Leonard Crofoot
Encyclopedia
Leonard John Crofoot is an actor
, singer, dancer, writer
and choreographer. He is also credited as 'Leonard Crofoot.'
As a boy he had Perthes disease, a degenerative disease of the hip joint. To strengthen his muscles, his parents enrolled him in dance classes. Leonard recovered and developed into a diverse performing artist, making his professional debut as a grasshopper with the Kirov Ballet.
Mr. Crofoot has performed extensively on Broadway
. His appearances include his Drama-Logue Critics Award-winning role of "Tom Thumb" in Barnum
(1980) and in the original Broadway shows The Happy Time
(1968), Come Summer
(1969), Grind
(1985) and Gigi
(1973) and as replacement in American Dance Machine
(1978). Crofoot toured with Carol Channing
in Hello, Dolly!
(1978) in the role of "Barnaby" and played the role of "Benjamin" in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
in its American debut at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He can be heard singing "Bigger Isn't Better" on the original cast album of Barnum
and on the CD Broadway Scene Stealers: The Men a compilation of performances, edited by Playbill
. He has had the privilege of working with some of the most outstanding dancers, acting coaches and choreographers in the world.
Mr. Crofoot wrote and performed his one-person show Nijinsky Speaks from 1996 to 2006. The show originated at the Tuacahn Center in Utah and then played in Los Angeles at the Getty Center, Off-Broadway at the Harold Clurman Theatre in New York and toured theaters and universities around the country. The show was nominated for five Lester Horton Awards, the 8th Annual Ticket Holder Award: runner up for best new play and the California Arts Council Performing Arts Touring and Presenting Program 2001-2003. The show received critical acclaim, most notably from John Simon
at New York Magazine
who wrote "See this show! No ordinary show, I repeat! More goes on here than in many a populous superproduction."
He has appeared three times on Star Trek
. On Star Trek: The Next Generation
he appeared on "Angel One" (1988) as "Trent" and in "The Offspring
" (1990) as an asexual android covered in full-body make-up. Crofoot also appeared in the Star Trek: Voyager
episode, "Virtuoso".
Mr. Crofoot's other television appearances include CSI
, Six Feet Under, a Jenny Craig
commercial with Kirstie Alley
and as guest star on Saved by the Bell
as Eddie in the episode "All in the Mall". He has danced on the 50th and 67th Academy Awards with a recreation of Donald O'Connor
's famous flip on the 69th.
Movie credits include A Reflection of Fear, Echoes, Two Shades of Blue, The Man Who Wasn't There
and The Singing Detective
(2003).
Mr. Crofoot performed with The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
from 2006 to 2010 at the historic Plaza Theatre
in downtown Palm Springs, California
. He is extensively interviewed in The Dancer Within, Intimate Conversations with Great Dancers, by Rose Eichenbaum, Wesleyan University Press, 2008. He lives in Culver City, California with his partner, visual artist Robin Palanker and their dog Zou Zou.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, singer, dancer, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and choreographer. He is also credited as 'Leonard Crofoot.'
As a boy he had Perthes disease, a degenerative disease of the hip joint. To strengthen his muscles, his parents enrolled him in dance classes. Leonard recovered and developed into a diverse performing artist, making his professional debut as a grasshopper with the Kirov Ballet.
Mr. Crofoot has performed extensively on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
. His appearances include his Drama-Logue Critics Award-winning role of "Tom Thumb" in Barnum
Barnum (musical)
Barnum is a musical with a book by Mark Bramble, lyrics by Michael Stewart, and music by Cy Coleman. It is based on the life of showman P. T. Barnum, covering the period from 1835 through 1880 in America and major cities of the world where Barnum took his performing companies. The production...
(1980) and in the original Broadway shows The Happy Time
The Happy Time (musical)
The Happy Time is a musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by N. Richard Nash loosely based on a 1950 hit Broadway play, The Happy Time by Samuel A. Taylor, which was in turn based on stories by Robert Fontaine...
(1968), Come Summer
Come Summer
Come Summer is a Broadway musical with a book and lyrics by Will Holt and music by David Baker, based on Rainbow on the Road by Esther Forbes and vocal arrangements by Trude Rittman . The original Broadway production opened on March 18, 1969 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre starring Cathryn Damon, Ray...
(1969), Grind
Grind
The grind of a blade refers to the shape of the cross-section of the blade. It is distinct from the type of blade , though different tools and blades may have lent their name to a particular grind.Grinding involves removing significant portions of metal from the blade and is thus distinct from...
(1985) and Gigi
Gigi
Gigi is a 1944 novella by French writer Colette. The plot focuses on a young Parisian girl being groomed for a career as a courtesan and her relationship with the wealthy cultured man named Gaston who falls in love with her and eventually marries her....
(1973) and as replacement in American Dance Machine
American Dance Machine
The American Dance Machine was a theatrical dance company created by Lee Theodore, which played at the Century Theatre, opening Jun 14, 1978, running 199 performances. The show was a "Living Archive" of Broadway theatre dance; great theatre dances saved from oblivion...
(1978). Crofoot toured with Carol Channing
Carol Channing
Carol Elaine Channing is an American singer, actress, and comedienne. She is the recipient of three Tony Awards , a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination...
in Hello, Dolly!
Hello, Dolly! (musical)
Hello, Dolly! is a musical with lyrics and music by Jerry Herman and a book by Michael Stewart, based on Thornton Wilder's 1938 farce The Merchant of Yonkers, which Wilder revised and retitled The Matchmaker in 1955....
(1978) in the role of "Barnaby" and played the role of "Benjamin" in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible's Book of Genesis. This was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly...
in its American debut at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. He can be heard singing "Bigger Isn't Better" on the original cast album of Barnum
Barnum (musical)
Barnum is a musical with a book by Mark Bramble, lyrics by Michael Stewart, and music by Cy Coleman. It is based on the life of showman P. T. Barnum, covering the period from 1835 through 1880 in America and major cities of the world where Barnum took his performing companies. The production...
and on the CD Broadway Scene Stealers: The Men a compilation of performances, edited by Playbill
Playbill
Playbill is a monthly U.S. magazine for theatregoers. Although there is a subscription issue available for home delivery, most Playbills are printed for particular shows to be distributed at the door...
. He has had the privilege of working with some of the most outstanding dancers, acting coaches and choreographers in the world.
Mr. Crofoot wrote and performed his one-person show Nijinsky Speaks from 1996 to 2006. The show originated at the Tuacahn Center in Utah and then played in Los Angeles at the Getty Center, Off-Broadway at the Harold Clurman Theatre in New York and toured theaters and universities around the country. The show was nominated for five Lester Horton Awards, the 8th Annual Ticket Holder Award: runner up for best new play and the California Arts Council Performing Arts Touring and Presenting Program 2001-2003. The show received critical acclaim, most notably from John Simon
John Simon (critic)
John Ivan Simon is an American author and literary, theater, and film critic.-Personal life:Simon was born in Subotica, Bačka, County of Bačka, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, later, known as Yugoslavia . He is of Hungarian descent...
at New York Magazine
New York (magazine)
New York is a weekly magazine principally concerned with the life, culture, politics, and style of New York City. Founded by Milton Glaser and Clay Felker in 1968 as a competitor to The New Yorker, it was brasher and less polite than that magazine, and established itself as a cradle of New...
who wrote "See this show! No ordinary show, I repeat! More goes on here than in many a populous superproduction."
He has appeared three times on Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
. On Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
he appeared on "Angel One" (1988) as "Trent" and in "The Offspring
The Offspring (TNG episode)
"The Offspring" is a third-season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.-Plot:Data invites Troi, Wesley, and Geordi to his lab and surprises them by introducing a featureless humanoid android based on his own structural design and recent Federation cybernetics technology, describing it as his...
" (1990) as an asexual android covered in full-body make-up. Crofoot also appeared in the Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
episode, "Virtuoso".
Mr. Crofoot's other television appearances include CSI
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, Six Feet Under, a Jenny Craig
Jenny Craig
Jenny Craig is an American weight loss guru and founder of Jenny Craig, Inc. Craig was raised in New Orleans and married Sidney Harvey Craig in 1979. In 1983, she and her husband created a nutrition, fitness, and weight loss program in Australia...
commercial with Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Louise Alley is an American actress known for her role in the TV show Cheers, in which she played Rebecca Howe from 1987–1993, winning an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award as the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1991...
and as guest star on Saved by the Bell
Saved by the Bell
Saved by the Bell is an American television sitcom that aired between 1989 and 1993. The series is a retooled version of the 1988 series Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which was itself later folded into the history of Saved by the Bell...
as Eddie in the episode "All in the Mall". He has danced on the 50th and 67th Academy Awards with a recreation of Donald O'Connor
Donald O'Connor
Donald David Dixon Ronald O’Connor was an American dancer, singer, and actor who came to fame in a series of movies in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule...
's famous flip on the 69th.
Movie credits include A Reflection of Fear, Echoes, Two Shades of Blue, The Man Who Wasn't There
The Man Who Wasn't There
The Man Who Wasn't There is a 2001 neo-noir film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. Billy Bob Thornton stars in the title role. Also featured are James Gandolfini, Tony Shalhoub, Scarlett Johansson, Adam Alexi-Malle and Coen regulars Frances McDormand, Michael Badalucco, and Jon...
and The Singing Detective
The Singing Detective
The Singing Detective is a BBC television miniseries written by Dennis Potter, which stars Michael Gambon, and was directed by Jon Amiel. The six episodes were "Skin", "Heat", "Lovely Days", "Clues", "Pitter Patter" and "Who Done It"....
(2003).
Mr. Crofoot performed with The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies
The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies was the subject of a short documentary titled "Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies" which was nominated for an Academy Award...
from 2006 to 2010 at the historic Plaza Theatre
Plaza Theatre (Palm Springs)
The Plaza Theatre is a historic theater located at 128 South Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, California. Today, the theatre remains operational as the home of The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies who have been featured on ABC’s 20/20, The Today Show, the New York Times, and other national and...
in downtown Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
. He is extensively interviewed in The Dancer Within, Intimate Conversations with Great Dancers, by Rose Eichenbaum, Wesleyan University Press, 2008. He lives in Culver City, California with his partner, visual artist Robin Palanker and their dog Zou Zou.
External links
- http://www.nijinskyspeaks.com
- http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Image:Trent.jpg
- http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Image:Lal_android.jpg