Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Planet Connections Interview - Hinton Battle of "What We Do For Love and Other Desperate Measures"

By Byrne Harrison

Hinton Battle served as Supervising Associate Choreographer for Don Omar and Akon production on the Latin Billboard Awards 2012. Hinton is producing the smash hit SISTAS in the heart of Broadway at the St. Luke Theatre, he has released the single WHEN I WALK from his forthcoming album FROM DA' HEART, and recently play the role of Preacher on Steven Spielberg’s SMASH. Hinton is excited to launch C2C INTENSIVE, a workshop for dancers that are looking to make the transition from Concert2Commercial, (C2C).

The THREE-TIME TONY WINNER - NAACP AWARD WINNER –MEDIA CHOREOGRAPHER AWARD WINNER - FRED ASTAIRE AWARD WINNER -SCREEN ACTORS GUILD nominated performer was born in Germany and raised in Washington, D.C. where he studied at the renowned JONES & HAYWOOD SCHOOL OF BALLET. He moved to New York City at the age of 13 to study ballet under the tutelage of George Balanchine at the premier SCHOOL OF AMERICAN BALLET.  After performing on Broadway Hinton returned to ballet and become soloist with both the DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM, under the direction of Arthur Mitchell, and the CHICAGO LYRIC OPERA BALLET, under the direction of Maria Tallchief.

Battle made his move to Broadway, debuting at 16 as The Scarecrow in the THE WIZ, which launched a Broadway career that includes: DANCIN', CHICAGO, *SOPHISTICATED LADIES, *THE TAP DANCE KID, RAGTIME, DREAMGIRLS, and *MISS SAIGON. (* Designates Tony awards)

Battle has served as choreographer for films IDELWILD, LIL’ LOUIS, and (soon-to-bereleased) BOLDEN, THE ACADEMY AWARDS, THE SHIRLEY TEMPLE STORY, WB PROMOS, SISTER SISTER, THE GOLDEN GLOBE, and numerous commercials. He has choreographed & directed such theatrical productions as EVIL DEAD, THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES, RESPECT, and numerous workshops.

Hinton's work in film & television include DREAMGIRLS, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, IDLEWILD, TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, THESE OLD BROADS, THE SHIRLEY TEMPLE STORY, LOUIS, TRACY ULLMAN SHOW, JEFF FOXWORTHY, BOLDEN and many, many more.

How did you first get involved in theatre?

Performing as the Scarecrow in the first performance of The Wiz. I was in the chorus at first, but was asked to go on for the second act as the scarecrow and was offered the role after that.

What is your show, What We Do For Love and Other Desperate Measures. about?

Love. Finding and keeping true love. It is a timeless story of relationships, the ups and downs the ins and outs. How to really make a relationship work.

What inspired you to direct this production?

I have worked with Dorothy Marcic, the playwright, on many projects in the past. I find our collaboration to always to be inspiring and she is always seeing situations from new angles.

Why was it important to you to be part of an eco-friendly theatre festival?

Eco-friendly theatre is the way of the future and I feel that it is important to support these causes.

Planet Connections donates a portion of the box office for each show to a charity.  What charity has your production chosen and why?

Our charity is Women for Women International.  We feel that healthy relationships require equal partnerships.

What's next for you after Planet Connections?  

A wonderful comedy titled Love Lies at the Midtown Theatre Festival.

For more information about What We Do For Love and Other Desperate Measures, visit http://planetconnections.org/what-we-do-for-love-or-other-desperate-measures/.

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