Arthur Ballet, one of the great professors who defined the University of Minnesota theater and dance program from the 1950s into the 1980s, died Monday morning in San Francisco. Ballet had lived in a care home there for a number of years.

Ballet, Frank Whiting, Charles Nolte, Bob Moulton, Wendell Josal, Lee Adey and Wes Balk among others built the university theater into a nationally regarded program.

Ballet also reviewed film and theater for KSTP TV for a while. He is best known, however, for his Intro to Theater class at the University -- a survey class that was generally attended by about 700 students a semester for 30 years. Ballet required his students to attend local theater performances, and many former students and theater professionals say Ballet's compulsory program was a key to creating the thriving Twin Cities theater scene.

Here is a short obituary from a cousin of Ballet's that arrived through email:

To his Friends and Family:

Arthur Ballet gave his final performance on January 30, 2012. The curtain fell at 6:20 AM today, after an acclaimed 88 year run before packed houses around the world.

Arthur was a brilliant lecturer and beloved teacher with a limitless knowledge of theatre, but was known and admired mostly for his extraordinary intellect and sparkling wit.

A graveside service will take place at the Adas Israel Cemetery in Duluth, Minnesota later this week (mostly likely on Thursday or Friday). For information, please call the Dougherty Funeral Home at (218) 727-3555 or contact me at (212) 512-1514 (office) or (646) 831—1411 (cell).

In keeping with Arthur's wishes, there will be no closing-night party. Instead, he would like to be remembered by his many friends and countless former-students, each in his own, private way.

Many thanks for your love and support throughout the years, and especially during these last, long months.

With kindest regards,
Richard Weinstein