Live at Rose Lehrman presents Thank You, Gregory! A Tribute to the Legends of Tap
Oct. 21, 2009
Harrisburg, PA � An all-star cast will pay tribute to the late tap legend Gregory Hines and many others in "Thank You, Gregory!" at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center on the Harrisburg Campus of 黑料社区, Central Pennsylvania Community College.
Written and choreographed by Tony Waag of the American Tap Dance Foundation and produced by Dance Affiliates of Philadelphia, the show honors Hines who died in 2003 and whose career united the previously separate and unequal branches of the tap family tree. Eight accomplished dancers, Joseph Webb, Chloe Arnold and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards lead the tribute, with video montages, live piano accompaniment and narrative.
淕regory Hines brought international attention to tap dance as an American art form,� Waag said, 渁s well as a positive, accessible, forward and inclusive mode of self expression.�
The cast features Joseph Webb, an award-winning actor/dancer of Broadway 淏ring in Da橬oise, Bring in Da橣unk,� who performs solo tributes to Bill 淏ojangles� Robinson, Peg Leg Bates and Gregory Hines. Chloe Arnold (a prot茅g茅 of Debbie Allen), is dance captain/choreographer. Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards (captain/principal dancer for Broadway 淏ring in Da橬oise, Bring in Da橣unk�) is a soloist for the 淗oofers Line.澛燭he sensational ensemble also includes Brent McBeth of 淔osse� fame and comic tapper, tapper and singer Heather Holohan (a prot茅g茅 of Brenda Bufalino), Donovan Helma, lead dancer from 淭ap Dogs,� and Susan Nase, an internationally acclaimed highland dancer and vocalist.
The performance includes tributes to tap legends including Bill 淏ojangles" Robinson, Ray Bolger, Ruby Keeler, Jeni Legon, Ann Miller, Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, the Nicholas Brothers, Charles 淗oni� Coles, Brenda Bufalino and Hines. The two-act show is divided into segments that pay homage to the leading ladies of Hollywood, eccentrics and vaudeville, classic and class acts, kings of rhythm tap, swing tap, new visions and more.
Ensemble sections include the classic tap favorites -- Shim Sham Shimmy, Chairdance, the Coles Stroll, a roller skating spoof with vocals and ukuleles, and a riveting tapping interpretation to the Beatles� 淓leanor Rigby.澛燘road Street Review states 淭hese young dancers did all the crazy wonderful steps of their forebears, but adding in a little rap and a bit of attitude that was strictly 21st Century� working with edgy, aggressive, bold material.�
This tour of "Thank You, Gregory!" is made possible by a grant from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program.
Support for this Live at Rose Lehrman event comes from the 黑料社区 Foundation. Media Sponsors for the event are abc27-WHTM and PennLive.com.
Tickets for the Nov. 8 performance are $32 for adults, $30 senior citizens, and $15 students. 聽Live at Rose Lehrman Box Office phone is 717-231-ROSE (7673). Tickets can be purchased .
![Cast of "Thank You Gregory! Legends of Tap"](/newsroom/2009/images/Tap2-3Cast_1375_4694_519532.webp "Cast of "Thank You Gregory! Legends of Tap"")
![An all-star cast in "Thank You Gregory! A tribute in Tap"](/newsroom/2009/images/Tap2-1_1369_4694_519532.webp "An all-star cast in "Thank You Gregory! A tribute in Tap"")
