Both actors were seen in the world premiere of the musical (then called Gotta Dance) in Chicago in December 2015. Based on the acclaimed 2008 documentary Gotta Dance, about professional basketball’s first-ever aged 60-and-older dance team, the musical will begin performances at the New Jersey venue May 31, 2018, and continue through July 1. Additional casting will be announced at a later time.
Half Time has a book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and additional music by Marvin Hamlisch and Ester Dean. Tony winner Jerry Mitchell directs and choreographs.
“I am thrilled our new musical Half Time will be a part of the very exciting 2017-2018 Paper Mill season,” said Mitchell in a statement. “Half Time celebrates the singular power of music and dance to unleash big emotions and bring people together. We can’t wait to share it with the amazing audiences at Paper Mill.”
“We are excited to welcome legends Georgia Engel and Lillias White to Paper Mill Playhouse,” added Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill Playhouse producing artistic director. “This new musical, inspired by the documentary Gotta Dance, is a true New Jersey story that will be thrilling for audiences of any age.”
The creative team also includes Tony Award-winning scenic designer David Rockwell, Tony Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes, Tony Award-winning lighting designer Kenneth Posner, co-choreographer Nick Kenkel, four-time Tony-nominated sound designer Peter Hylenski, projection designer Jason Lee Courson, Drama Desk-nominated hair and wig designer Josh Marquette, Tony Award-winning orchestrator Larry Hochman, and musical director Charlie Alterman, with casting by Telsey + Company.
White has been a special guest performer on two of Playbill’s Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Cabins are available for Playbill’s Rhine River cruise in August 2017, featuring Seth Rudetsky, Andréa Burns, Faith Prince, Terrence Mann, Charlotte d’Amboise, and Santino Fontana. Playbill Travel is now also booking Broadway on the Danube River with Michael Feinstein for November 2017 and Broadway on the High Seas: Iceland for July 2018. Visit PlaybillTravel.com for booking and information.
