Broadway-Bound Gotta Dance Announces Title Change
(© Matthew Murphy)
The Broadway-bound musical Gotta Dance has undergone a title change in advance of its New York premiere. Now titled Half Time, the show will open in the spring of 2017 at a Broadway theater to be announced. Tony winner Jerry Mitchell serves as director and choreographer.
Based on a true story, the musical revolves around 10 dancers who audition to dance at the half time show for a major NBA team. They all love to dance, they all have something to prove, and they are all over 60. It's only after making the cut that they find out they will be dancing in a style that is completely new to all of them. Instead of tap, salsa, or swing, they will have to dance hip-hop.
The show features a book by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar, and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Ester Dean, who has coauthored songs for Beyoncé, Katy Perry, and more, will join the creative team to collaborate with Sklar and Benamin on a new grand finale. Half Time features additional music by Marvin Hamlisch.
When the musical premiered in 2015 in Chicago, the cast included André De Shields, Georgia Engel, Lillias White, Stefanie Powers, Haven Burton, Lori Tan Chinn, Nancy Ticotin, Joanna Jones, Madeline Doherty, Tracy Jai Edwards, Diane Findlay, Lenora Nemetz, Jonalyn Saxer, Kay Walbye, Alexander Aguilar, Adinah Alexander, Sydni Beaudoin, Holly Ann Butler, Paula Castelon, Ari Groover, Colby Lewis, Lance Roberts, Elise Santora, Austin Scott III, and Virginia Ann Woodruff.
The creative team of Half Time includes David Rockwell (scenic design), Gregg Barnes (costume design), Kenneth Posner (lighting design), Peter Hylenski (sound design), Josh Marquette (hair design), Jason Lee Courson (projection design), Larry Hochman (orchestrations), Charlie Alterman (musical director), and Kenny Seymour (dance-music arranger/electronic-music producer).
