Opens on B'way Dec.
9: Swing!
By Robert Viagas and Randy
Gener, Theatre.com
NEW YORK -- Broadway is
getting set to jitterbug this fall when it hops onto the 1940s dance renaissance with a
new dance revue, Swing!. The show begins previews Nov. 2 and open Dec. 9 at the St. James
Theatre.
HOW DOES THIS
AFFECT ME?: Fans of the Lindy Hop may want to boogie on down.
Click here to visit the new Swing! website.
Cabaret singer Ann Hampton
Callaway makes her Broadway debut in the lead role of the musical, to be choreographed by
Lynne Taylor Corbett (Broadway's Titanic and Chess). Corbett's choreography will reflect
the neo-Swing dances that are sweeping the U.S., embracing West Coast, country-Western,
Latin and traditional swing dances. Swing! is produced by Marc Routh, Richard Frankel,
Steven Baruch, Tom Viertel, Jujamcyn Theaters and Lorie Cowen Levy/Stanley Shopkorn in
association with BB Promotion, Dede Harris/Jeslo Productions, Libby Adler Mages/Mari
Glick, James D. Stern/Douglas L. Meyer, and PACE Theatricals/SFX. Current Frankel &
Baruch Broadway shows include Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Sound of Music and The Weir.
The entire production will
be "supervised by" four-time Tony-winning Director Jerry Zaks (Guys and Dolls, A
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), but he won't be listed as director. The
production has not been done previously elsewhere, and spokesperson Helene Davis
said the producers plan to open it "cold" on Broadway without a pre-New York
tryout. The score will consist of Big Band-era classics, Latin, and "neo-Swing."
About a third of the score will be original.
There is no story, per se,
and Davis compared the show to themed dance revues Smokey Joe's Cafe and Forever Tango.
The orchestra, called
Gotham City Gates, will consist of a contemporary swing band from some of New York's
premiere jazz and swing musicians. Various "Gates" have worked with such big
band luminaries as Lionel Hampton, Illinois Jacquet, Woody Herman, Blues Jumpers, Jimmy
Dorsey and Toshiko Akyoshi. Diversely skilled, the band includes published composers,
arrangers, authors and the occasional rogue. All will conducted by musical director
Jonathan Smith.
In addition to her Broadway
work, Taylor-Corbett choreographed the original film version of Footloose. She's designed
dances for New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.
