Margaret Auld Nelson Webber

Margaret Auld Nelson Webber (Maggie) was born August 8, 1927 in Staten Island, New York to Robert Livingston Nelson and Margaret (Peggy) Auld Nelson. Her Scottish parents enrolled her in the New York School of Dance at age 3 1/2. From that moment on, she never stopped dancing. Maggie began her professional career after high school. Her first Broadway appearance was “Seven Lively Arts” at the Ziegfield Theater in New York. This was a Billy Rose Extravaganza. Next she moved on to the Theater Group of N.Y. Lawrence Langner (producer) who selected her to join the National Company of “Oklahoma” playing at the Forest Theater in Philadelphia. At that time she was under the tutelage of Agnes De Mille. She played the original Bambi Lynn role—The Child in Pigtails, and toured with the national company coast to coast before joining the Broadway company in New York City. Maggie was much sought after by Hollywood for movies, but chose to stay with the Theater Guild as she was being groomed for the child's role of “Louise,” in the Rodger and Hammerstein’s, “Carousel.”

Maggie was brought from Chicago back to the Broadway Company of “Oklahoma” in 1946. It was during this engagement in 1946 that the British Management picked the cast for the London Company of Oklahoma. The company opened at the Manchester Opera House in 1947 and then moved on to The Theater Royal Drury Lane in London. Maggie toured for two-and-a-half years with the production in England, where she met the royal family. While overseas she continued ballet with the Saddlers Wells Ballet Company, as well as The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

The company returned to the USA in 1949 where she performed the lead again with the Rodgers & Hammerstein national production of “Carousel.” Maggie again branched out, performing in posh hotels and nightclubs. She worked commercially, performing with her partners in “We Three,” as well as on many television shows. Margaret married the love of her life, Charles (Chuck) Webber, on February 17th, 1957 at Emmanuel Union Church on Staten Island, New York. From there Margaret relocated to Alaska to join her husband. She brought new ideas to the small town of Anchorage: a citywide dancing group. She was a leader, an advocate for dance, and instrumental in helping develop the Anchorage Civic Ballet in 1960. She choreographed “The King and I,” and many other musicals and ballets locally, assisted by Lynda Lorimer, including; “Rodeo,” “Fancy Free,” “Brigadoon,” “Graduation Ball,” “Oklahoma,” and Gaite Parisianne.”

Her dance career never stopped. Margaret opened the Margaret Webber School of Dance in 1957 and continued to teach and choreograph for many years. Margaret proved to be a productive inspirational leader in the metamorphosis of dance within the Anchorage area. Students from local studios and companies came to her for supplemental instruction. Margaret was as ardent supporter of Anchorage Civic Ballet from its inception in 1960 to its final years in 1993 as board member, choreographer, and advisor. Margaret Auld Nelson Webber passed away in Anchorage on May 20, 2010. She and her husband, Charles, had one daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, who passed away January 2, 2020.