The Tap Dance Kid: Difference between revisions

*The Tap Dance Kid*
The Tap Dance Kid
	1983 Broadway Playbill
Music	Henry Krieger
Lyrics	Robert Lorick
Book	Charles Blackwell
Basis	Louise Fitzhugh novel Nobody's Family is Going to Change
Productions	1983 Broadway; 2022 New York City Center Encores!

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 18:35, 12 March 2024

The Tap Dance Kid is a musical based on the novel Nobody's Family is Going to Change by Louise Fitzhugh. It was written by Charles Blackwell with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics by Robert Lorick.

Synopsis[edit]

Act I[edit]

William Sheridan, a successful attorney, lives on Roosevelt Island with his wife Ginnie and their two children: 14-year-old Emma, an outspoken, independent-minded, and overweight girl who wants to be a lawyer more than anything, and 10-year-old Willie, whom William wants to follow in his footsteps. However all Willie wants is to be a tap dancer. The show opens on a typical morning with Ginnie preparing breakfast and preparing for the day and Emma and Willie arguing ("Another Day"). Later that day, Emma returns home from school, angry at her parents and the world for underestimating and mistreating her ("Four Strikes Against Me"). Ginnie's brother Dipsey Bates arrives for Willie's tap lesson. The kids urge him to tell stories about the old days when Ginnie, Dipsey and their late father Daddy Bates performed as a vaudeville trio ("Class Act"). The number ends as William returns home from work. Finding his study in disarray. He coolly greets Dipsey, for whom he has little use as a 33-year-old dancer. Dipsey exits, leaving William to examine the children's report cards. He pays scant attention to Emma's exceptional grades, but he is so disappointed by Willie's poor grades that he grounds him and forbids him from dancing.

Three weeks later, Willie still has not been allowed to dance. He goes to the playground where he is taunted for dancing by Winslow, a local teenage bully. Emma arrives and defends Willie against Winslow, but she still admonishes him for dancing. Emma and Willie fight and complain about their parents before Emma leaves ("They Never Hear What I Say"). Willie expresses to Emma what dancing means to him ("Dancing is Everything"). Willie runs away to Manhattan in search of Dipsey ("Crosstown").

Dipsey is rehearsing his dancers for an industrial show for a shoe buyers' convention. The performance has been designed to showcase Dipsey's dancing and choreographic talents with which he hopes to impress the producers of an out-of-town Broadway tryout ("Fabulous Feet"). Willie arrives during the rehearsal and is uncontrollably drawn into the number, dancing with his uncle. The dancers are so amazed by Willie that they stop dancing and just let him perform. Excited by his nephew's potential, Dipsey rushes the boy home to tell his parents the good news. Dipsey's assistant Carole is left to continue the rehearsal. After the rehearsal, she reflects on her emotions for Dipsey ("I Could Get Used to Him").

Dipsey brings Willie back home and excitedly tells Ginnie and William of Willie's raw talent. William interrupts, furious because Willie ran away and risked his life by going alone to New York City. Sensing his authority slipping away due to Ginnie and Emma's protests, William lashes out and forbids Willie from tap dancing and seeing Dipsey. Willie, heartbroken, runs out onto the terrace, and Dipsey follows him and comforts him, telling him he'll have to dance inside of himself ("Man in the Moon").

Act II[edit]

Willie has not danced for weeks and is miserable. During another breakfast in the Sheridan household, an argument ensues, and William storms out. Emma accuses her mother of not asserting herself nor caring enough about her children. Ginnie accuses Emma of being exactly like her father. They fight ("Like Him"). Dipsey and Carole, now dating and living together, wait in their loft to find out if Dipsey booked the out-of-town tryout in Buffalo, New York. Dipsey has just given up hope when the phone rings telling him he got the job. Dipsey and Carole celebrate, with Dipsey finally succeeding in life ("My Luck Is Changing").

Willie has gone to the playground to be alone, and Emma comes looking for him. This time instead of arguing, they connect and dream about a day they are understood by their parents ("Someday").

Ginnie comes to Dipsey's loft, confused and upset, not knowing how to cheer up Willie. Dipsey tries to convince her to let Willie try out for a role in his new Buffalo show. Ginnie, knowing what the consequences might be, refuses. Echoing Emma's earlier sentiments, Dipsey accuses Ginnie of caring only about keeping her husband happy. Ginnie explains to Dipsey that William was not always like this, and that there is still good inside of him ("I Remember How It Was"). She goes to Willie's bedroom and warily tells him about his audition the next day for Dipsey's show. Willie is overjoyed. Ginnie tucks him in for the night and sings to her son until he falls asleep ("Lullabye").

Willie dreams a wonderful dream starring his grandfather, wherein the following day, Willie auditions for the show. The bug of finally being on a stage propels Willie into a fantasy in which he is surrounded by all of Willie's idols, the great dancers Fred Astaire, Bojangles, Gene Kelly, The Nicholas Brothers, Dipsey and Daddy Bates. They dance with him in his dream ("Dance If It Makes You Happy").

Willie auditions the next day and receives the part. Without celebration, Ginnie takes him and Emma to Dipsey and Carole's house to wait for William and prepare for his reaction to the news. William arrives, and when Ginnie tells him the news, he is outraged. The family is speechless and nervously cowers in front of William before Emma stands up to him. Her speech, coupling the courtroom savvy of a seasoned professional with the vulnerability of a hurt child, is a powerful indictment against William for alienation of affection and loss of aid to dependent children. Ginnie tells William that things cannot continue this way. She demands that she should be just as in charge of the family as he is. William explodes and in a frightening display, pours out his deep-rooted anguish and self-hatred to the family ("William's Song").

Later, alone in front of Dipsey's building, William waits, not knowing what will happen. Emma joins him, and she and her father finally reach an understanding. Willie arrives and tells William that he is not taking the part in the show but still longs to be a dancer. Ginnie appears, followed by Dipsey, and they both make peace with William. They all compromise a little, but they will still remain together as a family ("Class Act [Finale]").

Musical numbers[edit]

Original Broadway Production[edit]

Act I

Another Day — Ginnie, Emma and Willie
Four Strikes Against Me — Emma
Class Act — Ginnie, Dipsey and Daddy Bates
They Never Hear What I Say — Emma and Willie
Dancing Is Everything — Willie
Crosstown — Willie and New Yorkers
Fabulous Feet — Dipsey, Carole and Dancers
I Could Get Used to Him — Carole
Man in the Moon — Dipsey

Act II

Like Him — Ginnie and Emma
My Luck Is Changing — Dipsey
I Remember How It Was — Ginnie
Someday — Emma and Willie
Lullabye — Ginnie
Tap Tap — Daddy Bates, Willie and Dipsey
Dance if It Makes You Happy — Willie, Dipsey, Daddy Bates, Carole and Dancers
William's Song — William
Class Act (Finale) — Willie, Emma, Ginnie, William, Dipsey

National Tour[edit]

Act I

Dipsey's Coming Over - Willie
High Heels - Dipsey, Carole, Dancers
Something Better, Something More - Dipsey
Four Strikes Against Me — Emma
Class Act — Ginnie, Dipsey and Daddy Bates
They Never Hear What I Say — Emma and Willie
Dancing Is Everything — Willie
Crosstown — Willie and New Yorkers
Fabulous Feet — Dipsey, Carole and Dancers
I Could Get Used to Him — Carole
Man in the Moon — Dipsey

Act II

Like Him — Ginnie and Emma
My Luck Is Changing — Dipsey
I Remember How It Was — Ginnie
Someday — Emma and Willie
Lullabye — Ginnie
Tap Tap — Daddy Bates, Willie and Dipsey
Dance if It Makes You Happy — Willie, Dipsey, Daddy Bates, Carole and Dancers
William's Song — William
Class Act (Finale) — Willie, Emma, Ginnie, William, Dipsey

Note: Most productions following the National Tour, including the Encores! production, follow the same tracklist as the National Tour production.

Notable principal casts[edit]

Character	Broadway	US National Tour	NYCC Encores!
Character	1983	1985	2022
Willie	Alfonso Ribeiro	Dule Hill	Alexander Bello
Dipsey	Hinton Battle		Trevor Jackson
Emma	Martine Allard		Shahadi Wright Joseph
Ginnie	Hattie Winston	Monica Pege	Adrienne Walker
William	Samuel E. Wright	Ben Harney	Joshua Henry
Carole	Jackie Lowe	Theresa Hayes	Tracee Beazer
Daddy Bates	Alan Weeks	Harold Nicholas	Dewitt Fleming Jr.
Winslow	Michael Blevins	Mark Santoro	Chance K. Smith

Productions[edit]

The musical opened on Broadway on December 21, 1983, at the Broadhurst Theatre and ran until March 11, 1984. On March 27, 1984, it resumed performances at the Minskoff Theatre, closing on August 11, 1985, for a total run of 669 performances. Directed by Vivian Matalon with musical staging and dances by Danny Daniels, it featured Hinton Battle, Samuel E. Wright, Hattie Winston, Martine Allard, and Alfonso Ribeiro as Willie. In 1984 Ribeiro's 10-year-old understudy, Savion Glover, took over the title role.^[1]

The reviews were mixed. Frank Rich, in his review for The New York Times praised the choreography and many actors' performances but saw the plot as "earnest [but] plodding" and the music forgettable.^[2]

A production directed by Jerry Zaks with choreography by Danny Daniels ran at the Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles, California, in September 1985 as part of a tour.^[3] This production also ran in Miami Beach, Florida in April 1986^[4] and Chicago, Illinois in May 1986.^[5]

As part of its "Encores!" program, New York City Center mounted a production running February 2-6, 2022. Lydia Diamond wrote the concert adaptation. Kenny Leon directed, with choreography by Jared Grimes.

Awards and nominations[edit]

Original Broadway production[edit]

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result
1984	Tony Award	Best Musical		Nominated
		Best Book of a Musical	Charles Blackwell	Nominated
		Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical	Hinton Battle	Won
		Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical	Samuel E. Wright	Nominated
		Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical	Martine Allard	Nominated
		Best Direction of a Musical	Vivian Matalon	Nominated
		Best Choreography	Danny Daniels	Won
	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical	Hinton Battle	Nominated

References[edit]

^ Cullen, Frank (2006). Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America, vol. 1 (1 ed.). New York, NY: Routledge. p. 443. ISBN 978-0415938532.
^ Rich, Frank. "A Boy And His Dreams In 'Tap Dance Kid'". The New York Times. December 22, 1983. Retrieved November 24, 2006. (Subscription required)
^ Sullivan, Dan. "Stage Review:Tapping Out A Dance Story At The Pantages" Los Angeles Times, September 24, 1985
^ Zink, Jack. "'Tap Dance Kid' A Kick From Start To Finish" SunSentinel.com, April 11, 1986
^ Voedisch, Lynn. "'Tap Dance Kid' shuffles too much" Chicago Sun-Times, (article synopsis), May 15, 1986

External links[edit]

[1] Cullen, Frank (2006). Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America, vol. 1 (1 ed.). New York, NY: Routledge. p. 443. ISBN 978-0415938532.

[2] Rich, Frank. "A Boy And His Dreams In 'Tap Dance Kid'". The New York Times. December 22, 1983. Retrieved November 24, 2006. (Subscription required)

[3] Sullivan, Dan. "Stage Review:Tapping Out A Dance Story At The Pantages" Los Angeles Times, September 24, 1985

[4] Zink, Jack. "'Tap Dance Kid' A Kick From Start To Finish" SunSentinel.com, April 11, 1986

[5] Voedisch, Lynn. "'Tap Dance Kid' shuffles too much" Chicago Sun-Times, (article synopsis), May 15, 1986

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |book= Charles Blackwell
 |basis= [[Louise Fitzhugh]] novel ''[[Nobody's Family is Going to Change]]''
-|productions= 1983 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]<br />2021 [[New York City Center]] [[Encores!]]
+|productions= 1983 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]<br />2022 [[New York City Center]] [[Encores!]]
 <!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
 |awards=
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 '''''The Tap Dance Kid''''' is a [[musical theatre|musical]] based on the novel ''Nobody's Family is Going to Change'' by [[Louise Fitzhugh]]. It was written by Charles Blackwell with music by [[Henry Krieger]] and lyrics by [[Robert Lorick]].
 <!--spacing, please do not remove-->
-==Productions==
-The musical opened on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] on December 21, 1983 at the [[Broadhurst Theatre]] and ran until March 11, 1984. On March 27, 1984 it resumed performances at the [[Minskoff Theatre]], closing on August 11, 1985, for a total run of 669 performances.
-Directed by [[Vivian Matalon]] with musical staging and dances by [[Danny Daniels]], it featured [[Hinton Battle]], [[Samuel E. Wright]], [[Hattie Winston]], [[Martine Allard]], and [[Alfonso Ribeiro]] as Willie.  In 1984 Ribeiro's 10-year-old understudy, [[Savion Glover]], took over the title role.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cullen|first=Frank|title=Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America, vol. 1|year=2006|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0415938532|edition=1|page=443}}</ref>
-Reviews were mixed. [[Frank Rich]], in his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised the choreography and many actors' performances but saw the plot as "earnest [but] plodding" and the music forgettable.<ref>Rich, Frank. [http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9903E7D71438F931A15751C1A965948260 "A Boy And His Dreams In 'Tap Dance Kid'"]. ''The New York Times''. December 22, 1983. Retrieved November 24, 2006. (Subscription required)</ref>
-A production directed by [[Jerry Zaks]] with choreography by [[Danny Daniels]] ran at the [[Pantages Theatre (Hollywood)|Pantages Theatre]], Los Angeles, California, in September 1985 as part of a tour.<ref>Sullivan, Dan. [http://articles.latimes.com/1985-09-24/entertainment/ca-18783_1 "Stage Review:Tapping Out A Dance Story At The Pantages"] ''Los Angeles Times'', September 24, 1985</ref> This production also ran in [[Miami Beach, Florida]] in April 1986<ref>Zink, Jack. [http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-04-11/features/8601220013_1_martine-allard-monica-pege-dance "'Tap Dance Kid' A Kick From Start To Finish"] SunSentinel.com, April 11, 1986</ref> and Chicago, Illinois in May 1986.<ref>Voedisch, Lynn. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121105081250/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3766053.html  "'Tap Dance Kid' shuffles too much"] ''Chicago Sun-Times'', (article synopsis), May 15, 1986</ref>
 ==Synopsis==
 ===Act I===
-William Sheridan, a successful attorney, lives on Roosevelt Island with his wife, Ginnie and their two children: 14 year old Emma, an outspoken, independant-minded, and overweight girl who wants to be a lawyer more than anything, and 10 year old Willie, and William wants to follow in his footsteps but all he wants is to be a tap dancer. The show opens on a typical morning with Ginnie preparing breakfast and preparing for the day and Emma and Willie arguing ("Another Day"). Later that day, Emma returns home from school, angry at her parents and the world for underestimating and mistreating her ("Four Strikes Against Me"). Ginnie's brother, Dipsey Bates arrives for Willie's tap lesson and the kids urge him to tell stories about the old days when Ginnie, Dipsey and their late father, Daddy Bates performed as a vaudeville trio ("Class Act"). The number ends as William returns home from work. Finding his study in disarray. he cooly greets Dipsey, for whom he has little use. Thirty-three years old and he's a dancer, for heaven's sake! Dipsey exits leaving William to examine the childrens' report cards. He pays scant attention to Emma's exceptional grades, but is so disappointed by Willie's poor grades that he grounds him and forbids him from dancing. Three weeks later, Willie still hasn't been allowed to dance. He goes to the playground where he is made fun of for dancing by Winslow, a local teenage bully. Emma shows up and defends him against Winslow, but still admonishes him for dancing. Emma and Willie fight and complain about their parents before Emma leaves ("They Never Hear What I Say"). Willie expresses to Emma what dancing means to him ("Dancing is Everything"). Willie runs away to Manhattan in search of Dipsey ("Crosstown").
+William Sheridan, a successful attorney, lives on [[Roosevelt Island]] with his wife Ginnie and their two children: 14-year-old Emma, an outspoken, independent-minded, and overweight girl who wants to be a lawyer more than anything, and 10-year-old Willie, whom William wants to follow in his footsteps. However all Willie wants is to be a tap dancer. The show opens on a typical morning with Ginnie preparing breakfast and preparing for the day and Emma and Willie arguing ("Another Day"). Later that day, Emma returns home from school, angry at her parents and the world for underestimating and mistreating her ("Four Strikes Against Me"). Ginnie's brother Dipsey Bates arrives for Willie's tap lesson. The kids urge him to tell stories about the old days when Ginnie, Dipsey and their late father Daddy Bates performed as a [[vaudeville]] trio ("Class Act"). The number ends as William returns home from work. Finding his study in disarray. He coolly greets Dipsey, for whom he has little use as a 33-year-old  dancer. Dipsey exits, leaving William to examine the children's report cards. He pays scant attention to Emma's exceptional grades, but he is so disappointed by Willie's poor grades that he grounds him and forbids him from dancing.
+Three weeks later, Willie still has not been allowed to dance. He goes to the playground where he is taunted for dancing by Winslow, a local teenage bully. Emma arrives and defends Willie against Winslow, but she still admonishes him for dancing. Emma and Willie fight and complain about their parents before Emma leaves ("They Never Hear What I Say"). Willie expresses to Emma what dancing means to him ("Dancing is Everything"). Willie runs away to [[Manhattan]] in search of Dipsey ("Crosstown").
-Dipsey is rehearsing his dancers for an industrial show for a shoe buyers' convention. Not-so-coincidentally, the number has been designed to showcase Dipsey's dancing and choreographic talents with which he hopes to impress the producers of an out-of-town Broadway tryout ("Fabulous Feet"). Willie arrives during the rehearsal and is uncontrollably drawn into the number, dancing with his uncle. The dancers are so amazed by WIllie they stop dancing and just let him perform. Excited by his nephew's potential, Dipsey rushes the boy home to tell his parents the good news. Dipsey's assistant, Carole is left to continue the rehearsal. After the rehearsal, she reflects on her emotions for Dipsey ("I Could Get Used to Him").
+Dipsey is rehearsing his dancers for an industrial show for a shoe buyers' convention. The performance has been designed to showcase Dipsey's dancing and choreographic talents with which he hopes to impress the producers of an out-of-town Broadway tryout ("Fabulous Feet"). Willie arrives during the rehearsal and is uncontrollably drawn into the number, dancing with his uncle. The dancers are so amazed by Willie that they stop dancing and just let him perform. Excited by his nephew's potential, Dipsey rushes the boy home to tell his parents the good news. Dipsey's assistant Carole is left to continue the rehearsal. After the rehearsal, she reflects on her emotions for Dipsey ("I Could Get Used to Him").
-Dipsey brings Willie back home and excitedly tells Ginnie and William of Willie's raw talent. William cuts him off, irrationally furious because Willie ran away and risked his life by going alone to New York City. Sensing his authority slipping away due to Ginnie and Emma's protests, William lashes out and forbids Willie from tap dancing and seeing Dipsey. Willie, heartbroken, runs out onto the terrace, and Dipsey follows him and comforts him, telling him he'll have to dance inside of himself ("Man on the Moon").
+Dipsey brings Willie back home and excitedly tells Ginnie and William of Willie's raw talent. William interrupts, furious because Willie ran away and risked his life by going alone to New York City. Sensing his authority slipping away due to Ginnie and Emma's protests, William lashes out and forbids Willie from tap dancing and seeing Dipsey. Willie, heartbroken, runs out onto the terrace, and Dipsey follows him and comforts him, telling him he'll have to dance inside of himself ("Man in the Moon").
 ===Act II===
-Act II opens the same way Act II did. Another breakfast in the Sheridan household. Willie hasn't danced for some time now. He's too quiet. He looks gray! An argument ensues at the table and William storms out. Emma accuses her mother of not asserting herself nor caring enough about her children. Ginnie accuses Emma of being exactly like her father. They fight ("Like Him"). Dipsey and Carole, now dating and living together, wait in their loft to find out if Dipsey booked the out-of-town tryout in Buffalo. Dipsey has just given up hope when the phone rings telling him he got the job. Dipsey and Carole celebrate, with Dipsey finally succeeding in life ("My Luck Is Changing"). Willie has run off to the playground to be alone and Emma comes looking for him. This time instead of arguing, they connect and dream about a day they are understood by their parents ("Someday").
+Willie has not danced for weeks and is miserable. During another breakfast in the Sheridan household, an argument ensues, and William storms out. Emma accuses her mother of not asserting herself nor caring enough about her children. Ginnie accuses Emma of being exactly like her father. They fight ("Like Him"). Dipsey and Carole, now dating and living together, wait in their loft to find out if Dipsey booked the out-of-town tryout in [[Buffalo, New York]]. Dipsey has just given up hope when the phone rings telling him he got the job. Dipsey and Carole celebrate, with Dipsey finally succeeding in life ("My Luck Is Changing").
+Willie has gone to the playground to be alone, and Emma comes looking for him. This time instead of arguing, they connect and dream about a day they are understood by their parents ("Someday").
-Ginnie comes to Dipsey's loft, confused and upset, not knowing how to cheer Willie up. Dipsey tries to convince her to let Willie try out for a role in his new Buffalo show. Ginnie, knowing what the consequences might be, refuses. Echoing Emma's earlier sentiments, Dipsey accuses Ginnie of caring only about keeping her husband happy. Ginnie explains to Dipsey that William wasn't always like that and that there is still good inside of him ("I Remember How It Was"). She goes to Willie's bedroom and warily tells him about his audition the next day for Dipsey's show. Willie is overjoyed. Ginnie tucks him in for the night and sings to her son until he falls asleep ("Lullabye"). Willie dreams a wonderful dream starring his grandfather. The following day. Willie auditions for the show. The bug of finally being on a stage propels Willie into o technicolor fantasy in which he is surrounded by his idols, all the great dancers: Fred Astaire, Bojangles, Gene Kelly, The Nicholas Brothers, Dipsey and Daddy Bates — all of Willie's idols, dancing with him in his dream ("Dance If It Makes You Happy").
+Ginnie comes to Dipsey's loft, confused and upset, not knowing how to cheer up Willie. Dipsey tries to convince her to let Willie try out for a role in his new Buffalo show. Ginnie, knowing what the consequences might be, refuses. Echoing Emma's earlier sentiments, Dipsey accuses Ginnie of caring only about keeping her husband happy. Ginnie explains to Dipsey that William was not always like this, and that there is still good inside of him ("I Remember How It Was"). She goes to Willie's bedroom and warily tells him about his audition the next day for Dipsey's show. Willie is overjoyed. Ginnie tucks him in for the night and sings to her son until he falls asleep ("Lullabye").
-Willie auditions the next day gets the part. Without celebration, Ginnie takes him and Emma to Dipsey and Carole's house to wait for william and prepare for his reaction to the news. William arrives and when Ginnie tells him the news, he is outraged. The family is speechless and nervously cowers in front of William before Emma stands up to him. Her speech, coupling the courtroom savvy of a seasoned professional with the vulnerability of a hurt child, is a powerful indictment against William for alienation of affection and loss of aid to dependent children, Ginnie then tells William that things can't go on the way they are. She demands that she should be just as in charge of the family as he is. William explodes and in a frightening display, pours out his deep-rooted anguish and self-hatred to the family (William's Song"). William, alone now in front of Dipsey's building, waits, not knowing what will happen. Emma comes out and she and her father finally reach an understanding. Willie comes out and ells William that he's not taking the part in the show but still longs to be a dancer. Then Ginnie comes out, followed by Dipsey and they both make peace with William. They all had to compromise a little but they will still remain together as a family ("Class Act [Finale]")
+Willie dreams a wonderful dream starring his grandfather, wherein the following day, Willie auditions for the show. The bug of finally being on a stage propels Willie into a fantasy in which he is surrounded by all of Willie's idols, the great dancers [[Fred Astaire]], [[Bill Robinson|Bojangles]], [[Gene Kelly]], [[The Nicholas Brothers]], Dipsey and Daddy Bates. They dance with him in his dream ("Dance If It Makes You Happy").
-==Musical Numbers==
+Willie auditions the next day and receives the part. Without celebration, Ginnie takes him and Emma to Dipsey and Carole's house to wait for William and prepare for his reaction to the news. William arrives, and when Ginnie tells him the news, he is outraged. The family is speechless and nervously cowers in front of William before Emma stands up to him. Her speech, coupling the courtroom savvy of a seasoned professional with the vulnerability of a hurt child, is a powerful indictment against William for alienation of affection and loss of aid to dependent children. Ginnie tells William that things cannot continue this way. She demands that she should be just as in charge of the family as he is. William explodes and in a frightening display, pours out his deep-rooted anguish and self-hatred to the family ("William's Song").
+Later, alone in front of Dipsey's building, William waits, not knowing what will happen. Emma joins him, and she and her father finally reach an understanding. Willie arrives and tells William that he is not taking the part in the show but still longs to be a dancer. Ginnie appears, followed by Dipsey, and they both make peace with William. They all compromise a little, but they will still remain together as a family ("Class Act [Finale]").
+==Musical numbers==
 ===Original Broadway Production===
@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 *Fabulous Feet  — Dipsey, Carole and Dancers
 *I Could Get Used to Him  — Carole
 *Man in the Moon  — Dipsey
 {{col-2}}
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 *Class Act (Finale)  — Willie, Emma, Ginnie, William, Dipsey
 {{col-end}}
 ===National Tour===
 {{col-begin}}
@@ Line 82: / Line 83: @@
 *Fabulous Feet  — Dipsey, Carole and Dancers
 *I Could Get Used to Him  — Carole
 *Man in the Moon  — Dipsey
 {{col-2}}
@@ Line 96: / Line 97: @@
 *Class Act (Finale)  — Willie, Emma, Ginnie, William, Dipsey
 {{col-end}}
-Note: Most productions following the National Tour, including the [[Encores!]] prodution, follow the same tracklist as the National Tour production.
+Note: Most productions following the National Tour, including the [[Encores!]] production, follow the same tracklist as the National Tour production.
-== Notable Casts ==
+== Notable principal casts ==
 {| class="wikitable"
-!Character
+!rowspan=2|Character
-![[Broadway]]<br> <small>1983</small>
+![[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]
+!US National Tour
-![[New York City Center]] [[Encores!]] <br> <small>2021</small>
+![[New York City Center|NYCC]] [[Encores!]]
+|-
+!1983
+!1985
+!2022
 |-
 !Willie
-|colspan='1' align=center| [[Alphonso Ribeiro]]
+| align=center| [[Alfonso Ribeiro]]
-|colspan='1' align=center| Alexander Bello
+| align=center| [[Dule Hill]]
+| align=center| Alexander Bello
 |-
 !Dipsey
-|colspan='1' align=center| [[Hinton Battle]]
+| colspan='2' align=center| [[Hinton Battle]]
-|colspan='1' align=center| [[Trevor Jackson (performer)|Trevor Jackson]]
+| align=center| Trevor Jackson
 |-
 !Emma
-|colspan='1' align=center| Martine Allard
+| colspan='2' align=center| Martine Allard
-|colspan="1" align="center" | [[Shahadi Wright Joseph]]
+| align=center| [[Shahadi Wright Joseph]]
 |-
 !Ginnie
-|colspan='1' align=center| Hattie Winston
+| align=center| [[Hattie Winston]]
-|colspan='1' align=center| Adrienne Walker
+| align=center| Monica Pege
+| align=center| Adrienne Walker
 |-
 !William
-|colspan='1' align=center| Samuel E. Wright
+| align=center| [[Samuel E. Wright]]
-|colspan='1' align=center| [[Joshua Henry]]
+| align=center| [[Ben Harney]]
+| align=center| [[Joshua Henry]]
 |-
 !Carole
-|colspan='1' align=center| Jackie Lowe
+| align=center| Jackie Lowe
-|colspan='1' align=center| Tracee Beazer
+| align=center| Theresa Hayes
+| align=center| Tracee Beazer
 |-
 !Daddy Bates
-|colspan='1' align=center| Alan Weeks
+| align=center| Alan Weeks
-|colspan='1' align=center| DeWitt Fleming Jr.
+| align=center| [[Harold Nicholas]]
+| align=center| [[Dewitt Fleming Jr.]]
+|-
+!Winslow
+| align=center| Michael Blevins
+| align=center| Mark Santoro
+| align=center| Chance K. Smith
 |}
+==Productions==
-==Awards and nominations==
+The musical opened on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] on December 21, 1983, at the [[Broadhurst Theatre]] and ran until March 11, 1984. On March 27, 1984, it resumed performances at the [[Minskoff Theatre]], closing on August 11, 1985, for a total run of 669 performances.
+Directed by [[Vivian Matalon]] with musical staging and dances by [[Danny Daniels]], it featured [[Hinton Battle]], [[Samuel E. Wright]], [[Hattie Winston]], [[Martine Allard]], and [[Alfonso Ribeiro]] as Willie.  In 1984 Ribeiro's 10-year-old understudy, [[Savion Glover]], took over the title role.<ref>{{cite book|last=Cullen|first=Frank|title=Vaudeville, Old and New: An Encyclopedia of Variety Performers in America, vol. 1|year=2006|publisher=Routledge|location=New York, NY|isbn=978-0415938532|edition=1|page=443}}</ref>
+The reviews were mixed. [[Frank Rich]], in his review for ''[[The New York Times]]'' praised the choreography and many actors' performances but saw the plot as "earnest [but] plodding" and the music forgettable.<ref>Rich, Frank. [http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9903E7D71438F931A15751C1A965948260 "A Boy And His Dreams In 'Tap Dance Kid'"]. ''The New York Times''. December 22, 1983. Retrieved November 24, 2006. (Subscription required)</ref>
+A production directed by [[Jerry Zaks]] with choreography by [[Danny Daniels]] ran at the [[Pantages Theatre (Hollywood)|Pantages Theatre]], Los Angeles, California, in September 1985 as part of a tour.<ref>Sullivan, Dan. [http://articles.latimes.com/1985-09-24/entertainment/ca-18783_1 "Stage Review:Tapping Out A Dance Story At The Pantages"] ''Los Angeles Times'', September 24, 1985</ref> This production also ran in [[Miami Beach, Florida]] in April 1986<ref>Zink, Jack. [http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1986-04-11/features/8601220013_1_martine-allard-monica-pege-dance "'Tap Dance Kid' A Kick From Start To Finish"] SunSentinel.com, April 11, 1986</ref> and Chicago, Illinois in May 1986.<ref>Voedisch, Lynn. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121105081250/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3766053.html  "'Tap Dance Kid' shuffles too much"] ''Chicago Sun-Times'', (article synopsis), May 15, 1986</ref>
+As part of its "Encores!" program, New York City Center mounted a production running February 2-6, 2022. [[Lydia Diamond]] wrote the concert adaptation. [[Kenny Leon]] directed, with choreography by [[Jared Grimes]].
+==Awards and nominations==
 ===Original Broadway production===
 {| class="wikitable" width="95%"
@@ Line 190: / Line 215: @@
 [[Category:Musicals based on novels]]
 [[Category:Tony Award-winning musicals]]
+[[Category:Musicals set in Manhattan]]