The reviews are rolling in for the reimagined revival of Bob Fosse's 1978 dance work Dancin', which opened March 19 at the Music Box Theatre. Tony winner and Dancin' original Broadway cast member Wayne Cilento directs and provides musical staging for the production, which re-creates Fosse's original, Tony-winning choreography.
With an eclectic songlist ranging from Neil Diamond to George M. Cohan, Dancin' includes such iconic Fosse numbers as "Crunchy Granola Suite," "Sing, Sing, Sing," "From the Edge," "Mr. Bojangles," and "I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man." Christine Colby Jacques is handling reproducing Fosse's choreography with associate direction and additional choreographic reconstruction by Corinne McFadden Herrera and assistant musical staging and additional choreographic reconstruction by Lauren Cannon. The revival also newly includes additional material by playwright and Dancin' original Broadway production cast member Kirsten Childs, who serves as text consultant for the production.
READ: Nicole Fosse Knows That Dancin' Was Particularly Special to Her Father
The onstage company includes Ioana Alfonso, Yeman Brown, Peter John Chursin, Dylis Croman, Tony d’Alelio, Jōvan Dansberry, Karli Dinardo, Jacob Guzman, Manuel Herrera, Kolton Krouse, Mattie Love, Yani Marin, Nando Morland, Khori Michelle Petinaud, Ida Saki, and Ron Todorowski, rounded out by understudies Aydin Eyikan, Pedro Garza, Afra Hines, Gabriel Hyman, Krystal Mackie, and Neka Zang.
Read the reviews here.
Broadway News (Brittani Samuel)
The Chicago Tribune (Chris Jones)*
Entertainment Weekly (Lester Fabian Brathwaite)
New York Daily News (Chris Jones)
New York Stage Review (David Finkle, Melissa Rose Bernardo)
New York Theatre Guide (Gillian Russo)
The New York Times (Jesse Green)*
New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)
Theater Pizzazz (Carole Di Tosti)
*This review requires creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
The Broadway bow, expected since at least 2021, follows a staging at California's The Old Globe earlier this year, also helmed by Cilento. The revival also follows plans for a Graciela Daniele-helmed Broadway revival in 2009 via Roundabout Theatre Company that failed to materialize.
“Bob achieved immortality through his work, and I consider it both the responsibility and honor of my life to steward his legacy for a new generation,” said Cilento in an earlier statement. “None of Bob’s shows exemplified the fullness of his spirit quite like Dancin’ and bringing it back in this fresh way is how I hope to keep that spirit alive.”
Cilento leads a creative team that includes scenic designer Robert Brill, costume designers Reid Bartelme and Harriet Jung, lighting designer David Grill, sound designer Peter Hylenski, video designer Finn Ross, and production stage manager Beverly Jenkins. Music supervision, orchestrations, incidental music, and vocal arrangements are provided by Jim Abbott, with music direction by Justin Hornback, music coordination by Kimberlee Wertz, and dance arrangements and new music by David Dabbon. The production is cast by Tara Rubin Casting's Xavier Rubiano.
Joey Parnes leads the Dancin' producer team with co-producers Hunter Arnold, Kayla Greenspan, Rodger Hess & Michael Seago, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Bob Boyett, The Shubert Organization, James L. Nederlander, Tim Forbes, Carson Gleberman, Park West Productions, McCabe Ventures, Fran Kirmser & Jodi Kaplan, Greg Young, The Fabulous Invalid, Julie Hess & Tommy Hess, and The Old Globe. The revival is presented in cooperation with Nicole Fosse.
READ: How These Fosse Dancers Have Reconstructed (And Revised) Bob Fosse’s Dancin’
Fosse's original production opened at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre in 1978, transferring to the Ambassador Theatre before closing 1,774 performances later. The cast included such Fosse favorites as Ann Reinking, Robert La Fosse, Dana Moore, Bebe Neuwirth, and Cynthia Onrubia. Cilento received a Tony nomination for his performance.
