Lynne, Gillian (1926–)

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Lynne, Gillian (1926–)

British singer, actress, choreographer and director. Born Gillian Barbara Pyrke, Feb 20, 1926, in Bromley, Kent, England; m. Patrick Back, 1949 (div.); m. Peter Land (actor-singer), 1980.

Was principal soloist at Royal Ballet (1944–51), where she danced in premieres of Helpmann's Adam Zero (1946), and Ashton's Les Sirènes (1946), Don Juan (1948) and Daphnis and Chloe (1951), among others; performed on London's West End in Can-Can (1954), Becky Sharp (1955) and New Cranks (1960); created dance Collages for Edinburgh Festival and went on to choreograph shows on Broadway for David Merrick; choreographed and staged many West End shows, including Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love and Cabaret; for film, choreographed for Wonderful Life, Mister Ten Per Cent, Half a Sixpence, The Old Curiosity Shop, Man of La Mancha and Yentl. Won BAFTA award for direction for A Simple Man (1987); received Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musicals for Cats (1982) and nominated for same award for Dick Whittington (1999); made CBE (1997).