25 DAYS OF TONYS: Tony-Nominated Choreographer Denis Jones on Getting Everyone to Tap in Holiday Inn | Playbill

Tony Awards 25 DAYS OF TONYS: Tony-Nominated Choreographer Denis Jones on Getting Everyone to Tap in Holiday Inn The first-time nominee talks about his first love, his tap idol, and why he’s thrilled to be the one to represent the fall’s Holiday Inn at the Tonys.

Though it may have closed for business, the dance in Roundabout Theater Company’s Holiday Inn, The New Irving Berlin Musical made a lasting impression on the nominating committee. Nominated for a single Tony, choreographer Denis Jones is thrilled to be the one to represent the new musical at the 71st Annual Awards.

“One of the pleasures of [Holiday Inn] was it was a show where pretty much everybody in the cast had to dance,” he tells Playbill in the video above. “We all grabbed hands and took the leap together so for the dance department to be representing at the Tony Awards is an unbelievable pleasure.”

The show is one of the few to include tap on Broadway—and tons of it. Remember that firecracking Fourth of July number from star Corbin Bleu? Or the jump-roping tap routine?

“Tap was my first love, I started tapping when I was in third grade,” says JOnes. “My dad took me to see Singin’ in the Rain, and I was obsessed with Gene Kelly, I wanted to be Gene Kelly so I started taking tap lessons.”

For more from Denis Jones, watch the video above.

Tune in to CBS June 11 for the Tony Awards broadcast. For continuing coverage leading up to Broadway’s biggest night, keep watching Playbill.com/TonyAwards. For more information about the Awards visit TonyAwards.com.

 
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