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. 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. 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.
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 | 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 |
