12 Facts About Joe Layton

Joe Layton was an American director and choreographer known primarily for his work on Broadway.

Joe Layton choreographed the Broadway version of The Sound of Music with Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel.

In 1965, Joe Layton won an Emmy Award for his work on My Name Is Barbra, the television special that introduced the public to the more sophisticated side of Barbra Streisand.

Joe Layton broke into films as the dance director for Thoroughly Modern Millie in 1967.

Joe Layton executive produced the first film version of Annie and reunited with Midler to choreograph For the Boys.

Joe Layton directed the 1972 West End and 1973 Los Angeles productions of Scarlett, the musical stage adaptation of Gone with the Wind, and the 1985 world premiere of the Jule Styne musical Pieces of Eight in Edmonton.

In 1976, Joe Layton collaborated with Diana Ross for her one-woman international concert tour, An Evening with Diana Ross, for which the singer won a Special Event Tony Award for the concert's performance at The Palace Theater.

Joe Layton choreographed a ballet for the Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet, London titled "Grand Tour" which received critical acclaim as well as a warm reception from the audiences around the UK.

In 1984, Joe Layton was one of the three choreographers credited with staging the dances for the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the 23rd Summer Olympiad of Los Angeles.

In 1985, Joe Layton directed and choreographed a Michael Edgley revival production of Aloha: A Musical of the Islands by Eaton "Bob" Magoon and Sir Robert Helpmann at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, Auckland, starring Derek Metzger from the Hamilton world premiere production, with Hollywood actress Patricia Morison.

From 1989, in preparation for the Aloha production, Joe Layton had moved to live with Magoon in Honolulu where he directed a revival production of Magoon's 13 Daughters at the Hawaii Theatre.

Joe Layton was married to actress Evelyn Russell in 1959; she predeceased him in February 1976.