The cast will include Tony Award winner Lillias White, Tony Award nominee Andre De Shields, five-time Emmy Award nominee Georgia Engel, Haven Burton, Lori Tan Chinn and stage and screen star Stefanie Powers.
Directed and choreographed by Tony winner Jerry Mitchell, the production will continue through Jan. 17, 2016, before heading to Broadway in spring 2016.
Gotta Dance features a book by Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (Aladdin) and Tony Award winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), original music by Tony Award nominee Matthew Sklar (Elf) and the late Tony and Oscar winner Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde).
"In 2007," according to press notes, "a group of expert dancers was tasked with getting professional basketball’s first ever senior citizen dance team performance-ready. The venue? Center court. The genre? Hip-hop. Over the coming months, bonds would be formed, generation gaps would be crossed, and, eventually, some pretty hot moves would be busted. Gotta Dance tells the remarkable true story of these wildly diverse seniors with a common goal, the young coaches who help them achieve it, and the unlikely art form that brings them all together."
The creative team reunites Mitchell with his Kinky Boots collaborators, including five-time Tony Award nominee David Rockwell (scenic design), Tony Award-winner Gregg Barnes (costume design) and Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner (lighting design), along with Nick Kenkel (co-choreography), four-time Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski (sound design), Tony Award winner Larry Hochman (orchestrations), Charlie Alterman (musical director) and Telsey + Company (casting). “The real-life senior dancers at the core of Gotta Dance simply blew me away,” said producer Berinstein, who also produced and directed the 2008 documentary, in a statement. “With heart, soul, gusto, guts and some hot dance moves…they refused to accept ‘no’ for an answer and, instead, overcame endless obstacles and misperceptions to realize their dreams. Aside from being so very cool...they are endlessly inspiring.”
“Gotta Dance celebrates the singular power of music and dance to unleash big emotions and bring people together,” added producer Bill Damaschke. “It gives me so much joy that the dream team of creative minds behind this musical adaptation crosses generations, mirroring the spirit and soul of the characters of the show. We are particularly excited to bring the show to Chicago – not only one of the nation’s preeminent breeding grounds for new theater works, but also home to some of the world’s most fervent basketball fans. Go Bulls!”
Composer Sklar completed the score after Mr. Hamlisch died in 2012.
Group tickets for 10 or more are now on sale by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Individual tickets will go on-sale at a later date. For more information, visit BroadwayInChicago.com.
