Acclaimed playwright, actor, director and Steppenwolf Theatre Company member- Austin Pendleton along with Ballroom Champions, Pierre Dulaine & Yvonne Marceau.Austin Pendleton began his artistic relationship with Steppenwolf by directing Say Goodnight, Gracie for the 1979-1980 season. In addition to directing at Steppenwolf, Austin has appeared as an actor in such productions as Uncle Vanya, Valparaiso and Educating Rita (also Off-Broadway). His film work is as diverse as A Beautiful Mind, Mr. & Mrs. Bridge and The Muppet Movie. His award-winning plays include Booth, Uncle Bob and Orson's Shadow, which received its world premiere in the Steppenwolf Garage. Broadway: The Diary of Anne Frank; Doubles; Hail Strawdyke; Fiddler on the Roof; Off-Broadway: The Sunset Limited; Richard II; Hamlet; Richard III; The Last Sweet Days of Isaac; Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad; New Repertory Theatre, Boston: King Lear; Waiting for Godot. L.A. Drama Critics Award - Best Writing (Orson's Shadow); Clarence Derwent Award (Hail Strawdyke); Obie Award (The Last Sweet Days of Isaac).
Showdance champions and Broadway dance couple Pierre Dulaine & Yvonne Marceau founded American Ballroom Theater (ABrT) in 1984 and established the company’s educational arm, Dancing Classrooms, in 1994. Internationally renowned performers and teachers, Dulaine & Marceau are four-time winners of the British Exhibition Championships, earned the 1993 Dance Magazine Award, and received the 1989-1990 Astaire Award for Best Dancing on Broadway, in the roles they created and choreographed as the mellifluous couple in Tommy Tune’s Grand Hotel.
Dulaine & Marceau have been faculty members at both the School of American Ballet and The Juilliard School, as well as guest teachers at Alvin Ailey. In 2005 they received the Americans for the Arts Award for education.
Most recently their influence has extended into films, with the major motion picture, Take The Lead. The film, starring Antonio Banderas as Pierre Dulaine, was inspired by Pierre’s teaching experience in schools. Ms. Marceau has choreographed for various companies and events, including the Julia Roberts film Mona Lisa Smile.
“Ms. Marceau and Mr. Dulaine are dancing dreams, and the way they melt into and out of each other’s arms ought to serve as a required course in partnering for the young.”
- The New York Times
Dulaine & Marceau have been faculty members at both the School of American Ballet and The Juilliard School, as well as guest teachers at Alvin Ailey. In 2005 they received the Americans for the Arts Award for education.
Most recently their influence has extended into films, with the major motion picture, Take The Lead. The film, starring Antonio Banderas as Pierre Dulaine, was inspired by Pierre’s teaching experience in schools. Ms. Marceau has choreographed for various companies and events, including the Julia Roberts film Mona Lisa Smile.
“Ms. Marceau and Mr. Dulaine are dancing dreams, and the way they melt into and out of each other’s arms ought to serve as a required course in partnering for the young.”
- The New York Times
