"So You Think You Can Dance?"'s Mary Murphy to Join Burn the Floor

By Robert Simonson
26 Oct 2009

Mary Murphy
Mary Murphy

Mary Murphy, of "So You Think You Can Dance?," makes her Broadway bow Dec. 22 in Burn the Floor at the Longacre Theatre.

Mary Murphy will be partnered with ballroom champion Vaidas Skimelis. She will perform for one performance only.

The limited engagement of Burn the Floor was recently extended to Jan. 3, 2010.

Burn the Floor features direction and choreography by Jason Gilkison and is produced on Broadway by Harley Medcalf, Joe Watson, Richard Levi, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Raise the Roof One, Toppall/Stevens/Mills, Benigno/Klein, Caldwell/Allen, Carrpailet/Danzansky, Bud Martin, The Production Studio, Schaffert/Schnuck, and Carrie Ann Inaba by special arrangement with Dance Partner Inc.

"From Harlem's hot nights at The Savoy, where dances such as the Lindy, Foxtrot and Charleston were born, to the Latin Quarter where the Cha-Cha, Rumba and Salsa steamed up the stage, Burn the Floor takes audiences on a journey through the passionate drama of dance," according to press notes. "The elegance of the Viennese Waltz, the exuberance of Jive, the intensity of the Paso Doble — audiences will experience them all, as well as the Tango, Samba, Mambo, Quickstep, and Swing. It's Ballroom dance with a sexy 21st century edge."

Conceived five years ago at a 50th birthday party for composer Elton John, Burn the Floor was created by producer Harley Medcalf and features 32 champion ballroom dancers. About the genesis of his show, Medcalf previously said, "I wanted to create a showcase that is a fusion of the wonderful traditions of ballroom dancing, a combination of the sensuality, discipline and commitment of the dancers, with the technology, creativity and energy of a rock and roll production."

The Longacre Theatre is located at 220 West 48th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.

Tickets are available by visiting www.telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. For more information go to www.burnthefloor.com.