Harrisburg, PA — An all-star cast will pay tribute to the late tap legend Gregory Hines and many others in "Thank You, Gregory!" at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Rose Lehrman Arts Center on the Harrisburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College.
Written and choreographed by Tony Waag of the American Tap Dance Foundation and produced by Dance Affiliates of Philadelphia, the show honors Hines who died in 2003 and whose career united the previously separate and unequal branches of the tap family tree. Eight accomplished dancers, Joseph Webb, Chloe Arnold and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards lead the tribute, with video montages, live piano accompaniment and narrative.
“Gregory Hines brought international attention to tap dance as an American art form,” Waag said, “as well as a positive, accessible, forward and inclusive mode of self expression.”
The cast features Joseph Webb, an award-winning actor/dancer of Broadway’s “Bring in Da’Noise, Bring in Da’Funk,” who performs solo tributes to Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Peg Leg Bates and Gregory Hines. Chloe Arnold (a protégé of Debbie Allen), is dance captain/choreographer. Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards (captain/principal dancer for Broadway’s “Bring in Da’Noise, Bring in Da’Funk”) is a soloist for the “Hoofers Line.” The sensational ensemble also includes Brent McBeth of “Fosse” fame and comic tapper, tapper and singer Heather Holohan (a protégé of Brenda Bufalino), Donovan Helma, lead dancer from “Tap Dogs,” and Susan Nase, an internationally acclaimed highland dancer and vocalist.
The performance includes tributes to tap legends including Bill “Bojangles" Robinson, Ray Bolger, Ruby Keeler, Jeni Legon, Ann Miller, Eleanor Powell, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, the Nicholas Brothers, Charles “Honi” Coles, Brenda Bufalino and Hines. The two-act show is divided into segments that pay homage to the leading ladies of Hollywood, eccentrics and vaudeville, classic and class acts, kings of rhythm tap, swing tap, new visions and more.
Ensemble sections include the classic tap favorites -- Shim Sham Shimmy, Chairdance, the Coles Stroll, a roller skating spoof with vocals and ukuleles, and a riveting tapping interpretation to the Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby.” Broad Street Review states “These young dancers did all the crazy wonderful steps of their forebears, but adding in a little rap and a bit of attitude that was strictly 21st Century… working with edgy, aggressive, bold material.”
This tour of "Thank You, Gregory!" is made possible by a grant from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program.
Support for this Live at Rose Lehrman event comes from the HACC Foundation. Media Sponsors for the event are abc27-WHTM and PennLive.com.
Tickets for the Nov. 8 performance are $32 for adults, $30 senior citizens, and $15 students. Live at Rose Lehrman Box Office phone is 717-231-ROSE (7673). Tickets can be purchased online.
![Cast of "Thank You Gregory! Legends of Tap"](/newsroom/2009/images/Tap2-3Cast_1375_4694_519532.webp "Cast of "Thank You Gregory! Legends of Tap"")
![An all-star cast in "Thank You Gregory! A tribute in Tap"](/newsroom/2009/images/Tap2-1_1369_4694_519532.webp "An all-star cast in "Thank You Gregory! A tribute in Tap"")
