Marc Platt (dancer)
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Marc Platt (born December 2, 1913 in Pasadena, California, United States) is an American ballet dancer and musical theatre performer.
Platt (born Marcel LePlat) was trained by the influential teacher Mary Ann Wells (Anawalt 44n). His professional career began in earnest when he was hired as one of the original members of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo; along with other non-Russian company members like Betty Low, he performed under a faux-Russian name (Platoff). While with the company, Platt choreographed Ghost Town (1939), set to music by Richard Rodgers. In 2000, he was presented with the Nijinski Award at the Ballets Russes Reunion.
Platt's most notable musical theatre role was Dream Curly in the original 1943 Broadway production of Oklahoma!. (He danced the opening night performance on an injured foot, courtesy of the overly-enthusiastic fight sequences with his Dream Jud, George Church.) Agnes de Mille later gave him a cameo role in the 1955 movie version. Although none of Platt's other Broadway appearances were in successful shows, he toured as Bill Calhoun/Lucentio in Kiss Me, Kate.
On film, Platt's best-known role is that of "Daniel Pontipee," the fourth-oldest brother in the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. (In fact, Platt was the oldest of the seven actors.) He was a featured dancer in a number of minor films with such stars as Rita Hayworth and Janet Blair; later, he made occasional television guest appearances.
After he stopped dancing, Platt ran the Radio City Music Hall Ballet for several years, then transitioned to full-time teaching.
Platt was married twice, the second time to dancer Jean Goodall.
[edit] References
- Anawalt, Sasha. The Joffrey Ballet: Robert Joffrey and the Making of an American Ballet Company. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996. ISBN 0-226-01755-9
[edit] Further reading
- Wilk, Max. OK! The Story of Oklahoma!: A Celebration of America's Most Beloved Musical. Rev. ed. New York: Applause Books, 2002. ISBN 1-557-83555-1
[edit] External links
- Interview in the Seattle Times
- Marc Platt (dancer) at the Internet Broadway Database
- " Marc Platt at the Internet Movie Database
- " Marc Platt movies - "The New York Times"
