choreographer Actor/Singer/Dancer/Lyricist/Musician
Professional Affiliations:
- Actors' Equity Association
- Screen Actors' Guild
- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Education:
- ABD - Educational Psychology, University of Louisville (2003)
- MFA - Directing and Choreography, University of Louisville (1999)
- BFA - Choreography and Theatre, California Institute of the Arts (1973)
- Berlitz School of Language, French, NYC, NY (1980)
- Neighborhood Playhouse, Professional Acting Program, NYC, NY (1978-80)
- San Mateo School of Ballet, Richard Gibson, (1966-1970)
- Peninsula Conservatory of Music, Burlingame, CA (violin - 1964-1970)
Post-Graduate Professional Arts Education: 1973 - to date (ongoing)
- Acting: Bill Esper, Stella Adler, Michael Howard, Bobby Lewis, Leonard Peters
- Directing: Jon Jory, Bobby Lewis, Playwrites' Horizons Director's Workshop
- Voice: Paul Gavert, Jeanette Lovetri
- Dance: (Master Teachers with whom I studied at length) Donald McKayle, Bella Lewitsky,
Andre Egelevsky, Richard Gibson, Mia Slavenska, Maggie Black, Finis Jhung,
Merce Cunningham, Joyce Trisler, Alvin Ailey, Mary Hinkson, Billy Siegenfeld, Jeannie Hill,
Gwen Verdon, Bob Fosse, Michael Bennet, Lee Theodore, Tony Stevens, Lea Vivante,
Steve Granger, Micki Granger
Performance Experience: Actor/Singer/Dancer
Broadway: |
Me and My Girl | Dir. Mike Ockrent | Lady Lady Jacquie |
Raggedy Ann | Dir. Pat Birch | The Bat |
42nd Street | Dir. Gower Champion | Peggy Sawyer |
Dancin' ** | Dir. Bob Fosse | Principal Dancer |
Finian's Rainbow | Jones Beach, NY | Susan the Silent |
Pal Joey | Circle in the Square, NY | Featured Player |
Please Don't Step on My Olive Branch** | Dir. Jonathan Karmon | Principal Dancer |
Dr. Jazz** | Dir. Donald McKayle | Featured Player and assistant choreographer |
Regional Theatre: |
A Christmas Carol | Actors' Theatre of Louisville | Mrs.Dickens/Cratchit |
To Kill a Mockingbird | ATL | Stephanie Crawford |
The Cocoanuts | ATL | Penelope Martyn |
In Darkest America | ATL | Eileen Stanley |
The Pink Studio | ATL | Charisse/Nicole |
Meet Me in St. Louis | Miami Valley, OH | Mrs. Smith |
The King and I | Falmouth, KY | Mrs. Anna |
42nd Street | Mill Mountain, VA | Dorothy Brock |
Fiddler on the Roof | Hampton Playhouse, NH | Golde |
Me and My Girl | Hampton Playhouse, NH | Lady Jacquie |
Nunsense | Hampton Playhouse, NH | Sister Hubert |
A Chorus Line | Waltham, MA | Cassie |
The Seagull | University Of Louisville | Arkadina |
National Equity Tours: |
A Chorus Line | Dir. Baayork Lee | Sheila |
42nd Street | Dir. Gower Champion | Peggy Sawyer |
Dancin' | Dir. Gail Benedict | Lead |
Film: |
Assisted Living | Independent | Kathy |
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas | Universal Pictures | Eloise |
The Fan | Paramount Pictures | Leslie |
American Retrospective | USC | Rita Hayworth |
Corner Boys | Independent | Director |
The Assignment | NYU | Lead |
The Wedge | Independent | Lead |
Television: |
One Life to Live | ABC | Chantal |
Century Hill | CBS | Tricia |
Salute to Broadway | HBO | Guest Artist |
Bob Hope's Birthday Specials '79, '81 | NBC | Guest Artist |
National Commercials: |
Dr. Pepper | Principal Dancer |
McDonald's | Principal on Camera |
Leggs Pantyhose | Choreographer |
Welch's Drink Box | Choreographer |
Industrials: |
Coca-Cola Talent Contest | Louisville, KY 1996 - 2004 | (Choreographer) |
Phantom of the Capitol | Washington, D.C. | Principal |
I Love NY | International Tour | Principal |
New York Telephone | New York Hilton | Ensemble |
IBM | Miami, FL | Ensemble |
Milliken Breakfast Show | Waldorf Astoria, NY | Ensemble |
Dance Companies: |
The American Dance Machine | Dir. Lee Theodore | New York |
Inner City Repertory Dance Company | Dir. Donald McKayle | Los Angeles
| Rec Russel Dance Company | Dir. Rec Russel | San Francisco |
Directing
Cowgirls | Pleiades Theatre, Louisville, KY 2007 |
Bob Fosse's Dancin' | National & International Tours 1980-1986 |
Just a Few Days (and writer) | University of Louisville |
A Chorus Line | Music Theatre of Louisville |
Viva L'Amour | Hamburg, Germany |
Nine Young Men From KY | Youth Performing Arts School, Louisville, KY |
Sophisticated Ladies | YPAS |
Legally Blonde | YPAS |
Hair Spray | YPAS |
Shrek - the Musical | YPAS |
Big River | YPAS |
Thoroughly Modern Millie | YPAS |
Seussical the Musical | YPAS |
Boudica | YPAS (book and lyrics/director) |
S(h)ea Pyrates of the Carribean | YPAS (book and lyrics/director) |
Nine | YPAS |
42nd Street | YPAS |
Kiss Me Kate | YPAS |
The Crucible | YPAS |
Crazy for You | YPAS |
West Side Story | YPAS |
Pirates of Penzance | YPAS |
Cinderella | YPAS |
Pinnochio | YPAS |
Louisville's Next Generation | YPAS |
The Wedge (and writer) | Independent film |
The Flying Chocolate Bed (writer) | Independent film |
Choreography: Musical Plays
Dracula | Actors' Theatre of Louisville |
Fit for Feet | ATL |
The Lively Lad | ATL |
My Way | ATL |
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten | ATL |
The Glass Christmas Tree | Stage One, (KET) Louisville, KY |
A Christmas Carol | ATL |
The Beaux Strategem | ATL |
42nd Street | Mill Mountain & Youth Performing Arts School |
A Chorus Line | Music Theatre of Louisville |
Brigadoon | MTL |
Anything Goes | MTL |
Dancin' | NY - Choreographic Assistant to Bob Fosse |
Dr. Jazz | NY - Choreographic Assistant to Donald McKayle |
Me and My Girl | Hampton Playhouse, NH |
Carousel | North Shore Music Theatre, MA |
Lady Be Good | North Shore Music Theatre, MA |
Cinderella | YPAS |
Pinocchio | YPAS |
Kiss Me Kate | YPAS |
Pirates of Penzance | YPAS |
West Side Story | YPAS |
Concert Dance Choreography
Romance in Swingtime (Ballroom/Ballet) | Ball State University |
Kickin' It With Fred (Concert Tap) | University of WY |
Jammin' The Sham (Concert Tap) | University of WY |
Ancient Voices (Modern/Tap Synthesis) | YPAS |
Beat Me Beethoven 8 to the Bar (Jazz/Tap Synthesis) | YPAS |
Persona (Modern) | Art! Art! Barking Dog Dance Company |
Say, What? (Modern) | YPAS |
Ceremonies of the Heart (Modern) | YPAS |
Amazons in Swingland (Modern Jazz) | YPAS |
Makin' Magic (Theatre Jazz) | YPAS |
Pictorial History of Gail's Theatrical Career
Click on each photograph to enlarge it and see its title.
Some of Gail's Favorite Videos
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