Marc Platt (dancer)
Encyclopedia
Marc Platt 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 appeared in the musicals Jubilee
(1935), Broadway Sho-Window (1936), and Yokel Boy (1939) (under the stage name Marc Plant) and 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 films with such stars as Rita Hayworth
, Larry Parks
, 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 appears in the documentary Ballets Russes
.
Platt was married twice, the second time to dancer Jean Goodall.
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
and musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
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
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo was a ballet company created by members of the Ballets Russes de Monte-Carlo in 1938 after Léonide Massine and René Blum had a falling-out with the co-founder Wassily de Basil...
; along with other non-Russian company members like Betty Low, he performed under a faux-Russian name (Platoff). While with the company, Platt appeared in the musicals Jubilee
Jubilee (musical)
Jubilee is a musical comedy with a book by Moss Hart and music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It premiered on Broadway in 1935 to rapturous reviews. Inspired by the recent silver jubilee of King George V of Great Britain, the story is of the royal family of a fictional European country...
(1935), Broadway Sho-Window (1936), and Yokel Boy (1939) (under the stage name Marc Plant) and choreographed Ghost Town (1939), set to music by Richard Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
. 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
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
. (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
Agnes de Mille
Agnes George de Mille was an American dancer and choreographer.-Early years:Agnes de Mille was born in New York City into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Her father William C. deMille and her uncle Cecil B. DeMille were both Hollywood directors...
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
Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It is structured as a play within a play, where the interior play is a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The original production starred Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang.Kiss...
.
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 films with such stars as Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
, Larry Parks
Larry Parks
Larry Parks was an American stage and movie actor. He was born Samuel Klausman Lawrence Parks. His career was virtually ended when he admitted to having once been a member of a Communist party cell, which led to his blacklisting by all Hollywood studios.-Background:Parks grew up in Joliet,...
, and Janet Blair; later, he made occasional television guest appearances.
After he stopped dancing, Platt ran the Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
Ballet for several years, then transitioned to full-time teaching.
Platt appears in the documentary Ballets Russes
Ballets Russes (documentary)
Ballets Russes is a 2005 feature documentary about the dancers of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. It was directed by Dayna Goldfine and Dan Geller, and featured Irina Baronova, Alicia Markova, George Zoritch, and Tatiana Riabouchinska, among others. It was narrated by Marian Seldes...
.
Platt was married twice, the second time to dancer Jean Goodall.
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
External links
- Interview in the Seattle Times
- Marc Platt at the Internet Movie Database
- Marc Platt movies - "The New York Times"