Steve Barton

Steve Barton (June 26, 1954 - July 21, 2001) was an actor, singer, dancer, choreographer, stage director and teacher.

Short biography

Steven Neal Barton was born on June 26 1954 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, as youngest from 3 children of his parents, Tom and Mary Barton. He grew up in Nederland, Texas.

Related Topics:
June 26 - 1954 - Hot Springs - Arkansas - Nederland, Texas

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Later he won a scholarship to the University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in theatre and dance, appearing in over 30 productions with the University of Texas and with the Ballet of Austin. After graduation he went to Europe, getting his first job at St. Gallen, Switzerland and then playing in major Swiss, German and Austrian theatre companies.

Related Topics:
University of Texas - Austin - Europe - St. Gallen - Switzerland

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He played leading roles in West Side Story, Godspell, Romeo and Juliet, The Fantasticks, The Threepenny Opera, Oklahoma!, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Guys and Dolls, and Camelot, before playing the role of Munkustrap in the Original Vienna Cast of Cats, at the 'Theater an der Wien'. At the 'Theater des Westens' in Berlin, he played roles in Guys and Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar (as Jesus), La Cage aux Folles (as both Jean Michel and Albin/Zaza) and was playing Robert in Company when he got the audition news for Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera in London.

Related Topics:
West Side Story - Godspell - Romeo and Juliet - The Fantasticks - The Threepenny Opera - Oklahoma! - Jesus Christ Superstar - Evita - Guys and Dolls - Camelot - Cats - Theater an der Wien - Theater des Westens - Berlin - La Cage aux Folles - Company - Andrew Lloyd Webber - The Phantom of the Opera - London

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Steve Barton was married to dancer and choreographer Denny Berry, (Dance Supervisor for the North American productions of The Phantom of the Opera), who he met at college. They have a son, Edward, who was born in Vienna, in 1984. Steve and Denny had a Presidental Scholarship at the University of Texas named for them. Steve Barton has also been named an Honorary Chairperson for the Steadman/Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation and was an honorary member of the Board of Education at the University of Texas, in Austin.

Related Topics:
Denny Berry - Dance Supervisor - The Phantom of the Opera - Vienna - 1984 - Steadman/Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation

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In 1996 Steve Barton returned to Vienna, where he took over the part of the Beast in Disney's Die Schöne und das Biest. He originated Graf von Krolock in Roman Polanski's Tanz der Vampire, (Music: Jim Steinman, Lyrics: Michael Kunze), a role which brought him in 1998 an IMAGE (International Music Award Germany). He played Graf von Krolock until January 17, 1999. In 1997 Steve Barton during this role would be in his 30-year onstage anniversary to celebrate. Tanz der Vampire was also the last musical in which Steve Barton stood on a stage. He died on July 21, 2001 at the age of 47 years in Bremen, Germany because of suicide, though official sources still claim it was problems with his heart. His ashes were buried in his native country in Texas, USA, in August 2001.

Related Topics:
1996 - Vienna - Disney - Die Schöne und das Biest - Roman Polanski - Tanz der Vampire - Jim Steinman - Michael Kunze - 1998 - January 17 - 1999 - 1997 - July 21 - 2001 - Bremen - Germany - Suicide - Heart

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