Hot Shoe Shuffle - a tap dance spectacular: Lisa hits the boards in the Adelaide City region of South Australia
Mid evening at a church hall in suburban Broadview and there's a sense of expectation in the air. Inside, it's smiles all round as a group of amateur theatre enthusiasts rehearse for one of the biggest performances of their budding careers.
Welcome to Hot Shoe Shuffle - the much acclaimed tap spectacular that has taken Broadway and the West End by storm - not to mention several national sell-out tours here in Australia. The show's being revived by local producer and director, Matt Byrne who first saw it in 1992 when it was created by David Atkins. After seeing it three times Matt vowed to to one day bring it back.
Matt Byrne, Producer: "Tap dancing is one of those things everyone wishes they could do. Somehow if they get close enough to the stage and watch people do it they are part of it. It's exciting, it's fun, the music is amazing - live big band on stage, people going crazy, wonderful costumes, beautiful girls. Tap dancing brings an audience alive - everybody wants to be on their feet doing it and that's why they are going to love this show."
It's the cornball story of seven brothers - the Tap Brother who stand to inherit $2 million if they can perform their long lost father's hit show, Hot Shoe Shuffle. The plot thickens when they learn their father's will says they have to include their long lost sister, April - trouble is - she can't dance! There's a touch of art reflecting life in all this - when you consider Matt's brought together 7 blokes with little or no tap experience. But this group of unlikely lads has risen to the challenge.
They liken themselves to a footy team - but with more finesse! And the finesse certainly shows in rehearsal when you consider they only began tap dancing in February.
Sue Pole, Choreographer: "It's a huge challenge but it's not rocket science. Like I said to the boys at information night if you've got a left foot and a right foot and a sense of rhythm you can learn how to tap dance…"
The music which includes hits like Puttin' on the Ritz and Ain't Misbehavin' comes from an 11-piece big band.
Rodney Hrvatin, Musical Director: "I've conducted orchestras, bands like this before but when that band starts and the music starts pumping everybody lifts. The cast just goes hey this is what it's all about and it's like that final piece of the puzzle that come into it. It's really fabulous."
The show will feature sets from Melbourne and in a major coup, Matt has tracked down the very same costumes from David Atkins' original production.
Matt Byrne: "I got a phone call from someone saying some Hot Shoe Shuffle costumes for sale in Sydney next week. I said 'oh yeah, who's done it there?' and they said, 'no - THE costumes."
With sets from Melbourne, costumes from Sydney and an entire cast and crew from Adelaide, Matt reckons this perennial musical theatre favourite is sure to help South Australia tap its troubles away. And being amateur theatre - you never know who you'll see on stage.
Hot Shoe Shuffle opens at the Arts Theatre in the city on Wed 8 July before moving to the Shedley Theatre in Elizabeth on the 23rd. Then it's off to the Riverland and the Chaffey Theatre in Renmark for two performances on August the first. Bookings at Bass or Venue Tix. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Hot Shoe Shuffle
Arts Theatre - Adelaide
Opens July 8Shedley Theatre - Elizabeth
Opens July 23Chaffey Theatre - Renmark
Aug 1Bookings at Bass or VenueTix
Published 5th July 2009
