Grover Dale
Dale in 1980
Born
Grover Robert Aitken

(1935-07-22)July 22, 1935[1]
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • dancer
  • choreographer
  • theater director
  • publisher
Years active1953–2010
Spouse
​
​
(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 on July 22, 1935, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,[2] to Emma Bertha (Ammon) and Ronal Rittenhouse Aitken, a restaurateur. He studied dance with Lillian Jasper in McKeesport from 1945 to 1950. Partnering up with another dancer (Mary Lou Steele) in an aggressive rendition of "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue", he secured multiple performance opportunities in local nightclubs before getting his first professional job 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.

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).

Dale was nominated for the Tony Award twice: for his choreography of Billy, a 1969 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..."

Personal life

Dale was involved in a six-year relationship with actor Anthony Perkins before separating in 1971.[3] In 1973, 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.[4][5]

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 — Choreographer
1973 The Way We Were —
1981 So Fine —
1986 Quicksilver —
1987 Aria —
1997 Meet Wally Sparks Dancer

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1956 Producers' Showcase — Episode: "The Lord Don't Play Favorites"
1985 Copacabana — 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 — Nominated
Lester Horton Awards Lifetime Achievement 1980 — 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

Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical

45th Tony Awards 1991

Jerome Robbins' Broadway won shared with Jerome Robbins

References

  1. ↑ "Stork News in Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania". Harrisburg Telegraph. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Stork News in Harrisburg Telegraph, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania". Harrisburg Telegraph. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  3. ↑ Winecoff, Charles (1996). Split Image: The Life of Anthony Perkins. Dutton Adult. pp. 208–210. ISBN 9780525940647.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Collins, Glenn (March 4, 1994). "Anita Morris, 50, Actress in Theater And Movies, Dies". The New York Times.
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