The musical Half Time, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, officially opened June 12 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. The show tells the story of professional basketball’s first-ever aged 60-and-older dance team. It originally had a 2015 world premiere in Chicago under the title Gotta Dance (the same name of its inspiration, a 2008 documentary). Performances will continue through July 1.
The show stars Tony winners Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) and Lillias White (The Life), Tony nominee André De Shields (The Wiz), and five-time Emmy nominee Georgia Engel (Hello, Dolly!).
The musical has a book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and additional music by the late Marvin Hamlisch and Ester Dean.
Read reviews for the Paper Mill Playhouse production below.
The New York Times (Ben Brantley)
NorthJersey.com (Jim Beckerman)
Times Square Chronicles (Suzanna Bowling)
Playbill will continue to update this list as more reviews come in.
The cast also features Haven Burton, Lori Tan Chinn, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Nancy Ticotin, Madeleine Doherty, Tracy Jai Edwards, Mary Claire King, Lenora Nemetz, Kay Walbye, Alexander Aguilar, Ken Ard, Sydni Beaudoin, Tami Dahbura, Paula DeLuise, Gabriela Garcia, Talya Groves, Kathryn Kendall, Valton Jackson, Summerisa Bell Stevens, Garrett Turner, and Gayle Turner.
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.
For tickets, visit PaperMill.org.
