Grover Dale (born July 22, 1935) is an American actor, dancer, choreographer, theater director, and publisher.
Early life Dale was born on July 22, 1935, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Emma D. (Ammon) and Ronald D. 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.
Dale 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. 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.
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 1955 The Amazing Adele musical (dancer) 1956 Li'l Abner (dancer) 1957 West Side Story (actor) 1960 Greenwillow (actor) 1961 Sail Away (actor) 1965 Half a Sixpence (actor) 1969 Billy (choreographer) 1970 Jesus Christ Superstar (choreographer) 1973 Seesaw (choreographer) 1973 Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (show doctor) 1974 Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (show doctor) 1974 The Magic Show (director, choreographer) 1979 King of Schnorrers (director, choreographer) 1988 Mail (choreographer) 1989 Jerome Robbins' Broadway (co-director)
Awards and nominations Institution Category Year Work Result Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Choreography 1969 Billy 1988 Mail Drama-Logue Awards Outstanding Choreography 1973 Lester Horton Awards Lifetime Achievement 1980 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Achievement in Choreography 1986 Copacabana Tony Awards Best Choreography 1970 Billy Best Direction of a Musical 1975 The Magic Show
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