PHOTO CALL: Never Gonna Dance Swings Its Way to Broadway Dec. 4

By Morgan Allen
01 Dec 2003

Top: Noah Racey as Lucky Garnett and Nancy Lemenager as Penny Carroll, Bottom: Deidre Goodwin as Velma and Eugene Fleming as Spud in Never Gonna Dance
Top: Noah Racey as Lucky Garnett and Nancy Lemenager as Penny Carroll, Bottom: Deidre Goodwin as Velma and Eugene Fleming as Spud in Never Gonna Dance

The new musical based on Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers film "Swing Time" two-steps its way to a Broadway opening on Dec. 4 at the Broadhurst Theatre.

"Swing Time", released in 1936, was orignally to be titled "Never Gonna Dance" however the producers decided to follow suit with the swing-craze of the time and altered the title.

The stage version, with original title restored, features music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by a virtual who's who of musical theatre lyricism: Dorothy Fields, Ira Gershwin, Otto Harbach, Johnny Mercer, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Jimmy McHugh.

The story, based on the screenplay by Erwin Gelsey and adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, concerns Lucky, a vaudeville man come to the Big Apple to prove he can make it in the world of legitimate business, and Penny, the dance teacher with whom he ends up entering a dance competition. The two must then face off against Velma and Spud, a soulful rhythmic dance team from Harlem.

Never Gonna Dance is directed by Michael Greif (Rent), with choreography by Jerry Mitchell, and a book by Jeffrey Hatcher. The settings are by Robin Wagner, lights by Paul Gallo, costumes by William Ivey Long, and sound by ACME Sound Partners. The production has been in previews since Oct. 27.

To view more images from this event, click "Multimedia" under the "Related Information" area to the right or Click Here

All photos are by Joan Marcus