Delarue, Allison

Allison Delarue, a member of the Princeton Class of 1928, was a staff member (1951-1972) of McCarter Theatre, as well as a dance historian and balletomane. He graduated from the Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, and later received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Princeton. While pursuing graduate studies at Oxford University, Delarue become interested in the history of ballet in England and studied dance with the Hon. Martin-Haney. Upon his return to the United States, he continued his interest in ballet while serving on the staff of the Cooper Union Museum in New York City. As well as being a collector and writer, Delarue was also a talented photographer. He was on the staff of McCarter Theatre in Princeton and had professional memberships that included the Theatre Library Association and the American Society for Theatre Research. He is the author of two books, The Chevalier Henry Wikoff: Impressario, 1840 (Princeton University Press, 1968), and Fanny Elssler in America (Dance Horizons, 1976), as well as many articles, including "The Stage and Ballet Designs of Eugene Berman" ( Dance Index, December 1946), "Ballet Figurines in Porcelain" ( Dancing Times, November 1973), the foreword to Let Joy Be Unconfined: An Exhibition Representing Three Centuries of Ballet (Princeton University Library, 1980), and "Alfred-Edouard Chalon's Pas de Quatre" ( The Princeton University Library Chronicle, Autumn, 1986).