[DOC] [TLE] 42nd Street (musical) - Wikipedia [PAR] 42nd Street is an American musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark 
Bramble, lyrics by ... However, the opening night triumph was overshadowed by 
tragedy. ... He went on to explain that Champion died hours before the 
performance, ... but, as described by Anthony Bianco, 42nd Street "was his last 
big hit, his swan... [DOC] [TLE] David Merrick, 88, Showman Who Ruled Broadway, Dies - The New ... [PAR] Apr 27, 2000 ... His headlines were nearly as numerous as his hits. ... major songwriter of the 
Broadway musical's last heyday: Jule Styne, .... Somewhat less benign was Mr. 
Merrick's manipulation at the opening of ''42nd Street'' in 1980. Gower Champion, 
the musical's director and choreographer, had died early the day of... [DOC] [TLE] Music: Musical of the Day: 42nd Street  The A.V. Club After Dark ... [PAR] 42nd Street was based on the 1933 movie musical of the same name, a '
backstage ... 1958 film Gigi, had run for only 103 performances.42nd Street 
turned out to be a hit, winning the ... the ailing director of 42nd Street who died 
several hours before opening night; the unexpected announcement of his death 
after the end of... [DOC] [TLE] 42nd Street (musical) - Productions - LiquiSearch [PAR] However, the opening night triumph was overshadowed by tragedy. ... He went 
on to explain that Champion had died of cancer just hours before the ... Richert, 
the director's girlfriend), crew, and the public prior to his announcement. ... but, as 
described by Anthony Bianco, 42nd Street "was his last big hit, his swan song.". [DOC] [TLE] Ambitious Lake Worth Playhouse Tackles Musical Hit `42nd Street ... [PAR] Apr 13, 1990 ... A smash hit on Broadway, 42nd Street marked the final musical of its director/
choreographer, Gower Champion, who died of. ... Gower Champion, who died of 
leukemia just hours before the show`s August 1980, opening at... [DOC] [TLE] 1980s Stage I: The Wind Begins to Moan - Musicals101.com [PAR] The first musical super-hit of the 1980s was a musical comedy based on a ... 
42nd Street (1980 - 3,486 performances) re-united producer David Merrick ... 
Then Merrick explained that Champion had died of cancer hours before the 
performance. ... eccentric Italian director trying to make a film while facing his mid
-life crisis. [DOC] [TLE] The final curtain for David Merrick B'way mogul dies in London at 88 ... [PAR] Apr 27, 2000 ... His sixth wife, Nathalie Lloyd, whom he reportedly married Monday, ... including 
such hits as "42nd Street," "Gypsy" and "Hello, Dolly! " His ... who died of a rare 
blood cancer hours before the New York opening in ... "Promises, Promises" (
1967) Musical version of "The Apartment" was Burt Bacharach's only... [DOC] [TLE] 42nd Street - The Muny [PAR] RUN TIME: Approximately 2 hours and 22 minutes ... 42nd Street is an all-singing
, all-tapping dance-filled celebration of musical ... The 1980 Broadway production 
won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit, playing 
for ..... Music Director and choral prep. for 29 productions including last season's
... [DOC] [TLE] Gower Champion Dies as Show Opens - The Washington Post [PAR] Aug 26, 1980 ... ... of such hits as "Hello Dolly!," died yesterday, hours before his latest ... The 
announcement came only after the full performance of "42nd Street," a musical 
that Mr. ... When producer Merrick appeared on stage last night, it was after a ... In 
1972, about the time he was trying to become a film director, he and... [DOC] [TLE] 42nd Street (musical) | Open Access articles | Open Access journals ... [PAR] He went on to explain that Champion had died of cancer just hours before the ... 
2000, but, as described by Anthony Bianco, 42nd Street "was his last big hit,

Question: This director died just hours before the opening of his last hit musical, "42nd Street"
Answer: Gower Champion