Maurice Hines Tappin' Thru Life to Make Off-Broadway Debut at New World Stages
(© Tony Powell)
Maurice Hines Tappin' Thru Life, a song-and-dance musical celebrating Hines' family, career, and the showmanship of a bygone era, will come to New York City's New World Stages next month. Directed by Jeff Calhoun, performances will begin December 23 in advance of a January 11, 2016 opening. Hines will star in the off-Broadway production, alongside the tap-dancing Manzari brothers and the all-female Diva Jazz Orchestra, led by drummer Sherrie Maricle.
Maurice and his brother — the late, great Gregory Hines — began working when they were five and three years old, respectively. Throughout the show, Hines shares funny and heartbreaking experiences about his life with Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Lena Horne, Judy Garland, and many others in a tribute to his loving family, both onstage and off.
The musical comes to New York following a 2013 coproduction with Arena Stage and Alliance Theatre. The creative team features set design by Tobin Ost, sound design by Michael Hahn, lighting design by Michael Gilliam, and projection design by Darrel Maloney.
"My interest is in the today and tomorrow of life and popular culture," said Hines. "I love discovering and mentoring new talent as well as performing and telling stories about the greats."
