New York City Center's 2022 Encores! season kicked off February 2 with The Tap Dance Kid at City Center's MainStage. Trevor Jackson, Adrienne Walker, and Joshua Henry lead the cast of the Kenny Leon-helmed production, which continues through February 6.
Based on Louise Fitzhugh's novel Nobody's Family is Going to Change, The Tap Dance Kid centers on Willie, a 10-year-old boy from an upper-middle-class Black family who dreams of becoming a professional tap dancer despite his father’s disapproval. The cast features Jackson as Uncle Dipsey, Walker as Ginnie, and Henry as William, joined by Alexander Bello as Willie, Tracee Beazer as Carole, DeWitt Fleming as Daddy Bates, Shahadi Wright Joseph as Emma, and Chance K. Smith as Winslow.
Read what critics thought of the City Center staging in the reviews below.
New York Stage Review (Steven Suskin and David Finkle)
Theater Pizzazz (Brian Scott Lipton)
Playbill will continue to update this page as reviews come in.
Rounding out the company are Brinae Ali, Kurt Csolak, Aniya Danée, Zachary Downer, Francine Espiritu, Izaiah Montaque Harris, Madison Hilligoss, Ben Lanham, John Manzari, Jodeci Millhouse, Dario Natarelli, Janelle Neal, Justin Prescott, and Bethany Tesarck.
Working from Henry Krieger and Robert Lorick's score and Charles Blackwell's book, the Encores! production features a concert adaptation penned by Stick Fly playwright Lydia Diamond. Joining Leon and Diamond on the creative team are choreographer Jared Grimes and guest music director Joseph Joubert, scenic designer Derek McLane, costume designer Dede Ayite, lighting designer Allen Lee Hughes, and sound designer Kai Harada. Casting is by The Telsey Office.
Encores! is led by Artistic Director Lear deBessonet, working alongside Music Director Rob Berman and Producing Creative Director Clint Ramos. Josh Clayton is supervisor of music administration and score restoration, and Adrian Alea is creative associate. Camille A. Brown, Eisa Davis, and Robert O'Hara serve as creative advisors, and Jenny Gersten is producer of musical theatre.
City Center requires all artists, crew, staff, and audience members—both adults and children—provide proof of receiving a full COVID-19 vaccination, plus proof of receiving a COVID-19 booster for all those eligible. Approved masks must also be worn by audience members, staff, and crew while in the building. For more, visit NYCityCenter.org.
