|
Resume
Resume: MERCEDES ELLINGTON
Mercedes is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music.,, and describes herself as: "A Composer of Dances and Situations". Other scholastic achievements include a scholarship at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School.
New York City Opera debut: 1977; Carnegie Hall debut: 1999, Metropolitan Opera House debut: 2002 in a guest walk-on appearance with American Ballet Theater.
As a performer and assistant choreographer, Ms. Ellington participated in over ten Broadway musical productions including NO, NO, NANETTE, Harry Chapin's THE NIGHT THAT MADE AMERICA FAMOUS, George Wein's Jazz Festival Productions: BLACK BROADWAY, WILD WOMEN DON'T GET THE BLUES and Tribute to Miss. Peggy Lee at Carnegie Hall, HELLSAPOPPIN', OH KAY!, THE GRAND TOUR and SOPHISTICATED LADIES.
Mercedes was a June Taylor Dancer at the Jones' Beach Marine Theater for three summer extravaganzas, and was the first and only woman of color on THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW for seven seasons, in New York and the transition of the show to Miami Beach.
She transitioned into full time choreography and artistic direction via BalleTap, USA aka DancEllington, Inc., a theatrical tap dance company, which she co-founded with Maurice Hines.
She choreographed The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's Yuletide Celebration for ten years.
Since 1991, Mercedes has choreographed musical revivals and reviews for the St. Louis MUNY.
Ms. Ellington appears in several segments of Ken Burns' TV documentary, JAZZ. She also acts as hostess/narrator for public radio broadcasts and national and international Jazz Festivals. In the fall of 1999 to the spring of 2000, Mercedes performed as narrator and Mistress of Ceremonies for the Swedish Jazz Festival in Stockholm, Malmo, Gotenburg, and here in the States, at Carnegie Hall.
Mercedes has choreographed for educational videos such as TYRONE SHOES (Tie Your Own Shoes) with Queen Esther Marrow.
In the TriState Area Mercedes choreographed 'Twist' (the creole version of Oliver Twist) at the George Street Playhouse, 'George M.' for the Gay Pride Series, 'Bring in the Morning' at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Mercedes choreographed the highly acclaimed Broadway musical, PLAY ON! and continues to reconstruct this show regionally. This take off on Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, is set in Harlem during the later part of its first Renaissance and was also seen on Jack Venza's Great Performances on PBS. She was also featured on the PBS retrospective on Ella Fitzgerald.
Dr. Billy Taylor has profiled Mercedes on CBS SUNDAY MORNING.
She conceived and choreographed a workshop project, HOME TO HARLEM for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
A segment of the 2001 Black Heritage Month project, FOUR WOMEN, at Club La MaMa, a profile of the wives of Louis Armstrong, was directed by Mercedes, and in 2002, she contributed her services for the same cause with a salute to Langston Hughes called, COTTON CLUB RHAPSODY, also the Club La MaMa.. The dance segments from this show were performed at Lucille Lortel's White Barn in Connecticut, and the show is being rewritten for future dates including Harlem's current Cotton Club.
She continues to tour with small and large musical celebrations of the music of Duke Ellington. One such presentation, STORY T'ELLINGTON, she directed, choreographed and co-conceived with Alina Bloomgarden, , It was part of the REEL TO REAL series at Lincoln Center, and was also presented at The Schomburg Center.
The opening of the 2002-2003 Lincoln Center REEL TO REAL series, was YANKEE DOODLE BOYS, which Mercedes also choreographed.
Ms. Ellington directed the 2001 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS: TRIBUTE TO THE SPIRIT OF HARLEM at The Apollo Theater, She choreographed a segment of the 2004 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS: NOTHIN' LIKE A DAME.
She directed, produced and staged the Society of Singers, East, Louis Armstrong Award given to Bobby Short at the Hotel Pierre.
Ms. Ellington hosted a tribute to the music of Duke Ellington, as part of the Lyrics and Lyricists COMPOSER SERIES at The 92nd Street "Y".
In 2002, Mercedes co-hosted and sang with Chris Calloway, in the same series, this time highlighting other AMERICAN COMPOSERS.
Mercedes choreographed THE HARLEM GOSPEL SINGER'S European HAPPINESS tour, 2003 - 2004. Her choreography/staging of Queen Esther Marrow's WALK TALL GOSPEL TOUR 2002 - 2003 season, received a five star rating in Berlin. She also directed IN MAHALIA'S LIGHT, starring Queen Esther Marrow at The Passage Theater in Trenton, New Jersey.
Among other 2003 projects were the musical staging and direction for VANQUI, an American Opera, in Philadelphia, and a commission to choreograph Ellington's SACRED CONCERT MUSIC in Washington, DC..
AMBASSADOR SATCH was reproduced at the White Plains Performing Arts Center for its opening season, as well as the Helen Hayes Theater in Nyack, New York.
2004 marked the 100th birthday of both Glenn Miller and Count Basie, and Mercedes produced and directed two events celebrating these dates: one at the Lucille Lortel Theater and the other at Merkin Hall. She is the exclusive American representative for AT LAST, the only Glenn Miller musical.
Ellington's choreography can be seen at Lincoln Center's Performing Arts Library: JUBA, SOPHISTICATED LADIES, and PLAY ON!
Currently serving on the Board of Governors at the Friars Club, the Board of Directors for Career Transition For Dancers, The American Tap Dance Foundation, NJTap, and is affiliated with every major theatrical and musical union.
She continues to serve as moderator, hostess/narrator for Jazz Music and other historical programs, and represents the family legacy in educational and professional arenas.
In April 2003, Mercedes was invited to France to host an Ellington TV retrospective and was awarded an honorary citizenship of Paris.
Mercedes participated in the 2004 Chicago Heritage series with André De Shields, in an Andy Razaf retrospective, HOTCHA RAZZMATAZZ at the 92nd Street "Y".
At the 2004 Gala of Career Transition For Dancers, DANCING ON AIR, at New York's City Center, Mercedes choreographed the opening number in the style of, and as a tribute to her mentor, the late June Taylor.
Choreographer of CROWNS for the St. Louis Repertory Theater and the Cincinnati Repertory Theater, 2005. An additional CROWNS for Arizona Theater Company etc.
Currently running at the Algonquin Hotel is Talk of the Town with choreography by Mercedes Ellington.
Additional projects include DREAMGIRLS at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia, which was extended to wide acclaim three times.
Next on the boards is FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE, for Buffalo and Rochester NY, and a personal project, theatricalizing her grandfather's signature Shakespearean album, SUCH SWEET THUNDER.
Top of Page |
|
