Never Gonna Dance

[Tafka Mms]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 1:10pm

The marquee for "Never Gonna Dance" just went up at the Broadhurst theater!

I can't wait for this!!

[Amneris]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 1:13pm

the sexy cowboy is gone? ::sigh::

lalalala life goes onnnn!

what's this show about anyway? is this the one based on "Swing Time" ?

[Tafka Mms]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 1:15pm

actually the cowboy is still up on the big marquee on top of the theatre! they've just put up the smaller marquee

[JakeB]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 1:21pm

Sorry.. what is Never Gonna Dance? I don't know it..

Posted: 6/13/03 at 1:22pm

does this have anything to do with Linda Eder's song, Never Dance, or whatever, what is this??

[Tafka Mms]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 1:30pm

It is based on "Swing Time". Jerry Mitchell is choreographing it (directing too, I think)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 1:32pm

I want one of the Urban Cowboy posters. lol.

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 2:56pm

Jerry Mitchell isn't the director. I can't remember who is. This musical will prove to me whether or not Jerry can choreograph because up until now he has only proven to me that he can choreograph a strip routine.

[magruder]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 3:03pm

Michael Greif is directing.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 3:30pm

I am really looking forward to this as well. The story seems great. I just hope the dancing is good. It seems like my kinda musical!! I hope this turns out to be great.

[JakeB]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 5:21pm

So no-one knows anything about this show? It's not very high profile is it?!

[ShineOn]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 5:53pm

It's based on Ginger and Fred's "Swing Time." It's about a gabbler who is engaged to this woman, who's father says he can't marry her until he has the money. So, he goes off to Manhattan to gabble and win the money. In the process, he bumps into this dance teacher, Penny, whom he instantly becomes smitten with. And he pretends he can't dance... and when she learns he can, they're asked to enter a dance competition together. For the money, he agrees. She falls for him and he doesn't tell her he's engaged, and such happens, and yadda yadda yadda. :)

[Cadriel]

Posted: 6/13/03 at 6:18pm

It's a really sweet film, and I'm hoping the musical is every bit as good. Memorable songs include "The Way You Look Tonight," "A Fine Romance," "Bojangles of Harlem," "Waltz in Swing Time," and "Never Gonna Dance." Out of all the screen-to-stage adaptations going on, this is one of them that most deserves to happen. I understand that the final show will incorporate a number of Jerome Kern songs that weren't in the film.

Should be one to watch for fans of good old standards and choreography.

-Wayne

[ShineOn]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 1:03am

Also "Pick Yourself Up." That songs fun! I love that musical... its definitely my favorite Ginger/Fred musical, out of the 9 from the 30's. "Barkleys of Broadway" is my absolute fave because it's just fun and you see them in a different light then their usual "Boy sees girl, girl plays hard to get, boy chases after girl the entire musical, with a series of wacky shenangins and cheesy song and dance, then at the very last moment, boy GETS girl, only to see 'THE END' spread across your scene in big letters BEFORE the kiss." Yeah, it's refreshing.

Little Fred/Ginger trivia. "Carefree," their 8th musical together, was the FIRST time they kissed. And the actual kiss was just a peck, but was filmed in slow motion to make it look like a five minute make out session. Then they kissed in "Vernon and Irene Castle," (their 9th) and obviously in BOB. :)

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 1:10am

I don't know if I have a favorite Fred and Ginger movie. I'll have to think about that one. Although he was in one of my all time favorite movie musicals "Easter Parade" thanks to Gene Kelly hurting his ankle. :) not smiling cause Gene was hurt...smiling cause Fred got the part. If I wasn't so tired I would go watch that right now.

[chicago_kid]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 2:58am

I can't wait for this musical--mainly because Jerry Mitchell is doing the choreography! In my opinion, he is an AWESOME choreographer! I loved his work in his past musicals, and I hope this show will be a big hit for him!

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 8:35am

The workshop was charming...and yes, all-Jerome Kern songs interpolated from all over the place. Not being in the U.S., can't put my hands on the program so don't have the list handy...but all pretty much hit songs.

Can't remember the exact date - there have been several presentations...do remember one right after the Monty guys appeared before the Queen of England because discussed that little incident with Jerry Mitchell at the time.

One shining part of the workshop - other than the spectacular dancing - was Peter Bartlett (from "Jeffrey" and who plays Nigel the butler on "One Life to Live" - he was spectacularly funny in his droll way - but then, he always is).

This one has been floating around for a couple years, and is a real old-fashioned song and dance musical - mostly done with unknowns - not a star vehicle. Hopefully, the public will love it.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 1:01pm

just a tangent on EASTER PARADE...it's fun to watch it with the "Astaire in for Kelly" mindset, because it's kind of atypical for an Astaire film...he does Kelly like numbers, athleticism instead of sophistication, and very proppy routines like Kelly liked. And it's interesting to think of the Kelly/Garland charisma "could have been" if you know SUMMER STOCK and THE PIRATE. Another plus for EASTER PARADE is Ann Miller's great acting and musical/dancing performance, and the looks and wry humor of Peter Lawford (plus one of the few times he sings on screen...anyone know if that was dubbed?). Finally, the anecdote of Kelly breaking his ankle is pretty well known, but is it true it happened at one of his own tennis or volleyball marathons, where he hosted his celebrity friends at his house for long tournament-style play? And who has read his wife's new autobiography, does it talk about Kelly more personally?

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 1:03pm

P.P.S. to bring the topic back to the thread, really love Mitchell and wish him the best on this. His charity work alone makes him interesting to me. I just wish two of the best chances for choreography in the GYPSY revival ("Gimmick" and "All I Need"), as good as Robbins' original work is, had a chance to get a Mitchell revision just so we could see what he can do with them.

[Sheri]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 1:39pm

Is Noah Racey still going to be playing the lead in this?

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/14/03 at 2:45pm

Yes.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/15/03 at 4:34pm

I heard that Gene got hurt at his own function also. Not sure if it's true?
I do love his chemisrty with Garland ("Summer Stock", "The Pirate", and let's not forget "Me and My Gal"), but it was nice to see her paired with Astaire for a change.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 6/15/03 at 5:27pm

I need to rent ME AND MY GAL it's been a while. I can barely remember it. I'm a big Gene Kelly fan. I even liked his direction of HELLO DOLLY pretty well, and again I know I'm in the minority there.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/17/03 at 6:24am

O.K. - had the list sent to me.

Here are the Jerome Kern songs in "Never Gonna Dance" - workshop version:

Dearly Beloved
Put Me to the Test
I Won't Dance
Pick Yourself Up, Dust Yourself Off, Start All Over Again
Who (Stole Me Heart Away)? - reprised as a recurring joke
I'm Old Fashioned
She Didn't Say Yes
You Couldn't Be Cuter
The Way You Look Tonight (a brilliant Jerry Mitchell romantic dance number on the top of a building!)

All in Fun
The Song is You
A Fine Romance
(these three were not performed at the workshop)

I'll be Hard to Handle (as a strip number...very Mitchell!)
I Got Love (not the Purlie one)
Remind Me
Mr. Bojangles of Harlem (not performed)
Never Gonna Dance/The Way You Look Tonight (reprise)

As you can imagine --- a lovely, lovely romantic tuneful show.
And of course - this is before final rewrites.