Damiano, Engel, Harris, Polic Set for Musical Theatre West’s Never Gonna Dance

Tami Tappan Damiano, David Engel, Harriet Harris, and Henry Polic II will star in the Musical Theatre West production of Never Gonna Dance, February 18-March 5 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. The show is being directed by Larry Raben, with choreography by Lee Martino and musical direction by Darryl Archibald.

Loosely based on the RKO film Swing Time, the musical tells the story of Lucky and Penny (Engel and Damiano), two dancers who instantly fall in love in New York and try to win a big contest. Never Gonna Dance has a score by Jerome Kern (with various lyricists) and a book by Jeffrey Hatcher. The show had a three-month Broadway run in 2003-2004 and earned two Tony Award nominations.

The cast of the Musical Theatre West production also includes Chip Abbott, Shell Bauman, Seth Belliston, Danial Brown, Sascha Childers, Penny Collins, Debortah Fauerbach, Joshua Finkel, Karla Franko, Kristyn Green, James Gruessing, Kim Mikesell, John Moschitta, Jr., Robert Pieranunzi, Aaron Pomeroy, Kate Roth, Daniel Smith, John J. Todd, Yvette Tucker, and Kim Van Biene.
The design team includes Joe Yakovetic (sets), Thomas G. Marquez (costumes), and Julie Ferrin (sound).

Damiano is currently starring in the Reprise! production of City of Angels.
Engel has been seen on Broadway in Putting It Together and La Cage aux Folles, and he has won two Ovation Awards for his work in Los Angeles. Harris, who will play Mabel, is a Tony Award winner for Thoroughly Modern Millie and has a recurring role on the hit TV series Desperate Housewives. Polic, who will play Alfred, has appeared in more than 60 theatrical productions and is well known for his work as Jerry Silver on the TV series Webster.