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Jerome Robbins 1918-1998

Dancer, choreographer, and director, Jerome Robbins left his distinctive stamp on such stage productions as On the Town, The King and I, The Pajama Game, and Gypsy. Robbins had early success with Fancy Free (1944), with music composed by Leonard Bernstein, and in 1949 joined George Balanchine's New York City Ballet as Associate Artistic Director. In 1957, Robbins conceived, choreographed, and wrote West Side Story, a version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet set in modern day New York City. Among Robbins's most beloved works is Fiddler on the Roof, which starred Zero Mostel when it opened on Broadway in 1964; the production ran for 3,242 performances in the 1960s-a record for its time. During his career Robbins won five Tony Awards, two Academy Awards, a Kennedy Center Honor, and a host of other prestigious awards and honors.