The First Important Death In 2021!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 It had  to happen at some point this month, girls.  I never expected it to be Bob Avian.

                                Now, Theater Queens  on  here know exactly who he  is.  But just in case some  don't, let me  say he  co-choreographed,  with  Michael  Bennett  a little  something called  "A Chorus Line."

                                  Which I expect  everyone  on here  to know.   "A Chorus Line," I  mean.

                                    He was 83, and passed away at the Holy Cross  Hospital,  in  Fort Lauderdale, Flordia.  The cause was cardiac arrest.

                                     Avian graduated from Boston Universisty,  with a degree in Fine Arts.  He also studied with the Boston Ballet.

                                     According  to theatrical legend,  he and Bennett met  when they were touring  in  a production of "West Side  Story."  Neither  of  them  could have imagined  how life changing this would be.

                                       Bob Avian  also danced in the choruses of "Funny Girl" and the underrated classic,  "Henry, Sweet Henry," choreogrpahed by Michael Bennett.   He even performed in--oh,my God!--"Coco,"  with Katherine  Hepburn,  again  choreographed by Bennett. They officially became a team when he  co-choreographed "Promises,  Promises,"  with Bennett.

                                        From that point, there was no  separating  them.   Their work  on "A Chorus Line"  has been  chronicled in  countless books, and  seen  best in  the  documentary "Every Little  Step,"  which was about  the  original, and the 2,006 revival.  

                                          Mr. Avian won a  TONY Award for his work on "A Chorus Line," and another for the underrated musical "Ballroom."  He was nominated  for his work on  "Dreamgirls."

                                          Michael Bennett  died in  1987, at  the age of 44.  But that  did not stop Bob  Avian, who  worked  on  "Miss Saigon," (the original and the  revival) "Sunset  Boulevard,"  the  London  production  of "Follies,"  and the 1999 Sondheim revue,  "Putting  It Together."

                                            It seemed like Bob Avian  never stopped working.  And not because he had  to,  but because he loved  it.

                                            Another member of  the 'Chorus Line' team  has  passed.   My heart goes  out to Baayork, Donna,  Priscilla,  Kelly,  and the surviving members of the  line.  Avian  may not have been on the line, but he made it.

                                             Broadway should  dim  its lights  for  him.  In the  words  of  the  show's  singature  song, "He  did  what  he had  to  do."

                                               Rest  In  Peace, Bob  Avian.   I wish our  paths  had  crossed.