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Paul Szilard Honored at City Center

by Reva Cooper
December 16, 2007
New York City Center
130 West 56th Street
(Audience Entrance is on West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues)
(Entrance for Studios and Offices is on West 56th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues)
New York, NY 10019
212.247.0430

Featured Dance Company:

Alvin Ailey Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
405 West 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 405-9000
www.alvinailey.org

On Sunday night December 16, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater honored its longtime impresario, Paul Szilard, the impresario who introduced the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on six continents and 68 countries, for "his significant contributions to the company for the past 35 years" at a pre-performance ceremony and post-performance reception at City Center, which also celebrated his 95th birthday. Attending were celebrities from the theater and dance worlds. Szilard, who is, in addition, currently producing a 50th Anniversary World Tour of West Side Story, is exclusive international representative for the Ailey company, and has introduced it to 68 countries over the past 37 years. He was given a crystal award by Artistic Director Judith Jamison and praised by her and Chairman of the Board Emeritus Stanley Plesent for his loyalty and dedication to the company through the years. 

Guests included many longtime friends:  Chita Rivera, along with Tony Mordente (who will both attend a West Side Story reunion in New York this week) and their daughter Lisa Mordente; Liliane Montevecchi, looking terrific; George S. Irving; Donald Saddler; Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Joey McKneely (director of the West Side Story world tour, also Broadway's The Boy From Oz, Wild Party, The Life, Smokey Joe's Cafe); Jacques D'Amboise; West Side Story co-producer Michael Brenner, who flew in from Europe; lyricist Susan Birkenhead; Judith Jamison and many Ailey dancers.

Sharon Gersten Luckman, Executive Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, made a toast, then there was also a multi-layered birthday cake and "Happy Birthday" sung.

West Side Story, which has won rave reviews throughout its tour in Asia, and is now selling out at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris through January 1, is produced by Paul Szilard Productions in collaboration with Michael Brenner for BB Promotions.

Paul Szilard is currently presenting the 50th Anniversary World Tour of West Side Story, which has just toured Asia, and opened November 20, directed by Broadway director/choreographer Joey McKneely (Wild Party, The Boy From Oz, The Life, etc.) at Paris‚ Théâtre du Châtelet.

A former leading dancer, Paul Szilard has performed throughout the world with such leading ballerinas as Nora Kaye, Colette Marchand, Sonia Arova and others. He has been the exclusive international representative for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for over 35 years, and has also presented New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Martha Graham Dance Company, Dancers of Bali, Madrid's Ballet Víctor Ullate, Universal Ballet and the American premiere engagement of the Bunraku Japanese Doll Theater.

Paul Szilard produced the first Japanese tour of West Side Story with an American cast, and has been responsible for countless cultural events throughout Asia, Australia and Europe. He produced and presented the Bavarian National Ballet of the Munich State Opera at the New York State Theater in 1993. In 1994, he presented The Royal Swedish Ballet‚s first tour of Japan. He has also presented individual stars such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Eric Bruhn, Patrick Dupond, Judith Jamison, John Taras, Violette Verdy and Donna Wood. His autobiography, Under My Wings: My Life as an Impresario, was published in 2002.
Paul Szilard, Judith Jamison onstage at City Center

Paul Szilard, Judith Jamison onstage at City Center

Photo © & courtesy of Kwame Brathwaite


Liliane Montevecchi, Paul Szilard, Chita Rivera

Liliane Montevecchi, Paul Szilard, Chita Rivera

Photo © & courtesy of Kwame Brathwaite

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