Music Theatre

Semester Three Tap

(Take Home Test)
Andrew Morley
11-30-13
Tap Semester 3
1. aude!ille was a theatrical "enre o# entertainment popular #rom the early 1$$0%s
to the early 1&30%s throu"hout the 'nited States. (ach per#ormance usually
consisted o# se!eral unrelated acts) "rouped to"ether on a common *ill. These acts
included popular and classical musicians) sin"ers) dancers) comedians) trained
animals) ma"icians) #emale and male impersonators) acro*ats) illustrated son"s)
+u""lers) athletes) lecturin" cele*rities) and mo!ies. Se!eral Styles o# tap were
used durin" this era) includin" ,uck -% .in" and So#t Shoe.
/.
0red Astaire) ori"inal name) 0rederick Austerlit1 was an American sin"er and
dance o# sta"e and motion pictures. He is well known #or his num*er o# hi"hly
success#ul musical comedy #ilms in which he starred with 2in"er 3o"ers. He is
re"arded *y many as one o# the "reatest tap dancer o# all time. 0red Astaire%s main
contri*ution to dance and tap dance was 4dance on #ilm4) ha!in" made 31 musical
mo!ies. 5n Nice Work If You Can Get It) 0red Astaire per#orms a routine "A
Damsel in Distress" where he taps in #ront o# an ela*orate drum kit with two drum
sticks in his hands. 5n Top Hat) he per#orms "No Strings") which he starts o## *y
sin"in" a sweet melody) then tap dancin" like cra1y on the #loor a*o!e 2in"er
3o"ers) wakin" her up in the middle o# the ni"ht. 5n Shall We Dance) 0red Astaire
and 2in"er 3o"ers per#orm "Lets Call the Whole Thing !ff") a duet *etween the
two o# them which turns into a tap dancin"6"lidin" num*er on rollerskates) endin"
with them #aceplantin" on the "rass. These num*ers really showcase the talent
and the contri*utions he has "i!en to tap.
3.
Three #amous tap dancers #rom 1&30-1&70 include 2in"er 3o"ers) 2ene 8elly)
and 9anny 8aye.
:.
;ne e<ample o# a present day show that uses tap dancin" as a part o# its appeal is
a musical called =Thorou"hly Modern Millie.> The show ori"inated in the 'SA)
and was #ounded *y ?eanine Tesori) Michael Mayer and 3o* Ash#ord. The show
ran #rom April 1$
th
/00/ @ ?une /0
th
/00:. 5t closed a#ter &03 per#ormances and 3/
pre!iews.
A second e<ample o# a modern day tap show is a show called =-e!er 2onna
9ance.> This show also ori"inated in the 'SA) and was #ounded *y ?erome 8ern)
Michael 2rie# and ?erry Mitchell. This show ran #rom 9ecem*er :
th
/003 @
0e*ruary 17
th
/00:. 5t closed a#ter $: per#ormances and :: pre!iews.
7. Sa!ion 2lo!er is a tap dancer who learned #rom many #amous early tap dancers)
and started teachin" tap himsel# at the a"e o# 1:) and starred in his #irst ,roadway
musical at the a"e o# 10. He is "i!en credit #or lots o# thin"s) ha!in" started his
sta"e and #ilm career at a youn" a"e) *ut he is well known #or "eneratin" choreo
*y impro!isin" and 4#eelin" the sta"e #or sounds4.