Gower Champion Headshot

Gower Champion

Date of Death: August 25, 1980 (61)

Birth Place: Geneva, IL, USA

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Gower Champion STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1955
Performer

[Broadway]
1942
Teddy Roosevelt Brandywine

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1942
Campbell

[Broadway]
1939
Le Fils Americain

Cadet

"Reading, Writing and a Little Bit of Rhythm" Dancer

"South American Way" Dancer

"We Live of Love" / "We Haven't Got A Pot to Cook In" Dancer

Gower Champion Productions

 
[US Tour, 2015]
Original 42nd Street Director and Choreographer
 
[West End, 1984]
Director/Choreographer
 
[US Tour, 1984]
Director/Choreographer
 
[US Tour, 1983]
Director/Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1980]
Director/Choreographer
Choreographer
Director
 
[Broadway, 1978]
Production Supervisor
 
[Broadway, 1976]
Choreographer
Director
Director/Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1974]
Choreographer
Director
Director/Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1973]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1972]
Choreographer
Director
Director/Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1971]
Director
Producer
 
[Broadway, 1969]
Director
 
[West End, 1968]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1968]
Director/Choreographer
Choreographer
 
[US Tour, 1967]
Director/Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1966]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1966]
Director
 
[US Tour, 1966]
Director/Choreographer
 
[West End, 1965]
Director/Choreographer
 
[US Tour, 1965]
Director/Choreographer
 
[West End, 1964]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1964]
Director
 
[Broadway, 1964]
Director
Director/Choreographer
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1963]
Director
 
[West End, 1962]
Director/Choreographer
 
[US Tour, 1961]
Director/Choreographer
 
[West End, 1961]
Director/Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1961]
Director
Director/Choreographer
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1960]
Director
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1955]
Director
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1951]
Choreographer
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1948]
Choreographer
Choreographer
 
[Broadway, 1948]
Choreographer

Gower Champion Movies

Mr. Music
[ 1950 ] Gower Champion
Show Boat
[ 1951 ] Frank Schultz
Everything I Have Is Yours
[ 1952 ] Chuck Hubbard
Lovely to Look At
[ 1952 ] Jerry Ralby
Give a Girl a Break
[ 1953 ] Ted Sturgis
Jupiter's Darling
[ 1955 ] Varius
Three for the Show
[ 1955 ] Vernon Lowndes
Bye Bye Birdie
[ 1963 ] directed & choreographed by
42nd Street: The Musical
[ 2019 ] choreographer

Gower Champion Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1981 - Outstanding Choreography

Gower Champion, 42nd Street


winner
Tony Awards - 1981 - Best Choreography

Gower Champion, 42nd Street

Tony Awards - 1981 - Best Direction of a Musical

Gower Champion, 42nd Street

Tony Awards - 1975 - Best Choreography

Gower Champion , Mack and Mabel

Tony Awards - 1975 - Best Direction of a Musical

Gower Champion, Mack and Mabel

Tony Awards - 1973 - Best Choreography

Gower Champion , sugar

Tony Awards - 1973 - Best Direction of a Musical

Gower Champion , Sugar


winner
Tony Awards - 1968 - Best Choreography

Gower Champion, The Happy Time


winner
Tony Awards - 1968 - Best Direction of a Musical

Gower Champion, The Happy Time

Tony Awards - 1967 - Best Direction of a Musical

Gower Champion, I Do! I Do!


winner
Tony Awards - 1964 - Best Choreography

Gower Champion , Hello, Dolly!


winner
Tony Awards - 1964 - Best Direction of a Musical

Gower Champion, Hello, Dolly!

Tony Awards - 1962 - Best Direction of a Musical

Gower Champion, Carnival


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1961 - Creative Contribution of the Season

Gower Champion


winner
Tony Awards - 1961 - Best Choreography

Gower Champion, Bye Bye Birdie


winner
Tony Awards - 1961 - Best Direction of a Musical

Gower Champion, Bye Bye Birdie


winner
Tony Awards - 1949 - Best Choreography

Gower Champion, Lend an Ear

Gower Champion Videos

Gower Champion News


Industry Pro Newsletter: Roundabout Unveils the Todd Haimes, The Struggle of Toronto's Theatre Sector

Regionally, a few new leaders in high profile positions across the country - including Nicole A. Watson at Playwrights Center, Megwyn Sanders-Andrews at at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, and Geneé Coreno at WAM. In the UK, a new union agreement for Equity and the ITC, and in Toronto, a tale of haves and have nots in the recovery.

What Did Chita Rivera Think Was the Best Musical Number She Performed?

It’s been almost a week, but I’m still having trouble processing the loss of Chita Rivera. I expected to see her onstage again. What always struck me about Rivera, the ultimate gypsy (a term she clung to after others eschewed it in the name of political correctness), is, even in later years, she still seemed like a dancer first, a star second.

Richard Skipper to Celebrate HELLO, DOLLY! With Lee Roy Reams at The Laurie Beechman Theater

Join Richard Skipper and Lee Roy Reams as they celebrate the 60th anniversary of the beloved musical Hello Dolly!

Musical Theatre Melodies Celebrates The 60th Anniversary of HELLO, DOLLY!

The next Musical Theatre Melodies broadcast, hosted by Rob Morrison on 96.5 FM on Tuesday, January 16 will mark the 60th anniversary of the Jerry Herman musical Hello, Dolly!

Bernadette Peters Joins 2nd Sailing of The Broadway Cruise

Theatre legend and multi-Tony Award Winner Bernadette Peters (Old Friends, Annie Get Your Gun, “The Good Fight”) has joined the previously announced stars of the theatre and creative luminaries for an unforgettable vacation where tropical weather and calm seas await on the 2nd annual Broadway Cruise.

Photos: The Wick Theatre & Museum Club Celebrate The Opening of the 2023/2024 Season

Who knew 42nd Street in Manhattan ran all the way down to Boca/Delray and ends at The Wick Theatre and Museum Club?! In an event yesterday afternoon that rivaled any Broadway Opening Night Party, Marilynn & Kimberly Wick celebrated the opening of The Wick’s 2023/2024 season with a spectacular immersive exhibition of “Dancing Feet” The Experience, 42nd Street. Check out photos here!

The Museum Club At The Wick to Present The Immersive Experience DANCING FEET

Immerse yourself in the toe-tapping extravaganza of Dancing Feet, the immersive Broadway dance experience presented by The Museum Club at The Wick.

Have There Been Many Two-Person Broadway Musicals Before GUTENBERG?

This time, the reader question was: Have there been many Broadway musicals starring only two actors, before Gutenberg! The Musical!?

42nd STREET is Coming to Theatre Royal Glasgow in August

The Theatre Royal Glasgow has announced that the UK tour of 42nd STREET is coming to the venue from Monday 21 August to Saturday 26 August 2023.

UK Tour of 42ND STREET Comes to Milton Keynes Theatre in August

Samantha Womack will star as Dorothy Brock, alongside Michael Praed as Julian Marsh, Faye Tozer as Maggie Jones, Les Dennis as Bert Barry and Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer in the UK tour of 42nd STREET. The production will visit Milton Keynes Theatre 28 August – 02 September. 

Photos: Ruthie Henshall, Adam Garcia & The Cast of 42 STREET Arrive at Sadler's Wells

See photos of the cast of 42nd Street arriving at Sadler’s Wells ahead of their first performance, where it will play until Sunday 2 July!

42ND STREET Opens At The Encore On June 1!

The Encore Musical Theatre Company announces its highly anticipated production of the Broadway hit musical 42nd Street, running June 1-25 in The Maas Theatre.

Photos: First Look at 42ND STREET at Curve, Leicester and Sadler's Wells

Production photos have been released from 42nd Street at Curve, Leicester ahead of playing Sadler’s Wells. The production plays at Curve, Leicester until Saturday 3rd June, followed by a season at Sadler’s Wells, London from Wednesday 7th June 2023.

Photos: See Ruthie Henshall, Les Dennis & More in Rehearsals for 42 STREET

See rehearsal photos for 42nd Street, playing Curve, Leicester and Sadler’s Wells!

David Merrick's Big Announcement: The Infamous Opening Night of 42ND STREET

Have you ever wondered what was the most dramatic night in Broadway history? Well, boy, do I have a story for you! The year: 1980. The show: 42nd Street. I sat down with the show’s lead, the iconic and peerless Lee Roy Reams to get the true story straight from someone who was actually there that momentous evening.

Chita Rivera Will Appear In Conversation With Nathan Lane For The Launch of Her Memoir

Join the iconic Tony Award winners Chita Rivera and Nathan Lane on Monday, April 24 and be a fly on the wall as Chita puts you in the room with Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse, Hal Prince, Gower Champion, John Kander, Fred Ebb and so many others. We have all the details on the special appearance!

Samantha Womack, Michael Praed, Faye Tozer, Les Dennis and Nicole-Lily Baisden Will Lead 42ND STREET UK Tour

​​​​​​​Samantha Womack will star as Dorothy Brock, alongside Michael Praed as Julian Marsh, Faye Tozer as Maggie Jones, Les Dennis as Bert Barry and Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer in the UK tour of 42nd STREET.

Third Performance Added for Bernadette Peters at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium

A 3rd performance  of Bernadette Peters in Concert will be presented June 9-11, 2023 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

Riverside Theatre Presents The Musical Spectacular 42ND STREET

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell,  Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, and Director of Special Initiatives/CFO Patti Rooney, celebrates its 50th Anniversary season by presenting the musical spectacular, 42nd Street.

Ruthie Henshall, Adam Garcia, Les Dennis and Nicole-Lily Baisden Will Lead 42ND STREET at Curve Leicester and Sadler's Wells

​​​​​​​Olivier Award-winning actress Ruthie Henshall will star as Dorothy Brock, alongside Olivier-nominee Adam Garcia as Julian Marsh, stage and TV personality Les Dennis as Bert Barry and Nicole-Lily Baisden as Peggy Sawyer in 42nd STREET at Curve, Leicester and Sadler's Wells.

Gower Champion FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Gower Champion been in?

Gower Champion has appeared on Broadway in 4 shows.

How many West End shows has Gower Champion been in?

Gower Champion has not appeared in the West End

What awards has Gower Champion been nominated for?

Gower Champion has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. Some of his nominations include Outstanding Choreography (Drama Desk Awards) for "42nd Street," Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for "42nd Street," Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for "42nd Street," Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for "Mack and Mabel," Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for "Mack and Mabel," Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for "Sugar," Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for "Sugar," Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for "The Happy Time," Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for "The Happy Time," Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for "I Do! I Do!," Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for "Hello, Dolly!," Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for "Hello, Dolly!," Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for "Carnival," Creative Contribution of the Season (Outer Critics Circle Awards), Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for "Bye Bye Birdie," Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for "Bye Bye Birdie," and Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for "Lend an Ear."

What awards has Gower Champion won?

Gower Champion has won several awards throughout his career. He received the Outstanding Choreography award at the Drama Desk Awards for his work on "42nd Street." He also won the Best Choreography award at the Tony Awards for "42nd Street," "The Happy Time," and "Hello, Dolly!" Additionally, he won the Best Direction of a Musical award at the Tony Awards for "Sugar," "The Happy Time," and "Hello, Dolly!" He was also honored with the Creative Contribution of the Season award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards. Furthermore, Champion won the Best Choreography award at the Tony Awards for "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Lend an Ear," and the Best Direction of a Musical award at the Tony Awards for "Bye Bye Birdie."

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