SALUTE TO THE HOOFERS

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Astaire & Rogers:

Saluting Hollywood’s Hoofers

by Ernie Thomas

Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra patrons will journey back to when Hollywood was in full bloom, musicals were all the rage and everything was grandiose –– from the physical sets to the musical productions.

Their annual Spring Concert –– “Let’s Dance!” –– is largely a salute to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, arguably the world’s most famous dance couple, who were superstars during the 1930s and 1940s, a romantic era of tuxedos, evening gowns and elegance.

Elegant is perhaps the best way to describe Astaire and Rogers, who according to Astaire afficionado Jeffry Denman, made ten films together – more than than any other famous Hollywood duo, including Gable and Lombard and even Tracy and Hepburn.

The Buffalo-born Denman is an expert on Astaire in particular, because he has written not one, but three various stage productions to the legendary twinkle-toed tapper who has influenced and inspired his own love of dance and musical theatre.

After taking an interest in musical theatre after entering high school at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Buffalo, Denman went on to study dance and musical theatre at the University of Buffalo.

“A woman who had seen me in a show back in high school told me that I reminded her of a mixture between Dick Van Dyke and Fred Astaire,” he recalled. “I knew who Dick Van Dyke was, but had no idea who Fred Astaire was. So I started investigating who he was.”

His curiosity became a passion. “It bothers me to this day that there I was 16-years-old and in musical theatre and I didn’t know who this amazing dancer and singer Fred Astaire was,” sighed Denman, who has since done his best to keep Astaire’s art alive and on stage.

For his college thesis, Denman wrote and performed “Astaire” on campus, then later developed a professional stage tribute called “Change Partners”. In the last couple of years, Denman has been evolving that show to the next level – a more indepth and complete production called, “Dancing In The Dark”, which examines the human side of Astaire along with his musical accomplishments.

“Fred Astaire has obviously had a tremendous impact on me,” Denman confessed. “When I was young and starting out, I would rent his movies and constantly be stopping, rewinding and replaying scenes. I’d study his moves and his steps in those films and then in front of the television in my apartment try to do them myself. It was rewind, play, stop and try it again...over and over and over.”

Denman’s hours in front of the glowing picture tube has paid off. He has portrayed Fred Astaire on stage professionally from coast to coast now for many years, and will do so again this Thursday at Star Plaza Theatre.

Here in Merrillville, Denman will dance and sing once again with the omni-talented Joan Hess as ‘Ginger Rogers’. Together, they will perform thirteen full production numbers plucked from various points in the famous dance duo’s stage and screen career.

“We do the full numbers, not a medley type thing,” assured Denman, who just wrapped up a month long run in an Off-Broadway production of the drama, “Children Of A Lesser God”.

After doing drama for a spell, Denman is itching to get back into his tap shoes and top hat again.

“I enjoy doing it all, but I really love dancing and singing the most,” he said. “And I really love working with Joan Hess, who I have known professionally for a long time and who is my favorite Ginger Rogers.”

Hess has performed on Broadway [in “Dessa Rose”, “Kiss Me Kate” and “Crazy For You: The Patsy Cline Story”] and has portrayed Ginger Rogers opposite Denman’s Astaire many times in the past.

Denman likewise has walked the floorboards of The Great White Way himself, most recently as a cast member of “The Producers” (with Matthew Broderick).

“I played a variety of ‘crazy people’ and was understudy for Matthew Broderick,” said Denman, whose other Broadway credits include the plays “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” and “Dream.” He has also done a wealth of Off Broadway performances, including “Bubblin’ Brown Sugar” starring stage icon, Dihann Carroll.

Denman said he is very excited about performing with Hess and Conductor Kirk Muspratt’s Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra this week. “Any time I get to do Astaire I’m happy,” he said.

Thursday’s Astaire/Rogers salute will encompass some of their most famous routines and a few less known but artistically outstanding ones that most people most likely have never before seen.

The “Let’s Dance” salute fills the entire second half of this year’s NISO Spring Concert and includes – Jerome Kern’s “I Won’t Dance”, Cole Porter’s “ Begin The Beguine”, George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm”, Jule Styne’s “Gypsy Overture” [which will be guest conducted by Star Plaza Theatre CEO/President, Charlie Blum], and Irving Berlin’s “Cheek To Cheek.”

The first half of the Spring Concert will be filled with classical compositions from Johann Strauss and Gioacchino Rossini, along with a pair of modern film score selections from the Academy Award-winning contemporary composer, John Williams.

Williams’ numbers – “Raiders March” [from “Raiders Of The Lost Ark”] and “Love Theme and March” [from “Superman”] – will conclude the first half and set the mood for more, albeit vintage Hollywood music, to come.

Unique to this particular performance will be the presence of the Northwest Indiana Symphony Youth Orchestra, who will play their instruments side by side with Muspratt’s NISO professionals, during the entire first half of the concert.

The acclaimed and celebrated NISYO is under the direction of Battle Creek, Michigan native Philip Bauman.

Further information available –– (219) 836-0525 -or - www.NISOrchestra.org

“LET’S DANCE” starring Jeffry Denman and Joan Hess performs APRIL 20^th at Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, IN

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