Alan Lund
Encyclopedia
Alan Lund, OC
(May 23, 1925 – July 1, 1992) was a Canadian dancer and choreographer, who worked in television
, movies and theater.
Lund trained as a dancer in his native Toronto
and first established a performance reputation as a dance team with his wife Blanche, appearing during World War II
in the revue Meet the Navy
. The couple became two of the first contract players for CBC
television. Turning to choreography in the 1950s, Lund contributed to various productions, including Spring Thaw, the Canadian National Exhibition
grandstand show, and the Stratford Festival. From 1966 to 1986 he was artistic director of the Charlottetown Festival
, where he directed the successful musical, Anne of Green Gables
, and several other productions. His own The Legend of the Dumbbells premiered at the festival in 1977. Later he directed and choreographed productions such as Kiss Me, Kate
(Toronto, 1986). From 1987 until his death he was a resident director of the Rainbow Stage
. Lund also worked with musical theatre students at the Banff Centre
for many years. He received an honorary degree from the University of Prince Edward Island
and became an Officer of the Order of Canada
.
Lund collaborated extensively with friend Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment. Since Lund's death, this organization has created a scholarship
fund in his name for recipients pursuing careers in the arts
. The scholarship is awarded annually at the Alan Lund Tribute Show, a variety show
and fundraiser
at the Drayton Festival Theatre in Drayton, Ontario
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(May 23, 1925 – July 1, 1992) was a Canadian dancer and choreographer, who worked in television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, movies and theater.
Lund trained as a dancer in his native Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and first established a performance reputation as a dance team with his wife Blanche, appearing during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the revue Meet the Navy
Meet the Navy
Meet the Navy was a musical revue produced by the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. Directed by Hollywood producer Louis Silver and Broadway choreographer Larry Ceballos, the production premiered in a private performance for servicemen on 2 September 1943 at Toronto's Victoria Theatre. The...
. The couple became two of the first contract players for CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
television. Turning to choreography in the 1950s, Lund contributed to various productions, including Spring Thaw, the Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition , also known as The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day Monday. With an attendance of approximately 1.3 million visitors each season, it is Canada’s largest...
grandstand show, and the Stratford Festival. From 1966 to 1986 he was artistic director of the Charlottetown Festival
Charlottetown Festival
The Charlottetown Festival is a seasonal Canadian musical theatre festival which runs from late May to mid-October every year since 1965.Named after its host city, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, since its inception the festival has showcased Canada's most popular and longest-running musical,...
, where he directed the successful musical, Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables is a bestselling novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery published in 1908. Set in 1878, it was written as fiction for readers of all ages, but in recent decades has been considered a children's book...
, and several other productions. His own The Legend of the Dumbbells premiered at the festival in 1977. Later he directed and choreographed productions such as 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...
(Toronto, 1986). From 1987 until his death he was a resident director of the Rainbow Stage
Rainbow Stage
Rainbow Stage is Canada's longest-surviving outdoor theatre, located in the natural setting of Kildonan Park in north Winnipeg, Manitoba.-History:It opened 7 July 1954 presenting operettas and musicals using local performers...
. Lund also worked with musical theatre students at the Banff Centre
Banff Centre
The Banff Centre, formerly known as The Banff Centre for Continuing Education, is an arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference complex located in Banff, Alberta...
for many years. He received an honorary degree from the University of Prince Edward Island
University of Prince Edward Island
The University of Prince Edward Island is a public liberal arts university in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the sole university in the province. Founded in 1969, it traces its roots back to its two earlier predecessor organizations, St. Dunstan's University and Prince of Wales...
and became an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
Lund collaborated extensively with friend Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment. Since Lund's death, this organization has created a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
fund in his name for recipients pursuing careers in the arts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
. The scholarship is awarded annually at the Alan Lund Tribute Show, a variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
and fundraiser
Fundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
at the Drayton Festival Theatre in Drayton, Ontario
Drayton, Ontario
Drayton is a community in Wellington County, Ontario, Canada. It is a part of the township of Mapleton in North Wellington County. The village is on the corner of Wellington Road 8 and Wellington Road 11, geographically northwest of Fergus and southwest of Arthur.-Education:Drayton is in the Upper...
.