Alan Johnson

History

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Alan Johnson (Ridley Park, PA) is an award winning choreographer, best known for his work on Mel Brooks films and for restaging Jerome Robbins original choreography in live productions of West Side Story in the United States and internationally. Johnson has been linked to West Side Story since making his Broadway debut in the show in 1957. Johnson brought the West Side Story dance style into the mainstream when he choreographed several Gap commercials in 2000. This commercial earned him an American Choreography award. Along with the GAP/WestSide advert, Alan also choreographed commercials for Dubonnet and Freixenet Champagne. He has worked with such performers as Shirley MacClaine, Leslie Uggams, Bernadette Peters, Tommy Tune, Chita Rivera and Ann-Margret. He is a three-time Emmy winner. Description above from the Wikipedia article Alan Johnson (choreographer), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. ​

Movies

Musical Mel: Inventing The Inquisition
Self
Documentary on the making of Mel Brooks' classic comedy "History of the World, Part 1."
The Making of 'The Producers'
Self
An hour-long making-of featurette which features interviews and anecdotes from the likes of Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, Kenneth Mars, Lee "Ulla" Meredith, assistant director Michael Hertzberg, composer John Morris, choreographer Alan Johnson, production designer Charles Rosen, casting director Alfa-Betty Olsen, among others.
Shirley Maclaine: Kicking Up Her Heels
Self
Shirley MacLaine was the product of a strict middle-class background from which she and her brother, the future actor Warren Beatty, escaped into the fantasy world of show-biz. Her ballet training and her long-legged pixie charm led to rapid success on Broadway in musical comedy. Inevitably, Hollywood called and by 1955 Shirley was cast in Hitchcocks The Trouble With Harry. It wasn't too long before the fine dramatic roles also came to her opposite the most popular leading men of the time, like Fred MacMurray, Jack Lemmon, Frank Sinatra, Clint Eastwood and Robert Mitchum. It was apparent that this once perky gypsy of Broadway would leave her mark as one of the finest actresses of her day, an Academy-Award winner, who is ready and able to tackle any role that seems equal to her intelligence and talent. Her widely varied interests encompass the political, the literary and the mystical.
Solarbabies
Director
In a future in which most water has disappeared from the Earth, we find a group of children, mostly teenagers, who are living at an orphanage, run by the despotic rulers of the new Earth. The group in question plays a hockey based game on roller skates and is quite good. It has given them a unity that transcends the attempts to bring them to heel by the government. Finding an orb of special power, they find it has unusual effects on them. They escape from the orphanage (on skates) and try to cross the wasteland looking for a place they can live free as the storm-troopers search for them and the orb.
To Be or Not to Be
Director
A bad Polish actor is just trying to make a living when Poland is invaded by the Germans in World War II. His wife has the habit of entertaining young Polish officers while he's on stage, which is also a source of depression to him. When one of her officers comes back on a Secret Mission, the actor takes charge and comes up with a plan for them to escape.
History of the World: Part I
Producer
An uproarious version of history that proves nothing is sacred – not even the Roman Empire, the French Revolution and the Spanish Inquisition.
Shirley MacLaine: '...Every Little Movement'
Choreographer
A salute to movement in various forms, both literal (the physical movement of a dancer or gymnast) and figurative (movement in a relationship between two people).
The World's Greatest Lover
Choreographer
When frustrated movie studio mogul Adolph Zitz announces a talent search for a romantic leading man to rival the great Rudolph Valentino, thousands of hopefuls decend upon Hollywood. Rudy Valentine, a neurotic baker from Milwaukee, knows little about romance or acting. But when his wife leaves him for the real Valentino, Rudy goes to outrageous lengths to win the role of a lifetime and win back the love of his life.
Blazing Saddles
Choreographer
A town—where everyone seems to be named Johnson—stands in the way of the railroad. In order to grab their land, robber baron Hedley Lamarr sends his henchmen to make life in the town unbearable. After the sheriff is killed, the town demands a new sheriff from the Governor, so Hedley convinces him to send the town the first black sheriff in the west.
S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous, 'S Gershwin
Self
A musical tribute to brothers George and Ira Gershwin
The Producers
Choreographer
Broadway producer, Max Bialystock and his accountant, Leo Bloom plan to make money by charming little old ladies to invest in a production many times over what it will actually cost, and then put on a sure-fire flop, so nobody will ask for their money back – and what can be a more certain flop than a tasteless musical celebrating Hitler.