Wayne Cilento

Wayne Cilento
Name	Wayne Cilento
Caption	Wayne Cilento, c. 1980s
Birth date	1949-11-15
Birth place	Staten Island, New York City
Occupation	Dancer, choreographer, director
Years active	1970s–present

Wayne Cilento is an American dancer, choreographer, and director noted for his work on Broadway, television, and concert staging. He rose to prominence as a performer in A Chorus Line and later established a prolific career choreographing and directing productions for Broadway musicals, television specials, and concert tours. His collaborations span a wide array of artists, institutions, and productions across New York City, Los Angeles, and international stages.

Early life and education

Cilento was born on Staten Island in New York City and grew up in a milieu shaped by American theater institutions and performing arts education, studying at local studios and regional programs. He trained with teachers associated with the American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, and commercial studios that fed talent into Broadway and television casting. Early mentors included figures connected to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Martha Graham-influenced studios, and teachers who worked with companies such as the New York City Ballet and the Radio City Music Hall chorus line. His formative years intersected with the careers of contemporaries in the 1970s New York City dance scene.

Career

Cilento’s professional breakthrough came when he joined the original company of the stage production A Chorus Line, which connected him with creators associated with Joseph Papp, The Public Theater, and the commercial Broadway circuit. His performance career included credits in major productions and television specials alongside performers from Saturday Night Live, The Ed Sullivan Show alumni, and touring companies linked to Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Transitioning from performer to choreographer, he began staging numbers for variety television programs, musical revues, and touring acts featuring artists represented by agencies such as CAA and William Morris Agency. Cilento later collaborated with producers and directors from New York Philharmonic-adjacent projects, regional theaters like Paper Mill Playhouse, and West End companies in London.

Choreography and directing work

As a choreographer and director, Cilento created dances and staging for a wide spectrum of projects: Broadway revivals, new musicals, concert tours, and television broadcasts. His Broadway choreography credits include works that involved producers from Bernard Jacobs-era companies, creative teams associated with Andrew Lloyd Webber productions, and directors with ties to Tommy Tune and Hal Prince. He collaborated with composers and lyricists who worked with houses such as Nederlander Organization and Jujamcyn Theaters. Cilento staged numbers for performers who appeared on The Tonight Show, Tony Awards telecasts, Emmy Awards specials, and late-night variety appearances, often coordinating with television directors from NBC and CBS. Internationally, he worked with touring companies connected to Royal Shakespeare Company-linked producers and concert promoters who partnered with venues like O2 Arena and Sydney Opera House.

His work extended to choreographing sequences for films linked to Columbia Pictures and Paramount Pictures and to directing revues at institutions such as The Apollo Theater and festival stages affiliated with Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He maintained professional relationships with choreographers and directors including alumni from Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and commercial choreographers who crossed into advertising for brands represented by Saatchi & Saatchi. Cilento also engaged in educational residencies with organizations like Juilliard School, New World School of the Arts, and conservatories that feed talent to Broadway and American Ballet Theatre.

Awards and honors

Cilento’s achievements earned recognition from major theater and dance institutions. He received nominations and awards from the Tony Awards committee, honors from the Drama Desk Awards and Outer Critics Circle, and acknowledgments from industry organizations such as Actors' Equity Association and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. His work has been cited by critics from outlets associated with The New York Times and Variety, and he has been featured in retrospectives organized by venues like Lincoln Center and the Museum of the City of New York.

Personal life

Cilento’s personal life intersected with the social and artistic communities centered in New York City and Los Angeles, maintaining friendships with performers and directors from companies including A Chorus Line alumni networks, Broadway ensembles, and television casts. He has participated in benefit performances for organizations such as The Actors Fund and contributed to outreach programs connected to arts education initiatives funded by foundations like Guggenheim Foundation and Rockefeller Foundation.

Legacy and influence

Wayne Cilento’s legacy is preserved in the choreography archives of major theatrical institutions and in recordings of productions staged on Broadway and television. His influence is evident among dancers and choreographers who trained at institutions like Juilliard School, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and regional conservatories feeding into the Broadway ecosystem. Collections and institutional programs at places such as Lincoln Center, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, and university theater departments document his contributions to American musical theater, ensuring his methods and staging continue to inform contemporary productions and pedagogy.

Category:American choreographers Category:American male dancers Category:Broadway choreographers