Teaches Producing. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Writer-director-producer George C. Wolfe (center) has won six Tony Awards, for "Angels in America," "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk," "Elaine Stritch At Liberty," and "Take Me Out," and also directed "Jelly's Last Jam," "On the Town" and "The Normal Heart. “The arts are very important as a part of the soul,” Glover says. ", Wolfe encourages his actors to contribute to their roles and the show in total: "Everybody in the cast, they have secrets. Write me a note and I’ll get back to you’, (now) we’re just saying ‘why don’t you just shoot me a text’,” Glover says. ", Rehearsals of the Broadway musical "Shuffle Along.". “It’s definitely a lot of work,” Foreman says, “but at the end of the day, it will be worth it.”. Our journalism needs your support now. Glover knows that programs like this have not always been readily available in Newark. The musical will stay true to the original plot, but it will feel more in tune with modern times. Richard Riaz Yoder has appeared on Broadway in "On The Twentieth Century" and "Irving Berlin's White Christmas," and was in the national tour of "42nd Street. In addition to the summer youth program, Schreiber says NJPAC offers 220 10-to-12-week arts residencies at schools in the Greater Newark Area. What happens if the president doesn't accept the election results? Using her photographic memory ("I know in school, studying for exams, I would remember how a professor wrote something on the board"), she is responsible for learning every dancer's part. Though she's making her Broadway debut, Royster is the show's dance captain. Foreman is ecstatic to take on the role. Savion Glover, the legendary American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer makes his 54 Below debut. "In our early years of working together, I was there, I was present, but the need to want to learn more wasn't there," Glover told CBS News. Glover’s portrayal of the same character on Broadway catapulted him to national fame. Some may say the students have some pretty big tap shoes to fill. “The Tap Dance Kid” runs Sept. 13, 14 and 15 at NJPAC. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Copyright © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc.All rights reserved. This is one Tap Dance Kid not to be missed. After making his Broadway debut in The Tap Dance Kid at the age of 12, he has gone on to perform and choreograph all over the world in theater, television and film. You can find tickets here. Musicals are horrible, horrible things to work on, because they're just hard," Wolfe told CBS News' Maurice DuBois. ", The Music Box Theatre opened in 1921, and has been the home for such productions as "Of Thee I Sing," "Dinner at Eight," "I Remember Mama," "Summer and Smoke," "Sleuth," "Agnes of God," " Les Liaisons Dangereuses," "King Charles III," and revivals of "Amadeus," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Pippin. Legendary performer Josephine Baker started her career in the show, which also featured a young baritone by the name of Paul Robeson. Only for this production, Glover is the director. Tap dance legend, Savion Glover, directs the next generation of dancers in a reboot of "The Tap Dance Kid". Let us know at nj.com/tips. Tennyson Donnie Coleman may be reached at tcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? With more mail-in ballots, officials urge patience on election night, Americans and the right to vote: Why it's not easy for everyone, Why some mail-in ballots are rejected and how to make sure your vote counts. And their happy feet are even faster, a combination of lightning quick heel and toe movements. Glover serves on NJPAC’s Board of Directors, and helps run the summer initiative. Savion Glover, the legendary American tap dancer, actor, and choreographer makes his 54 Below debut. Glover - a tap-dancing legend - won a Tony Award for 1996's "Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk." Election Day could turn into "Election Week" with rise in mail ballots. "Versus this time, [when] I'm learning as we're working.". The 45-year-old Broadway performer and choreographer is essentially a human metronome, each step a pulse. Glover’s students are part of New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s young artist summer intensive program. A new production, "Shuffle Along, or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed After," re-imagines the show and its backstage drama, and stars some of the most heralded performers on Broadway today. Postal Service awards $5 million contract to DeJoy's former company, Battleground Tracker: Latest polls, state of the race and more, 5 things to know about CBS News' 2020 Battleground Tracker, CBS News coverage of voting rights issues. He’s teaching the youngsters to move to the beat of their own rhythmic hearts. The Newark native grew up admiring legendary dancers like Gregory Hines and Jimmy Slide. “Watch the rhythm,” tap dance legend Savion Glover instructs from the back of the room. The Juilliard-trained McDonald is a record-breaking six-time Tony Award-winner (for "Carousel," "Master Class," "Ragtime," "A Raisin in the Sun," "Porgy and Bess," and "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill"). He bounces his foot up and down: one tap, two taps, three taps, four. Audra McDonald arrives at the stage door for the Music Box Theatre in New York City. Now he's revamping the musical and a New Jersey kid is taking on the role Glover made famous in the 1980s. He is known for his work on Happy Feet (2006), Bamboozled (2000) and Sesame Street (1969). “Some of the lyrics may have been something like ‘Hey, I don’t have time. ", Glover is now an older, wiser man. At the end of each summer, the students put on an elaborate production at the theater. It is easy to claim Savion Glover as the best tap-dancer of his generation. Teaches Directing. “My goal is to allow (the show) to feel presently nostalgic,” Glover says. Andre De Shields. Choreographer Savion Glover confers with a dancer. Born in San Antonio, Karissa Royster began dancing at age three, then she figure-skated. David Byrne. But the production was pretty much forgotten to history, until now. Tap dancer, Savion Glover, rose to fame with his role in the original Broadway production. Teaches Self Love. Find him on Facebook. “I like to be corrected because it lets me know how to do it better,” Jocelyn Creekmur, a 19-year-old Montclair State University theatre student says, “I’m always striving to be better, do it a different way, open up my horizon, open up my perspective.”, Ellis Foreman and Jocelyn Creekmur (left to right) star in NJPAC's reimagining of Broadway musical "The Tap Dance Kid.". Porter won a Tony Award for his performance as Lola in the musical "Kinky Boots," and has also appeared in "Miss Saigon," "Five Guys Named Moe," "Grease" and "Smokey Joe's Café. “Working with Savion is very fun, and very educational,” 14-year-old Ellis Foreman, who plays the lead role, Willie, says. Foreman and his fellow cast members spend five hours a day, five days a week nailing the show’s choreography, learning to sing the songs and memorize the lines. This month, he'll open the Vail International Dance Festival. Tom Kitt. Savion Glover has been hailed as a savior of sorts this past season for bringing revolutionary expressiveness to tap dance in this unexpected Broadway hit at the Ambassador Theatre. Choreographer Savion Glover demonstrates moves. Dolly Trolley. "To be at this level already, it doesn't get any better than Broadway for a Broadway talent," said Brian Stokes Mitchell. But Glover doesn’t see it that way. He's also appeared in "The Tap Dance Kid," "Black and Blue," and "Jelly's Last Jam. Choreographer Savion Glover demonstrates moves. Today, at 41 years old, he still hopes to keep learning, improving, expanding and challenging himself and audiences. Julie Taymor. This year, they’ll star in a reimagining of the Broadway show that made Glover famous in 1984: “The Tap Dance Kid" — the story of a young boy who dreams of becoming a tap dancer, but first he must convince his father to let him pursue his passion. BROADWAY SHOWS SUSPENDED THROUGH MAY 30th. “They are our future,” Glover says, while explaining why the next generation of dancers have the potential to become legendary artists in their own right, “I’m happy that they are smarter...that they are able to understand how to take better advantage of their options.”. Teaches Composing . Billy Porter seated with a copy of the "Shuffle Along" script. What is ballot harvesting — and should you hand your ballot to a stranger? "You know, if they're here at this age, that bodes well, I think, for [their] futures. Subscribe to NJ.com », Tennyson Donyéa | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, New Jersey mandates that all schools must offer visual and performing arts courses in some form. Savion Glover is bringing back the 1980s Broadway show that made him famous ("The Tap Dance Kid").SL. She's just earned a degree in political science from New York University.