Toye, Wendy (1917–)

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Toye, Wendy (1917–)

English director, choreographer and dancer. Born May 1, 1917, in London, England; studied with Marie Rambert; m. Edward Selwyn Sharp (div.).

At 10, produced a ballet at the London Palladium; made stage debut at the Old Vic as Mustard Seed in A Midsummer Night's Dream (1929); danced with Ninette de Valois' Vic-Wells Ballet Company (1930 on) and toured with Anton Dolin and Alicia Markova; received 1st major choreography credit on These Foolish Things (1938); other stage appearances include Toad of Toad Hall, The Miracle, Tulip Time, Best Bib and Tucker, Panama Hattie, and Follow the Girls; arranged dances for all George Black productions (1938–45); directed plays, musicals, operas and ballets, such as Big Ben, Bless the Bride, Tough at the Top, Peter Pan, And So to Bed, Second Threshold, Wild Thyme, Lady at the Wheel, Fledermaus, As You Like It, A Majority of One, Orpheus in the Underworld, and Show Boat; directed such films as The Stranger Left No Card, The Teckman Mystery, The King's Breakfast, The 12th Day, Raising a Riot, All for Mary, True as a Turtle and We Joined the Navy; also directed for tv.