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A Boy Like That: Hits, Misses, Messes, and Miracles as I Danced Across the Stages of Broadway and Hollywood
At age eighteen, Grover Dale fled a dirty shack and an abusive childhood to catch a bus to NYC, his pocket filled with just $130 cash and hard-won survival instincts. The cash lasted a week. The survival instincts, a lifetime.
After landing a breakout role as Snowboy in Broadway’s original production of West Side Story, the rest, as they say, is history.
Now, through poignant and riveting vignettes, this living dance legend takes us behind the scenes of seven decades of entertainment history, providing intimate insights into industry movers and shakers like Jerome Robbins, Noël Coward, and Gene Kelly—all while sharing his own inspiring life lessons.
Spiced with personal drama that includes clandestine relationships with celebs of both genders, and tidbits about well-known stars of the stage and screen, Dale celebrates the ups and downs of his illustrious career in a delightful dance through the Golden Eras of Broadway, Hollywood, and beyond.
After landing a breakout role as Snowboy in Broadway’s original production of West Side Story, the rest, as they say, is history.
Now, through poignant and riveting vignettes, this living dance legend takes us behind the scenes of seven decades of entertainment history, providing intimate insights into industry movers and shakers like Jerome Robbins, Noël Coward, and Gene Kelly—all while sharing his own inspiring life lessons.
Spiced with personal drama that includes clandestine relationships with celebs of both genders, and tidbits about well-known stars of the stage and screen, Dale celebrates the ups and downs of his illustrious career in a delightful dance through the Golden Eras of Broadway, Hollywood, and beyond.
395 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 9, 2024
42 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 5, 2024
Great book, a breeze to get through, and always positive despite the struggles the author deals with. The reason it's not five-star is that stories are often incomplete sketchy scrapbook-like summaries of what should have been multi-page or even full-chapter tales. And the ending, which wraps up too quickly, skips most of the past 20 years and has a disappearing husband.
Dale's childhood is extremely tragic, with a dad he never knew and a stepfather who was an alcoholic tyrant. How Grover became a positive force of uplifting showmanship is hard to understand, and the book rushes so quickly through his dramatic ascent to Broadway that it's difficult to comprehend it. Obviously Dale has chosen to lock up his past and be the opposite of what his stepdad was by encouraging and supporting others, to the point that the author often gets taken advantage of.
He does spill a lot of behind-the-scenes details (even with incomplete stories) about theater and loves. Some will want to classify him as gay but he's really bisexual, almost marrying Elaine Stritch (!), the longtime bed partner of Tony Perkins, eventually becoming the husband of Broadway great Anita Morris, and after she dies of cancer he legally marries Marc Elliot (who only gets a brief mention near the end, leaving the reader to wonder what happened). If you read his Wikipedia bio there's no mention of his marriage to Elliot.
It's rare that a Hollywood/Broadway memoir doesn't dwell on sex, drugs or drinking but Dale speeds past the rare mentions of any of those celebrity standards. The lack of depth is made up for the sheer amount of different experiences and people. Just hearing him give insights into Jerome Robbins or Barbra Streisand is fun, but couldn't he have at least given us more about the original West Side Story, the film musicals he made, and his role in the original Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar?
And Marc Elliot is a writer, why didn't he help flesh out the stories? The ending makes you wonder....
There are a few errors in the book (he said he did the "Rodgers and Hammerstein musical On Your Toes," but Hammerstein wasn't part of that show), he does a weird aside praising wacky California spiritual leader Marianne Williamson, and the index reveals surprises that he gives no specifics about participating in. But you'll recognize many of the things he was part of yet never received proper credit for (even winning a Tony Award but never acknowledged from the stage).
Grover Dale is so uplifting and energic that you forgive A Boy Like That for not revealing all the hurts and simply celebrate his surprisingly joyful life.
Dale's childhood is extremely tragic, with a dad he never knew and a stepfather who was an alcoholic tyrant. How Grover became a positive force of uplifting showmanship is hard to understand, and the book rushes so quickly through his dramatic ascent to Broadway that it's difficult to comprehend it. Obviously Dale has chosen to lock up his past and be the opposite of what his stepdad was by encouraging and supporting others, to the point that the author often gets taken advantage of.
He does spill a lot of behind-the-scenes details (even with incomplete stories) about theater and loves. Some will want to classify him as gay but he's really bisexual, almost marrying Elaine Stritch (!), the longtime bed partner of Tony Perkins, eventually becoming the husband of Broadway great Anita Morris, and after she dies of cancer he legally marries Marc Elliot (who only gets a brief mention near the end, leaving the reader to wonder what happened). If you read his Wikipedia bio there's no mention of his marriage to Elliot.
It's rare that a Hollywood/Broadway memoir doesn't dwell on sex, drugs or drinking but Dale speeds past the rare mentions of any of those celebrity standards. The lack of depth is made up for the sheer amount of different experiences and people. Just hearing him give insights into Jerome Robbins or Barbra Streisand is fun, but couldn't he have at least given us more about the original West Side Story, the film musicals he made, and his role in the original Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar?
And Marc Elliot is a writer, why didn't he help flesh out the stories? The ending makes you wonder....
There are a few errors in the book (he said he did the "Rodgers and Hammerstein musical On Your Toes," but Hammerstein wasn't part of that show), he does a weird aside praising wacky California spiritual leader Marianne Williamson, and the index reveals surprises that he gives no specifics about participating in. But you'll recognize many of the things he was part of yet never received proper credit for (even winning a Tony Award but never acknowledged from the stage).
Grover Dale is so uplifting and energic that you forgive A Boy Like That for not revealing all the hurts and simply celebrate his surprisingly joyful life.
April 8, 2025
This Book is a Hit, Not a Miss
The only thing I knew about Grover Dale when I started reading this book was that he was in the Original Broadway Cast of one of my favorite musicals, “West Side Story”. After reading his book, I not only know more another his Beth interesting career, but I have been introduced to a talented, compassionate and kind man. I don’t want to give anything away so I won’t say anything else except I highly recommend reading the surprising and fascinating story of his life.
The only thing I knew about Grover Dale when I started reading this book was that he was in the Original Broadway Cast of one of my favorite musicals, “West Side Story”. After reading his book, I not only know more another his Beth interesting career, but I have been introduced to a talented, compassionate and kind man. I don’t want to give anything away so I won’t say anything else except I highly recommend reading the surprising and fascinating story of his life.
September 24, 2024
A memorable life in the theater
Grover Dale's autobiography is a heartfelt and deliciously readable retelling of his long and eventful life in and around show business. He managed to survive his share of nightmares, triumphs, loves and tragedies, and did so defying all sorts of norms. A beloved legend in the entertainment community, his story makes for a great and engrossing book.
Grover Dale's autobiography is a heartfelt and deliciously readable retelling of his long and eventful life in and around show business. He managed to survive his share of nightmares, triumphs, loves and tragedies, and did so defying all sorts of norms. A beloved legend in the entertainment community, his story makes for a great and engrossing book.
April 4, 2025
This was a fun read. Grover Dale is a wonderful dancer and had some Broadway success in the 1950s-1980s. He tells the story of his life and career from an abused child in McKeesport, PA to Broadway success. Along the way, he had affairs with many Broadway notables, both men and women and a tragic marriage to the talented Anita Morris who died too young of cancer. The text is also supplemented by adorable drawings by the author.
July 18, 2025
fantastic read for Broadway history!
This book started out fantastic and kept its pace, all he way through. Not only did I fall in love with the main character in the book, but everyone in it! You really get a chance to experience all the inner working of the dance profession. I loved all the beautiful details of living live. In the closet back in the day. The photographs were the icing on the cake! And the beautiful ending was just so perfect! I love love , love this book! A dancer myself ( non professional) made me wish I tried harder to ignite that flame!
This book started out fantastic and kept its pace, all he way through. Not only did I fall in love with the main character in the book, but everyone in it! You really get a chance to experience all the inner working of the dance profession. I loved all the beautiful details of living live. In the closet back in the day. The photographs were the icing on the cake! And the beautiful ending was just so perfect! I love love , love this book! A dancer myself ( non professional) made me wish I tried harder to ignite that flame!
July 23, 2024
Very honored to be the first person to review this book! I’ve known about it since Grover shared a snippet on Facebook a few years ago, and it did not disappoint. The writing is engaging and I finished all 350 pages of it in one day. Absolutely captivating life story with meaningful lessons. A great read!
January 12, 2025
magnificent
I couldn’t put it down. I am sorry that it’s over. He is an incredible talent and a good man. What an incredible life he’s lived. There’s everything in this book. He is an inspiration.
I couldn’t put it down. I am sorry that it’s over. He is an incredible talent and a good man. What an incredible life he’s lived. There’s everything in this book. He is an inspiration.
April 2, 2025
Unexpected entertainment
I fell upon this book accidentally. I’ve never even heard of Grover Dale but I enjoyed learning about his life. Well-written, and enhanced greatly by photos, doodles, and supporting documentation. Looking forward to meeting him in films and videos now.
I fell upon this book accidentally. I’ve never even heard of Grover Dale but I enjoyed learning about his life. Well-written, and enhanced greatly by photos, doodles, and supporting documentation. Looking forward to meeting him in films and videos now.
January 26, 2025
I Just Loved This Book.
July 3, 2025
A fascinating Broadway memoir. Truly a must-read.
October 22, 2024
just perfect
What an amazing story from someone who knew the giants of entertainment and who created giant work himself. A truly heartwarming story of courage, flexibility — in every sense of the word — great heart, compassion, understanding and grit. If you have any interest in theater or dance or the greatest geniuses of 20th century entertainment, read this account from one of them. You won’t be sorry — but you will be amused, surprised, delighted and enlightened.
What an amazing story from someone who knew the giants of entertainment and who created giant work himself. A truly heartwarming story of courage, flexibility — in every sense of the word — great heart, compassion, understanding and grit. If you have any interest in theater or dance or the greatest geniuses of 20th century entertainment, read this account from one of them. You won’t be sorry — but you will be amused, surprised, delighted and enlightened.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews