Artpark's second musical of the season opens with a preview on Artpark's Mainstage Aug. 7. Created by Paul Kelly in 1997, "Swing!" opened on Broadway in 1999 and was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Choreography.
There are 30 musical numbers in the show, featuring couples dancing to an eclectic mix of classic and neo-swing. There is jive, Latin and hip-hop, even country and western, with tunes by Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Glenn Miller. Musical numbers include "It Don't Mean a Thing," "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," "I'm Gonna Love You Tonight," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Swing, Brother, Swing," "Cry Me a River," "Blues in the Night," "Stompin' at the Savoy" and more.
Swing goes back to the 1920s, when people dancing to jazz music discovered the Charleston and the Lindy Hop. In 1926 the Savoy Ballroom in New York City opened its doors. An immediate success due to its block-long dance floor and raised double bandstand, it attracted the best dancers in the area. One evening in 1927, following Charles Lindbergh's flight to Paris, a dance enthusiast was watching couples dancing. When a newspaper reporter asked him what dance they were doing, he looked at a newspaper featuring an article about Lindbergh's flight which read, "Lindy Hops the Atlantic." The man replied that the dance was the "Lindy Hop." And the name stuck.
Artpark's production of "Swing!" is directed and choreographed by Lynne Kurdziel-Formato, who is well known to Artpark and Western New York audiences. She has over 300 productions to her credit, including over a dozen at Artpark. The show's musical director is Michael Hake, who is currently directing MusicalFare's production of "Jolson," as well as the production of "Pageant" in conjunction with Shea's Performing Arts Center at the Smith Theater.
The stars of "Swing!" are Brandon Andrus, Christine LaDuca, Loraine O'Donnell-Gray and Richard Waits. Andrus appeared in Artpark's recent production of "Oklahoma!" LaDuca returns to Artpark after past performances in "West Side Story," "South Pacific" and "Fame." O'Donnell-Gray is an Artvoice theater award recipient for her role as Keely in MusicalFare's "Pet'n Keely." Waits returns to Artpark after a 15-year absence. He recently appeared in "Ragtime" with Merry-Go-Round Playhouse.
The professional dance ensemble includes Jonathan Miller, Carrie Beth Wicks, Christian Donnelly, Angela Sauers, Adam Zelasko, Nicole Marrale, Robert Petraca, Tricia Famolaro, Doug Weyand, Joke Passes, Raashan James, Tracy Zimmerman, Steve Riggle and Natalie Cook. Joseph Mutidjo, public relations coordinator at Artpark, is enthusiastic about the production. "It's fun," he says, "something like 'Stomp' but with swing music. It's a journey through the swing era from the beginning of the era through current swing styles. There are seven couples, each taking a different style of swing."
"Swing!" remains at Artpark through Aug. 16. Performances are Thursday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from $2l to $29.50.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | August 5 2003 |