Thank You Gregory – A Tribute to the Legends of Tap

Penn State Center for the Performing Arts
October 2, 2009 – 7:30 pm
venue/ticket info

Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
Zellerbach Theatre
October 6-10
venue/ticket info

…more tour dates below

Produced by Dance Affiliates, under the artistic direction of Randy Swartz, written by Tony Waag and directed by Ann Marie De Angelo, Thank You Gregory starring Maurice Hines salutes American tap legends – Fred Astaire, Ginger Rodgers, Honi Coles, the Nicholas Brothers, Gene Kelly, Bojangles Robinson, the Copasetics, and Jimmy Slyde. This all new production, based on the 2005 original show which premiered on the Dance Celebration Series, honors the American Ambassador of Tap, Gregory Hines.

Video design by Forward Motion Theater

Maurice Hines, a Broadway veteran and Gregory’s partner and brother, is praised as “…a crowd-pleasing showmanship that ignites the show… As a song and dance man, Hines is quite irresistible.” (Seattle Times) Gregory and Maurice’s careers began performing on Broadway and touring as the opening acts for Lionel Hampton and Gypsy Rose Lee. Soon their father joined the act “Hines, Hines, and Dad” which led to international touring and television appearances on “The Pearl Bailey Show,” ” Hollywood Palace,” and 35 appearances on “The Tonight Show.” Maurice Hines created a sensation during the 1978-79 season with his singing and dancing in the hit musical Eubie!. He followed this performance with celebrated roles co-starring in Bring Back Birdie with Chita Rivera and Donald O’Connor and starring in Sophisticated Ladies.

Joining Mr. Hines is an all-star cast of eight hoofers (and a live band) including the inestimable Jason Samuels Smith, Emmy Award winner, film and TV star and choreographer-director. Mr. Smith was a special guest on Fox’s hit series So You Think You Can Dance, and an associate choreographer for Dancing with the Stars. A wunderkind, Smith joined the Broadway cast of Bring in Da’Noise, Bring in Da’Funk at the age of 15. New York Times calls him “smashingly inventive.”

2009-2010 Tour Dates:

Fri Oct 2, 2009 – Penn State, State College, PA
Tu-Sat Oct 6-10 – Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Wed, Nov 4 – Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD
Th Nov 5 – Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Johnstown, PA
Sun Nov 8 – Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg, PA
Tue Nov 17 – Tug Valley Arts Festival, Williamson, WV
Fri-Sat Nov 20-21 – New Orleans Ballet Association, New Orleans, La
Fri Jan 15, 2010 – Fox Theatre, Hutchinson, KS
Sat Jan 16 – Carlsen Center, Overland Park, KS
Wed-Th Jan 20-21 – Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville, AR
Sat Jan 23 – Hancher Auditorium, Iowa City, IA
Fri Jan 29 – The Ritz Theatre, Jacksonville, FL
Sun Jan 31 – The Kravis Center, West Palm Beach, FL
Tue Apr 6 – Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA
Wed Apr 7 - Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA
Fri Apr 8 – Capitol Theater, Concord, NH
Fri Apr 16 – Delaware Valley Arts, Frazer, PA

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