Grover Dale

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Grover Dale
Grover-headshot.jpg
Dale in 1980
Born
Grover Robert Aitken

(1935-07-22) July 22, 1935 (age 86)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • dancer
  • choreographer
  • theater director
  • publisher
Years active1953–2010
Spouse(s)
(m. 1973; died 1994)
ChildrenJames Badge Dale

Grover Dale (born July 22, 1935) is an American actor, dancer, choreographer, theater director, and publisher.

Early life[]

Dale was born Grover Robert Aitken in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Emma Bertha (Ammon) and Ronal Rittenhouse Aitken, a restaurateur.[1] He studied dance with Lillian Jasper in McKeesport from 1945 to 1952, before getting his first professional job in with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera in 1953.

Career[]

Dale's Broadway stage debut was in the 1956 musical Li'l Abner as a dancer. He appeared in the original cast of West Side Story as Snowboy, a member of the Jets gang. Other stage credits include the role of Andrew in Greenwillow, in which he also understudied Anthony Perkins as Gideon Briggs; Noël Coward's Sail Away, where he had the juvenile lead role of architect Barnaby Slade; and in Half a Sixpence, where he played Pearce, one of a quartet of 19th century London shop apprentices around whom the show is structured.[citation needed]

He made his film debut in The Unsinkable Molly Brown (as Jam). He also appeared in Half a Sixpence (Pearce), The Young Girls of Rochefort (Bill), and The Landlord (Oscar).[citation needed]

Dale was nominated for the Tony Award twice, for his choreography of Billy, a musical version of the Herman Melville novella, Billy Budd, and his direction of The Magic Show. As co-director of Jerome Robbins' Broadway, he shared Best Director Tony Award with the famed director-choreographer Jerome Robbins. He also received an Emmy Award nomination for his choreography of Barry Manilow's 1985 television musical Copacabana. In 1992 he became publisher/editor of Dance & Fitness magazine. In 1999 Dale founded the website, Answers4Dancers.com, whose stated goal is "to empower dancers and choreographers to think, to grow, and to create satisfying careers for themselves..."[citation needed]

Personal life[]

Dale was involved in a six-year relationship with actor Anthony Perkins before separating in 1973.[2] The same year, he married actress and dancer Anita Morris, with whom he had a son, actor James Badge Dale (born 1978). Dale and Morris remained together until her death in 1994.[3][4]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1964 The Unsinkable Molly Brown Jam
1967 The Young Girls of Rochefort Bill
1967 Half a Sixpence Pearce
1970 The Landlord Oscar
1973 A Name for Evil N/A Choreographer
1973 The Way We Were N/A
1981 So Fine N/A
1986 Quicksilver N/A
1987 Aria N/A
1997 Meet Wally Sparks Dancer

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1956 Producers' Showcase N/A Episode: "The Lord Don't Play Favorites"
1985 Copacabana N/A Choreographer
2000 The Wonderful World of Disney Resident of Idyllia Episode: "Geppetto"

Stage productions[]

Awards and nominations[]

Institution Category Year Work Result
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Choreography 1969 Billy Won
1988 Mail Nominated
Drama-Logue Awards Outstanding Choreography 1973 N/A Nominated
Lester Horton Awards Lifetime Achievement 1980 N/A Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Achievement in Choreography 1986 Copacabana Nominated
Tony Awards Best Choreography 1970 Billy Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical 1975 The Magic Show Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ "Grover Dale profile at FilmReference.com". filmreference. 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2008.
  2. ^ Winecoff, Charles (1996). Split Image: The Life of Anthony Perkins. Dutton Adult. pp. 208–210. ISBN 9780525940647.
  3. ^ Jerome, Jim (August 16, 1982). "Anita Morris Bends Over Backward to Wow Broadway, but TV Censors Deep-Sixed Her 'Nine' Number for the Tony Awards". People.
  4. ^ Collins, Glenn (March 4, 1994). "Anita Morris, 50, Actress in Theater And Movies, Dies". The New York Times.

External links[]

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